--Manager Ozzie Guillen had to get used to a lot of new faces on Monday, with the roster expanding because of September call-ups. The Sox recalled OF Jerry Owens, and RHPs Mike MacDougal and Ehren Wasserman, as well as purchasing the contract of C Paul Phillips from Class AAA Charlotte. They also transferred RHP Jose Contreras (ruptured left Achilles tendon) from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. INF Chris Getz and Josh Fields are expected to join the team Tuesday, but Guillen doesn't really see any of his new faces being much of an impact. "I don't have any playing time for them, not in my book," Guillen said of the two infielders. "Hopefully, we take a little lead out there and give me a chance to play them."
--OF Ken Griffey Jr. was a late scratch from Monday's game with what was called a strained lower back. He was replaced by OF Nick Swisher in center field, but was available to pinch hit. Griffey will be re-evaluated on Tuesday, but the hope is that he will return to the starting lineup. --RHP Gavin Floyd not only improved to 5-0 in his last seven starts after a huge win on Sunday, but in the eyes of manager Ozzie Guillen has emerged as the stopper for the Sox whenever there seems to be a slide. "This kid, every time we start bleeding, he stops it," Guillen said. "Right now, he's throwing the ball better than anybody for us. He's a kid, but like I said a few months ago, he's not a kid anymore. We're in a pennant race and he's got to come out and pitch like another starter. He comes out and makes a big pitch and gets himself out of trouble. That's how you learn."
--LHP Boone Logan was criticized publicly by manager Ozzie Guillen before his demotion to Class AAA Charlotte last month, but the club still has faith in the southpaw reliever, evident by the call-up on Saturday so he would be eligible for the postseason roster. And while Logan admitted that Guillen pulled no punches with him, he also said that Guillen also said the same stuff to his face before demoting him. "That's fine," Logan said. "Ozzie's going to be Ozzie. It's fine to hear that. It was a wakeup call to me and just adds fuel to the fire. And I take it as a positive and go out there with that when I go to the mound." As for Logan's role -- get lefties out. "I got a lot of confidence in him," Guillen said. "It's up to him." So far, so good, as Logan worked out of a sixth-inning jam in his first appearance since the call-up on Monday.
--LHP Clayton Richard had one of his worst performances of the season as a starter, and now manager Ozzie Guillen will evaluate that spot in the starting rotation. The likely scenario is the Sox will be going to a four-man rotation for the time being, especially with Thursday an off day.
BY THE NUMBERS: 536 -- The career number of home runs for Sox slugger Jim Thome after he connected on a longball Sunday against Boston. That number moved him into a tie with Mickey Mantle for 14th on the all-time list.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's so cool just to have it there. That's where it should be. I'm so glad that we did it and it's where it should be. It's safe, it's where baseball fans can see it." -- Sox slugger Jim Thome, on delivering the ball from his 500th home run to the Baseball Hall of Fame with his father last week.
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