White Sox Weekly

RECORD: 76-66
PLACE: 1st (tied w/Twins)
GAMES AHEAD: Royals (3), Indians (15), Tigers (39)

NEWS AND NOTES
-Jerry Manuel stated this past week that he is happy with his late-inning bullpen crew of Tom Gordon, Damaso Marte, Scott Sullivan and Kelly Wunsch, meaning he doesn't plan to use 40-man roster additions Billy Koch and Jose Paniagua in key situations.
-Danny Wright did pitch and start in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Indians, throwing five innings, and is scheduled to make his next start in the rotation come Friday versus the Red Sox ... at least at this point. Many believe that if the Sox' upcoming four-game home series against the Twins goes array, Manuel will not hesitate to go to a four-man rotation the rest of the way, starting with Colon going on three days rest.

STRETCH SCHEDULE (20 games remaining)
9/8-MIN - Colon vs. Lohse
9/9-MIN - Buehrle vs. UD
9/10-MIN - Garland vs. Santana
9/11-MIN - Loaiza vs. Radke
9/12-@BOS
9/13-@BOS
9/14-@BOS
9/16-@MIN
9/17-@MIN
9/18-@MIN
9/19-KC
9/20-KC
9/21-KC
9/22-NYY
9/23-NYY
9/24-NYY
9/25-@KC
9/26-@KC
9/27-@KC
9/28-@KC

AT THE PLATE
Joe Crede, 3B - Crede has heated up and has shown no signs of slowing up as the Sox continue down the stretch, which should make for interesting series' against the Twins and Red Sox, two teams he's had struggles against. Start him as he'll be facing a weak Twins' rotation.

Paul Konerko, 1B/DH - He's in the same boat as Crede as he's hot as can be, batting .375 over the last week and .329 since the All-Star break. In July, August, and so far, in September, Konerko is batting .342, .301 and .429 respectively.

Frank Thomas, DH/1B - He has proven he doesn't need to play first base to be effective over the past month, but he's also proven he is now a one-demensional hitter -- only the long ball -- to go with his one-demensional self - offense. He finished off a poor series with Indians and opening week to September with a game-winning, three-run homer. Fourteen of his last 28 hits have been homers, which is always worth a good penny in fantasy.

Carlos Lee, LF - Lee has been the hardest player to figure out on the Sox. One at bat he looks as though he's trying to contribute and go the other way and the next at bat he's looking selfish, swinging for the fences and coming up short with a sky-high popup. One thing you can't get on him for is his play against the Twins and Royals (23 G, 28-88, 7 HR, 21 RBI, 16 R).

Carl Everett, CF - Everett has a .340 lifetime average against the Twins and is always up for series' like this. Start him.

Jose Valentin, SS - Valentin has a .230 lifetime average against the Twins, but at the same time has driven in 11 RBIs and hit five homers in in 12 games this season.

ON THE MOUND
Bartolo Colon, SP - Colon was hit hard in two starts against the Twins last season, but is 6-4 in his career with a 4.33 ERA. This season: zero starts. If he can shutdown Hunter, Jones Koskie and Mientkiewicz, all of whom have hit Colon, he can pull out a win. That is why you may be better off sitting him.

Mark Buehrle, SP - Buehrle is due for a big start and is 4-1 against the Twins at U.S. Cellular Field/Comiskey Park and has a 3.61 ERA there in 14 starts this season.

Jon Garland, SP - Garland has been the most effective among Sox starters against the Twins, but has only two wins to show for it. To go with that, he's going up against Johan Santana, who has historically given the Sox trouble.
A win will be tough to come by.

Esteban Loaiza, SP - Loaiza will be going for his 20th win, has given up just three runs in 21 innings (three starts) against the Twins this season and is facing Brad Radke, who has given up 13 runs in 20 2/3 (three starts) against the Sox. No brainer.