Alomar To Have Back Checked...

[Xero]

ARLINGTON -- Roberto Alomar, who left the White Sox game in the fifth inning on Sunday with a stiff back, went to Arizona on Wednesday to have his back checked out.

"Robby is checking himself out, getting a second opinion on his back," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said on Wednesday. "I think he is going to meet the team (on Friday) in Anaheim."

 

Alomar, a 12 time All-Star selection who has won 10 Gold Glove Awards at second base, was acquired from the Diamondbacks on Aug. 5 for cash and a player to be named later. He hit .308 in 38 games with the Diamondbacks, but missed 56 games with a broken left hand suffered on April 20 at Milwaukee.

 

Alomar, a 36-year-old switch-hitter, hit .180 in 18 games with the White Sox, with only two extra-base hits in 61 games, while striking out 18 times and drawing only two walks.

 

"He wanted to play for us," Guillen said. "He wanted to do good, especially for me. When I talked to him about it, I told him he was not doing anything good for himself. Besides thinking about me and the team, you've got to think about yourself and your career. And you have to think of that before anything else because when you play hurt, you're not going to help anybody.

 

"When you play and you're hurt, it is hard to perform and this kid has been playing hurt, but nobody knew he was hurt. His lower back was always tight and he had hamstring tightness. I think the tightness in his hamstring is why he got a sore back.

 

"We'll check it out and see what we have. I hope it's nothing too serious. I hope it is something muscular (as opposed to a disk injury)."

 

This is Alomar's second tour with the White Sox. He hit .253 in 67 games with them last season after being acquired in a July 1 trade.

 

Two Alomars ailing: Alomar's older brother, catcher Sandy Alomar, remains idle with a pulled left groin. Sandy went on the disabled list Aug. 16 with the groin injury, which he hurt the previous day on a play at the plate at Boston.

 

He was activated on Sept. 1, but has yet to play.

 

"It was supposed to be day-to-day," Guillen said of Sandy Alomar's groin injury. "Sandy could be used as an emergency catcher. He is limited to that."

 

Strange place: Jon Garland found himself in the bullpen on Tuesday night and made his first relief appearance since July 25, 2001, at Cleveland. He had made 104 starts in the interim.

 

"It was definitely a different feeling and it's a different mindset," Garland said on Wednesday. "As a starter, you know the lineup and know what time you're going in."

 

Garland was moved back a couple of days in the rotation with Freddy Garcia returning on Wednesday after missing two starts with tightness in his right forearm. Tuesday was a bullpen day for Garland, but with the White Sox bullpen thin and starter Jose Contreras only lasting 1 2/3 innings, Guillen decided to use him in relief.

 

"They asked me to go to the bullpen and I do what I'm told," Garland said.

 

It is not a permanent move. Garland will start on Friday against the Angels.

 

Politte, Schoeneweis, updates: Right-hander Cliff Politte, who underwent an emergency appendectomy on Sept. 1, may not pitch again this season.

 

"I hope he does, but I doubt it," Guillen said.

 

Guillen said Politte would need to get his arm back in throwing shape and throw a simulated game before he could pitch in a game.

 

Left-hander Scott Schoeneweis, who is rehabbing after arthroscopic elbow surgery on Aug. 13, is more probable to make an appearance before the season closes.

 

"Schoeneweis is a different thing," Guillen said. "He might come back for a couple of innings. I think next year everything will be fine for him."

 

At the movies: Several White Sox players watched Mel Gibson's blockbuster, "The Passion of the Christ," on a big screen television in the clubhouse before the game. The subtitles were in Spanish, however, not English.

 

Time change: The Tigers have moved the time up for their Sept. 29 game at Detroit with the White Sox from 6:05 p.m. to 12:05 p.m. CT

 

Down on the farm: Great Falls, the White Sox affiliate in the Class A Pioneer League, lost, 7-2, to Billings in the opening game of the playoffs on Tuesday. Second baseman Boomer Berry went 2-for-5 for Great Falls, while third baseman Adam Ricks went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Garry Bakker was the losing pitcher, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits in four innings. He walked four and struck out three. Great Falls went 42-33 during the regular season.

[Wise Master Buehrle]

So basically we got damaged goods in Robbie Alomar.

[WHarris1]

So basically we got damaged goods in Robbie Alomar. 

But his .203 OBP has been invaluable.

[MinnesotaSoxFan]

At the movies: Several White Sox players watched Mel Gibson's blockbuster, "The Passion of the Christ," on a big screen television in the clubhouse before the game. The subtitles were in Spanish, however, not English.

Spanish that's insane!

Oh wait, 85% of the team ain't English speakers anyway.

[Xero]

Spanish that's insane!

Oh wait, 85% of the team ain't English speakers anyway.

Are you still here? :rolly

[MinnesotaSoxFan]

I'm here sneaking on my parents internet. Damn me and my lack of computer knowledge. I guess Jason and I do have something in common.

[Soxfest]

Both Alomars can leave forever after this year, both stole the last couple years .