Manager Guillen, White Sox open series vs. Royals

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06/03/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After getting a day to rest and cool off, Ozzie Guillen and the Chicago White Sox go back to work tonight with the first of three consecutive meetings with the Kansas City Royals from U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox return to the Windy City after dropping the final three tests of a four-game weekend set at Tampa Bay, capped by Sunday's 4-3, 10-inning setback in which Chicago blew an early two-run lead.

Gabe Gross completed the Rays' comeback with a leadoff home run off Matt Thornton (1-1) in the bottom of the 10th. Gross also came through with a two- RBI double in the fifth that erased a 3-1 Tampa deficit.

Chicago mustered just four runs over the three losses in the series and scored just once after the second inning in Sunday's defeat. The White Sox could not cash in a leadoff double by Jim Thome in the top of the 10th, as Joe Crede failed to advance pinch-runner Pablo Ozuna with one out and Rays reliever J.P. Howell struck Nick Swisher out looking to end the threat.

That drew the ire of Guillen after the game, with the fiery White Sox manager publicly calling for general manager Ken Williams to make changes and fix his team's struggling offense.

Despite their struggles over the weekend, the White Sox still occupy first place in the American League Central right now. Chicago's lead, however, has been trimmed to just a half-game by Minnesota after the Twins defeated the New York Yankees on Monday.

Kansas City's got plenty of problems of its own. The lowly Royals lost 12 consecutive games from May 19-30, but showed signs of a breakout by posting back-to-back wins over slumping Cleveland on Saturday and Sunday.

The Royals were buoyed by a strong outing from Brian Bannister in the series finale. The crafty right-hander limited the Indians to one run on five hits over 7 1/3 innings to lead Kansas City to a 6-1 triumph.

Jose Guillen and Mark Grudzielanek each homered and knocked in two runs for the Royals, with Guillen finishing 3-for-4 for the game. Alex Gordon also had two RBI on the afternoon.

Tonight's opener features a pair of talented young right-handers that will go head-to-head in Kansas City's Zack Greinke and the White Sox' Gavin Floyd.

Greinke ranks among the AL leaders with a 2.88 earned run average this season and has put together a quality start in nine of his 11 outings so far this year. The 24-year-old hasn't been able to get a victory in either of his last two starts, however, although he pitched well enough to win this past Wednesday versus Minnesota.

Against the Twins, Greinke worked eight innings and allowed just three runs while striking out eight batters before exiting. However, the former first- round pick was denied a win when Minnesota rallied for five ninth-inning runs against the Kansas City bullpen in the top of the ninth.

Greinke is just 2-6 lifetime against Chicago with a 4.16 ERA over 13 games (10 starts). He's also had no success pitching at U.S. Cellular Field, having compiled an 0-4 record with a 5.46 ERA in six appearances (4 starts) at the facility.

Floyd, on the other hand, has been tremendous at U.S. Cellular Field this season. The 25-year-old is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA in four home starts and surrendered a mere 10 hits over 30 2/3 innings (a .102 opponents batting average) during that stretch of games.

The No. 4 overall pick of the 2001 draft's last appearance came at Cleveland on Wednesday, with Floyd picking up a win despite permitting five runs (4 earned) over six innings. Five days earlier, the improving righty gave up just three hits and threw a complete-game in a tough-luck 3-1 home loss to the Angels.

Floyd has made one start and one relief showing against the Royals over his career and allowed four runs (3 earned) in eight innings versus Kansas City. He took a loss in a starting role at Kauffman Stadium last September after surrendering three runs over six frames.

Chicago has dominated the Royals at home in recent years, having amassed a 21-7 record as the host in this series since 2005. The White Sox took six of nine encounters with Kansas City in Chicago last season and went 12-6 overall against the Royals in 2007.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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