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By MARC TOPKIN
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 24, 2001
SCOUTING REPORT: What was supposed to be a promising follow-up to last year's surprising Central Division championship quickly deteriorated, primarily because of a rash of injuries. The Sox have 10 players on the disabled list, including stars such as Frank Thomas, who played in just 20 games, and David Wells, who made only 16 starts, and are out for the season. Offseason imports Royce Clayton and Sandy Alomar have been busts, and the returning veterans haven't done as well. The Sox do have an impressive stable of young pitchers led by Mark Buehrle, who held the Rays to one hit in an Aug. 3. win.
THE PAST WEEK: The Sox have shown some signs of life, but lately it's been a struggle to play .500 ball. The Sox swept three games from Texas, then were swept by Oakland. They won two of three against Kansas City, with the series finale Thursday night.
RAYS-WHITE SOX CONNECTIONS: Jose Canseco was a decent player and a huge presence with the Rays in 1999-2000. Third baseman Herbert Perry was a Tampa Bay expansion draft pick and spent parts of two seasons here. The Rays got Tanyon Sturtze, tonight's starter, from the Sox for utility infielder Tony Graffanino.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Sox won three of the four games earlier this month. Overall, Chicago holds a 20-15 advantage.
WHO'S HOT: Magglio Ordonez is hitting .400 (26-for-65) with six homers and 18 RBI in his last 16 games.
WHO'S NOT: Canseco is 2-for-14 with six strikeouts in his last five games.
7:15 tonight,
4:15 Saturday,
1:15 Sunday