Add Pedro Martinez's name to the list of out-of-work players the White Sox have no interest bringing aboard.
On Tuesday, two days before Jose Contreras makes what could be his last start before a bullpen demotion, manager Ozzie Guillen was discussing possibilities that have been talked about behind closed doors in organizational meetings. In other words, what is Plan B if Contreras (0-4) cannot pitch his way out of the rut he's been in? One name that came up was Martinez.
"Pedro Martinez was mentioned in spring training, but just because a couple of his friends called me, and my job is to give (general manager) Kenny (Williams) the information," Guillen said. "But that's it, no, Pedro, no, not right now. I don't know if we're going to because that's Kenny's decision, but right now that's not on my mind."
The fact is the team actually doesn't have a Plan B. At least one that excites them. Guillen discussed a few more possible scenarios, and he didn't seem thrilled with either one.
"Plan B would be Jose," Guillen said. "I think (Clayton) Richard threw the ball better (Monday), but he hasn't impressed me enough to be the guy. Something maybe in the future, yes, but right now we're still fighting for the pennant race. Right now, I don't have the right answer. Right now, a couple people have dropped a couple of names, but I don't think those names fit the best. If I have to make a move I will do it. If it will help the ballclub, I will do it. Will it be Richard? I don't know yet."
Fresh off a five-inning, rain-shortened no-hitter for Class AA Birmingham, top prospect Aaron Poreda also wasn't a real consideration.
"I think Poreda, he's not ready," Guillen said. "I don't think this kid right now is ready to be in the big leagues. I don't think we're doing a favor for him or the ballclub to bring him up. We have to take it easy with that guy. That's our future."
ROYALS 8, WHITE SOX 7 (11 innings): With the score tied at 7-7 in the 11th, in came reliever Lance Broadway. A one-out walk to Mitch Maier, followed by a Willie Bloomquist single, set the stage for John Buck, who ripped the game-winning single past the glove of diving 3B Josh Fields.
It isn't often that 16 hits and seven runs aren't enough, but then again White Sox baseball 2009 doesn't exactly fit into a nice neat little box. A.J. Pierzynski had a four-hit night, while Jermaine Dye and Fields homered in their first games back from hand injuries.
