A trade that would bring Cincinnati Reds right-hander Tim Belcher to the White Sox hasn’t happened-yet.
Sox GM Ron Schueler said last Thursday night that he thought the “next 48 hours” would make or break a trade, but nothing transpired because the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals-two teams chasing the Sox in the American League West-both were trying to outbid the Sox for Belcher.
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The Rangers, however, apparently dropped out of the race on Saturday when they made a trade with the Florida Marlins for Cris Carpenter, a 28-year-old right-handed starter.
A source in Cincinnati said Sunday the Reds were close to closing a deal, and the Sox had the inside track.
Before Sunday’s game, however, Schueler said: “I haven’t heard from anyone. I’m just going to wait and see on Monday. Lots of times they don’t call on weekends.”
Minutes later, though, Schueler left his seat and didn’t return.
Stop sign: Opposing runners still haven’t gotten the message: Don’t run on catcher Ron Karkovice. Three Brewers tried it Sunday. Two were thrown out. Only Pat Listach stole successfully. So far this year, Karkovice has thrown out 44 percent (25 of 57) of the runners who tried to steal on him. Combined with backup Mike LaValliere, who has caught 6 of 8, the two Sox catchers have thrown out 48 percent of would-be stealers.
Dream team: Ozzie Guillen is having a good time creating a fantasy team of coaches to back him up as the manager of an imaginary team. He says Joey Cora will be his third-base coach. Ron Karkovice is his bullpen coach. He’s offered to make Bobby Thigpen his pitching coach, passing over his own brother-in-law, Scott Radinsky.
Nice peg: Rookie Jeff Schwarz pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to keep the Sox in Sunday’s game until the hitters came alive. Schwarz made it scary in the seventh inning, however, by walking two batters and throwing away a pickoff attempt that sent Bill Spiers to third with the potential winning run. Spiers had walked with two outs and was well off first base when Schwarz threw over to get him. The only problem was that, with a full count and two outs, first baseman Frank Thomas wasn’t holding Spiers on. “It was a miscommunication,” Schwarz said. “Too bad. It was my best pickoff move.”