--GM Ken Williams was still defending his "Happy Anniversary" comment made last week. Prior to Friday's game with the Cubs, Williams was questioned about an interview in the Sun-Times last Wednesday in which he wished Cubs fans who refused to cheer for the 2005 Sox championship, "Happy Anniversary" -- referring to the 100 years of futility. "Listen, I want to beat everyone," Williams said. "I'm a competitive person. I want to beat everyone. When there's a team eight miles north of you and you are sharing the marketplace and space, I want to make sure as the person that's responsible for putting the product on the field, I want to make sure we did our fair share. That should not be a surprise."
Williams was then asked if he felt Sox fans would celebrate a Cubs title if it happened this season, and he responded, "I think now that we've got a banner hanging up here, it becomes a Chicago pride thing after that. I'll tell you this, if we don't win the World Series, it reverts back to a Chicago pride thing for me and I hope that they do. I hope our fans, if it comes to that, after the disappointment of not seeing their team achieve their goal, it would revert back to a Chicago pride thing." --1B Paul Konerko took flips for a second consecutive day, as well as groundballs in the field, and if there is no soreness when he wakes up Saturday morning, it will be time for live batting practice. The first baseman has been on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 15 with a strained left oblique. Expect a sit-down after Saturday's BP for a discussion about the next phase of Konerko's rehab -- likely a rehab assignment in Class AAA Charlotte.
--Pitching coach Don Cooper was still nursing a strained left hamstring, injured Thursday in his dugout tirade, but hurt worse was his pride. "My leg is a little sore, but here's the bottom line on the whole thing," Cooper said, "I'm obviously wrapped up in the game. I want to win the game. I have patience when we make mistakes as players, but I don't have patience for ..." Manager Ozzie Guillen then interrupted him and yelled jokingly, "You are an embarrassment to the organization." Cooper replied, "I'll tell you what, go talk to him. He wants to do the talking," and then limped off.
--INF Alexei Ramirez missed the game after his wife gave birth to their third child on Friday morning. It was a boy. Ramirez could be back by Saturday. Juan Uribe was given the start in Ramirez's place.
--C A.J. Pierzynski was back in the starting lineup Friday, after he was given Thursday off to rest. He could play in all three games against the Cubs -- a team he has always performed well against on the big stage that is the cross-town rivalry.
BY THE NUMBERS: 22-11 -- The run differential the Cubs had over the Sox last weekend, as they doubled up the South Siders in the three-game sweep.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The farthest Lou ever went to this field was to the pitcher's mound. (Friday), he made it to the first base line. That's the farthest he's ever been there." -- Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, upon hearing that Lou Piniella is now saying he's never seen a rat in Wrigley Field, especially in the right-field batting cages, where Guillen said "pig-sized" ones dwelled.
