White Sox Pregame Report: Manny feeling 'lost'
Manny Ramirez hasn't been horrible since joining the White Sox at the beginning of September, but it's obvious that something is off with the slugger.
Ramirez is batting .294 with the White Sox, but he has no extra base hits and has yet to drive in a run.
"It's difficult for me because I haven't been playing that much. and then when you are out there you feel like you're kind of lost, like you are in spring training," Ramirez said Tuesday. "When you miss two months, it doesn't matter how good you are. Everyone who you are playing is ready. They've been playing all year long."
As a whole, Manny's power numbers are down this year. He only has eight home runs and 40 RBI in 77 games and Ramirez doesn't think the White Sox expected anything more of him in Chicago.
"I'm pretty sure they aren't expecting me to carry a team when you miss two months," he said.
To sweep, or not to sweep?
The math says a loss against the Twins this week would build a hole too big to dig out of, but neither Ozzie nor his players say it is imperative they sweep Minnesota.
"We don't need to sweep. We need to win the first game," Ozzie said. "I'm not going to say we have to sweep. We have to win the series and hopefully we do."
But no matter what the end result of the series is, the White Sox know they have to win tonight.
"Nine innings, three hours. Just give everything you've got," Paul Konerko said.
The good news? The last time the White Sox had a game this big against the Twins was the 2008 "Blackout Game". Who was on the mound in that 1-0 win? Tonight's starter John Danks was.
The bad news? The only run in that game came from Jim Thome, who is now on the Twins.
Jenks, Garcia still in doubt
Don't expect to see Bobby Jenks against the Twins this week.
Manager Ozzie Guillen said his closer, who hasn't pitched since Sept. 4 because of soreness, is not available tonight and there is no timetable for his return.
"I don't know where he is right now or how he feels. He's got to throw in the bullpen and then we'll decide what to do with him," Guillen said.
Meanwhile, Freddy Garcia, who was scratched from his start Sunday, is also in question for his scheduled start Saturday. He threw a side session today and will determine if he can go later in the week.
It is possible that Garcia could be shut down for the year if the White Sox fall completely out of the playoff race this week.
"It depends how far (out) or in we are," Guillen said. "I think Freddy's gotta come out and pitch again, but (if not) we have to figure out who is going to be the next guy."
Lineups
White Sox: Pierre (LF), A. Ramirez (SS), Rios (CF), Konerko (1B), M. Ramirez (DH), Quentin (RF), Pierzynski (C), Vizquel (3B), Beckham (2B)
Twins: Span (CF), Hudson (2B), Mauer (C), Cuddyer (1B), Kubel (RF), Young (LF), Thome (DH), Valencia (3B), Hardy (SS)
