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Inside the clubhouse with the

Chicago White Sox

Aug. 7, 1996

Daily White Sox update
Vital sign

Phillips' absence
Tony Phillips missed all four games at Texas to be with his wife Debi, who had unspecified surgery over the weekend. The Sox went 3-1 in Phillips' absence, and he returned to the club for Tuesday's game against the Yankees.

"It's nice to have him back because he brings a lot to the team," Frank Thomas said. "As for being gone, there's nothing you can do about that. When your wife is sick, that's something you have to take care of."

The Buzz

The injury bug has bitten the White Sox.

In Monday night's 15-5 win at Texas, right fielder Danny Tartabull came out of the game with a strained right hip flexor muscle, and reliever Matt Karchner had to be helped off the field after being hit on the back of the right knee by a Will Clark line drive.

On Saturday, center fielder Darren Lewis bruised his right hip in a home-plate collision.

All three players are listed as day-to-day, but Tartabull could miss a week or more.

In a move to bolster the outfield, the Sox called up Class AA Birmingham star Mike Cameron.

Outlook

The White Sox led Texas 8-2 Saturday night and had to hang on for an 11-9 win after the struggling bullpen did its thing once again.

Enough is enough, manager Terry Bevington said, and he held a 30-minute meeting with his relief corps following the game.

"We probably needed that," said closer Roberto Hernandez, the only Sox reliever that has been consistent this season. "Nobody was sent down or thrown off the team, but (Bevington) made his point."

Scorecard

Looking good: Rehabbing right-hander Jason Bere pitched three innings for the rookie Gulf Coast White Sox on Monday, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out three and walking one.

"My (right) elbow feels good, that's the most important thing," Bere said. "I wanted to maintain my velocity and I was able to do that."

Bere's next rehab start is scheduled for Saturday.

Looking bad: Kevin Tapani was roughed up by Darryl Strawberry and the Yankees in the White Sox' 9-2 loss Tuesday night. The right-hander gave up nine runs on 10 hits over five innings, including three home runs to Strawberry.

"I just didn't have my good stuff and I didn't do my job," Tapani. "If I was smart, I would have walked (Strawberry) three times."

Looking great: Mike Cameron, called up from Class AA Birmingham on Monday, was hitting .294 with 24 home runs, 61 RBI and 33 stolen bases. When GM Ron Schueler was talking trades last week, Cameron's name kept coming up.

"I heard about that and that makes me feel good," Cameron said. "But I don't let that go to my head. I just try to keep improving."

Notes: To make room for Mike Cameron, the Sox optioned left-handed pitcher Mike Sirotka (0-2, 8.35 ERA) to Class AAA Nashville. ... Ozzie Guillen played left field for the first time in his career Sunday night, taking over for Lyle Mouton in the eighth inning. ... Frank Thomas is hitting .355 but isn't worried about winning the batting title. "I've got to be thinking fence now," he said.

Say what!

"These kind of games happen. You just throw them away and move on."
-- Manager Terry Bevington, after Tuesday's 9-2 loss to the Yankees.
"I wonder what my baseball card will say next year."
-- Ozzie Guillen, after playing left field Sunday night.
"It's like an animal. If it's injured, the other animal will sense that and go on the attack."
-- Bevington, on the White Sox' struggling bullpen.

-- Clubhouse correspondent


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