NewsRios trying to cast frustration aside
Chicago (63-63) at Boston (72-53), 6:10 p.m. CT
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
08/25/09 11:57 PM ET
BOSTON -- The word "frustration" probably doesn't begin to describe how Alex Rios feels concerning his subpar effort at the plate throughout the 2009 campaign.It is a good place to start, though, for the offensive inconsistency shown by the White Sox outfielder and two-time All-Star with a career .284 average.
"Oh yeah, it is frustrating, obviously," said Rios, who is 8-for-41 since joining the White Sox and popped out to second with runners on first and third and two outs in the eighth inning of a tie game Tuesday night. "You always want to do better than you did the year before and perform at your best. But it's a weird game and it's pretty hard, too.
"Sometimes you have to understand things like that are going to happen and we deal with it. You just work harder to get out of those situations."
Rios hopes Wednesday's contest against Tim Wakefield and Boston marks the start of an upward move. He has just 10 hits in 45 at-bats over his career against the knuckleballer, but three of those hits were home runs when he was playing for the Blue Jays against the Red Sox.
According to Rios, there's a definite plan used in attacking a rare breed such as Wakefield.
"You have to slow everything down a little bit and look for a location," said Rios of hitting the knuckleball. "If it's not where you want to hit it, let it go. You have to see a few pitches first to see how it's behaving and from there you make your decisions.
"They are tough to hit even if you see them every day. It's just a matter of slowing yourself down and see how it's behaving and then make the decision if you want it up or whatever."
Look for Jim Thome to return to Wednesday's lineup, as the left-handed-hitting designated hitter also has three career home runs off of Wakefield. As for Rios' overall approach outside of Wakefield, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has talked to his newest addition and urged him to avoid trying to get three hits with every at-bat. Guillen also doesn't need Rios to swing for the fences.
"He doesn't have to impress anyone," Guillen said. "We know what he can bring. I don't want him to think about hitting 40 home runs. I told him to get on base and steal some bases.
"That's what I want for him. We have people here who can hit balls out of the ballpark. Make sure he uses his legs and helps us in the small game and hopefully things turn around and work out better for him."
Even with Guillen's encouragement, it's still hard for Rios to figure out why his offensive numbers have dipped since coming to Chicago.
"I don't know, man. It's something that is day-by-day since the season started," Rios said. "Yeah, it's too many things. If I get into details, we'll be here 10 days talking about it. It's been a day-by-day thing. I'm just trying to look for a consistent mode and start doing better."
Pitching matchupCWS: RHP Gavin Floyd (10-8, 3.98 ERA)
Floyd sparkled early but ran out of the gas during a difficult eighth inning and wound up taking a loss against the Orioles on Friday night. Floyd cruised through seven innings, allowing just a solo home run to Brian Roberts, but his offense couldn't pick him up. That cost the right-hander during the eighth, when he surrendered another homer to Roberts, this one a two-run shot. Floyd lasted 7 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Lifetime against the Red Sox, Floyd is 2-0 with a 5.74 ERA in three games (two starts). BOS: RHP Tim Wakefield (11-3, 4.31 ERA)
Wakefield makes his return following a month-long stay on the disabled list with lower back and left calf ailments. One of Boston's most dependable starters throughout the first half of the season, the 2009 All-Star's absence took its toll on a Red Sox rotation that has struggled to receive quality starting pitching from anyone not named Josh Beckett or Jon Lester. The 43-year-old knuckleballer is 7-11 with a 5.11 ERA in 28 career appearances (19 starts) against the White Sox. Tidbits
Don't look for D.J. Carrasco to be the surprise choice as Saturday's starter at Yankee Stadium if Jake Peavy is unable to go. "Personally, I'd lean against D.J. He's doing well in the role he has," said White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper of Carrasco, who leads American League relievers with 74 2/3 innings pitched. "Why rock somebody's role? He's an asset to us in the spot he's in." ... Chris Getz and Dewayne Wise are scheduled to begin rehabilitation assignments on Wednesday with Triple-A Charlotte. Getz has been on the disabled list since Aug. 14 (retroactive to Aug. 12) with a strained right oblique and Wise was placed on the disabled list on Aug. 18 (retroactive to Aug. 15) with a strained AC joint in his right shoulder ... The White Sox rank last in the American League with a .980 fielding percentage and have given up three or more unearned runs in a game on six occasions this season. Tickets
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• Thursday: White Sox (John Danks, 11-8, 3.85) at Red Sox (Junichi Tazawa, 2-2, 3.57), 6:10 p.m. CT
• Friday: White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 11-7, 3.92) at Yankees (CC Sabathia, 15-7, 3.59), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Saturday: White Sox (TBD) at Yankees (Sergio Mitre, 2-1, 6.82), 12:05 p.m. CT
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
