--Manager Ozzie Guillen had a logical explanation for why the Sox were 4-16 on turf last season, but are already 3-1 this year after taking three of four from the Rays at Tropicana Field. "Well, the guys that play on artificial turf, they're tough ball clubs, especially (the Rays)," Guillen said. "They keep coming back, coming back." But the Sox are also a quicker team than in '08, which could explain the improvement. "We have a few more speed demons this year," Sox C A.J. Pierzynski said, "but let's see the places we play on turf. Toronto? We stink there. Minnesota? We stink there. And Tampa Bay? They are pretty darn good. It's not like there are too many options there."
--SS Alexei Ramirez can't wait until the calendar on the wall reads May -- April continues to be a nightmare for him. As a rookie last year, Ramirez hit .138 in the first month, and that was with manager Ozzie Guillen protecting him from playing every day. Through the first 11 games this season, Ramirez was 5-for-40 with a .125 average. Combined in his first two major league Aprils, that's a dismal 9-for-69 (.130) and without a home run. "This is the big leagues," Guillen said of Ramirez. "This isn't Ecuador or Costa Rica you're facing and kicking (butt). You got to come here every day. If you don't make an adjustment, they're going to kick you with their stuff. It's more mentally. He's trying to do too much right now. He's trying to get out of his slump with one at-bat. You got to take one at-bat at a time, take your best at-bat and give yourself a chance." Guillen said he has been talking to Ramirez almost every day, but it's up to him to make the adjustment at this point. He did, however, sit Ramirez on Sunday, going with Brent Lillibridge at short. --Guillen did have a closed-door meeting with GM Ken Williams and Cooper on Sunday morning, but the idea that the three were discussing a roster move for a struggling RHP Mike MacDougal or any other position was quickly put to rest by Guillen. "No, we talked about a couple of things in Triple-A, but that's about it," Guillen said. "We just talked about the team, what (Williams) has seen sitting up there, like always. If it was a secret meeting, it would have been just me and (Williams). We just closed the door because so many people were coming by." Guillen again insisted that there are no trade scenarios to even discuss because it's too early in the season.
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- Home runs Jim Thome needs to tie Mike Schmidt for 13th all-time at 548. Thome has hit three homers for the Sox this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't think I've left spring training and felt the same. The season is a different animal and you're not pitched the same way during the season. It's a grind every day. I'm trying not to look back and not look ahead, just try to be as good as I can on that at-bat I have, and that's it." -- Sox first baseman Paul Konerko on his strong start to the season.
