--Manager Ozzie Guillen was trying to find the positives in the weather mess that has his team facing possible extra play after the regular season, but he knows that it will eventually catch up with his squad. "This will give us a little more rest, but you can go either way," Guillen said. "I mean, maybe we have some rest right now, but at the end of the season it might be tough because we've got to play doubleheaders and all this stuff. You don't know how many doubleheaders we're going to play; you don't know what's going to happen. It's something you have to be aware of -- not right now, but maybe next week."
--1B Paul Konerko, who has been out since spraining his right knee Tuesday, was expected to stay out of action until next weekend's series against the Kansas City Royals, but Guillen said his team captain might return during a four-game series against the New York Yankees that starts Monday. "P.K. is moving around better," Guillen said. Konerko was scheduled to take flips in the batting cage early this week, testing the sprained MCL. Konerko, however, was still not setting a timetable for any return. --Even with the rainouts over the weekend, the Sox still can't avoid needing the No. 5 starter at least one time this week, likely in the New York series. RHP Lance Broadway remained the leading candidate for now, but the Sox will do what they can to start pitching their starters on short rest.
--RHP Scott Linebrink was supposed to get back to being the eighth inning guy this weekend, but because of the missed days on Friday and Saturday with weather playing havoc for the Sox, Guillen used Linebrink in the seventh inning in Game 2, and the veteran allowed two runs to start the Tigers' comeback. Right now, the most reliable option for the Sox in the eighth is LHP Matt Thornton. RHP Octavio Dotel, meanwhile, is pitching his way out of that spot, allowing the grand slam in that inning.
--LHP Mark Buehrle gets the start in New York on Monday, and manager Ozzie Guillen already said he was leaning on Buehrle to at least give him seven innings, considering how much use the bullpen got on Sunday in the doubleheader. Guillen was especially concerned with LHP Matt Thornton, who pitched twice in the two wins, including getting the win in Game 2.
BY THE NUMBERS: 9-30 -- The Sox's record through Sept. 12 in games in which they had not hit a homer in this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The only thing a lot of people look at is the batting average, but I'm hitting decent power numbers -- maybe not to what I want, but close -- but I'm not going to grade myself. I grade myself on what the team does and right now it's an A because no one thought we would be in this position." -- 1B/OF Nick Swisher, on his season, despite his disappointing numbers.
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