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Orlando Hernandez's career may be over. He is opting for surgery on his right big toe, which has a bunion. El Duque previously had resisted that procedure because the recovery time could cost him more than a full season.

Scott Reifert wrote an interesting tidbit on his blog:

Laughing before the game, some staff members remembered El Duque's heroic effort in Game 3 of the 2005 Division Series at Boston.  With the bases loaded, El Duque was summoned in from the bullpen ...

"Can you imagine what it was like," someone offered.  "The phone rings in the bullpen and guys are shaking in fear on the bench.  Duque stands and says, 'That is for me." (imagine a heavy Cuban accent)

After getting out of the jam and after the White Sox won that game to advance to the ALCS, Duque offered ...

"Those situations, they are easy," he explained.  "Everyone wants to be the hero, so they swing at anything and get themselves out.  Just throw sliders out of the strike zone."

And what about that final 3-2 pitch to Damon with no place to put him, pretty tough to throw that slider then?

Front door slider.  Probably the only strike he threw during the at-bat.

A piece of White Sox history.

What a ballsy mo-fo.  Thanks for one of the greatest innings in postseason history, El Duque!

It looks like the Uribe to the Red Sox trade for possibly Alex Cora has fallen through.  The most recent rumor is that Justin Duchscherer is just Kenny's Plan C.  Rumor is that Kenny is open to dealing Josh Fields, along with Aaron Poreda, to acquire a starting pitcher.  Here are a couple quotes from posters at SoxTalk.com:

The way Joe Cowley was talking this morning on Mully and Hanley Josh Fields is as good as gone.  He said they want a SP and Duscherer is third on their wish list.  If he is third on the wish list who the hell would be 1 and 2?  It would have to be a big name.

Cowley on the SCORE this morning had Duch at plan C.

He also quoted Guillen as saying he will not say his Justin's last name for fear of how he may say it and get in trouble.

I think one of OC or Crede are signed and if not, than it is possibly 4 picks in the top 40 or so gutting the farm system will not hurt especially with Danks and Beckham if signed.

Remember the A's were thought to have wanted Poreda in draft last year and the Sox took him one spot before Oakland.

Post any and all White Sox trade rumors here.

who goes -- Adam Russell or D.J. Carrasco?

Tough decision

The Sox's staff has a pleasantly difficult decision because either rookie Adam Russell or D.J. Carrasco, who saved the bullpen with 51/3 innings in his only game Friday, could be taken off the roster to make room for closer Bobby Jenks when he comes off the disabled list.

"No matter who we send down, who we trade or release, obviously it will hurt," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Unfortunately, that's a tough part of the job, but I'm satisfied what Carrasco and [Russell] did."

For the Sox to keep him in the organization, Carrasco would have to clear waivers if taken off the 25-man roster. Russell hurt his chances by getting tagged for two runs on three hits in one-plus inning Sunday.

Russell can be optioned to AAA.  Carrasco would have to clear waivers.  But regardless of this factor, who would you choose to keep?

I think I would have to go with Carrasco since he can pitch multiple innings and it looks like the Sox will need it with Contreras falling apart.  Also, I pick Carrasco because Larry likes him.  And that 5.1 inning performance against the Rangers was pretty sweet.

Last year's stats:

.296 AVG  /  .367 OBP  /  .414 SLG  /  .781 OPS  /  105 OPS+  /  7 HR  /  38 RBI  /  23 SB

Has he officially retired or is he still looking for a team?  Does he want a starting job?  Maybe he is waiting for some starting outfielder to get injured so he can join a team's outfield for their playoff run?  In any case, that OBP would sure look good at the top of our lineup and he would make a great bench stick.  If Edmonds could latch on with the Cubs, Lofton should be playing for some team as well.  Obviously, his defense isn't what it used to be but no one seems to believe that Lofton will keep hitting year after year at his age...  yet he keeps proving people wrong.