Say it ain't so, Jose

The White Sox dropped Jose Contreras from the starting rotation after another horrible outing Friday night in which he gave up 5 runs (3 ER) in 3-2/3 IP to the Rangers, who stomped on the Sox 6-0. Contreras is now 0-5, and is painful to watch as he struggles to throw strikes. He piled up 81 pitches last night.

I was at the game, and when he finally exited, he was met with a loud chorus of boos, but also screams that he should get out of town, and that he should go have sex with himself (in far more colorful language, of course). To my mind, everyone was being a bit harsh to a guy who not only helped win a World Series, but alos has proven himself capable of coming back from losing streaks and turning them into winning streaks.

Contreras definitely has problems, and it now seems likely maybe he should have com back more gradually from injury, if only to give him more time to work out what seem like mechanical kinks. Still, I don't think we have heard the last of him.

At 13-15, the Sox definitely need help. Contreras isn't only pitcher having problems, and offense has been inconsistent as well. Alexei Ramirez was neched for a while this week, and previouslt hot hitters like Paul Konerko, Carlos Quentin and Chris Getz have been cooling off. Ozzie Guillen has been tremendously patient so far this year, but I have to think he's about ready to blow off some steam, perhaps in an on-field rant after a questionable call, something that may serve to wake up his slumbering Sox.