Beckham rushed back, Guillen breaks own rule

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Monday, Sept. 20, 2010
8:51 PM

By Brett Ballantini
CSNChicago.com

OAKLANDChicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen all but admitted hed betrayed one of his iron-clad rules in rushing Gordon Beckham back from a hand injury two weekends ago at the Boston Red Sox.

We believed he was fine in Boston, but he wasnt, Guillen said of his prized second sacker. Weve seen this kid swing the bat for a year and a half and his swing while injured wasnt the same as it always is.

Beckham has struggled of late, going 3-21 in his last seven games after a resurgent second half that saw him raise his average from .205 to as high as .258 as recently as Sept. 5.

Hes got to start hitting. As soon as hes ready, well give him another day, Guillen said.

That comment reinforces one of his own seemingly unbendable rules: An injured player recovers and is declared ready to play, then sits one more day for good measure.

Beckham is hungry to get back whenever injured but all but admits he unknowingly returned too quickly, bruising his hand further while trying to swing at less than 100.

It was in Detroit where Bacon finally admitted he was hurting the team by being unable to perform at 100. During the Minnesota Twins series last week, Beckham was wearing a wrap on his hand in order to play, but went 1-7 in two starts. The sophomore has missed seven games in September after missing 16 in the first five months of the season.
Brett Ballantini is CSNChicago.coms White Sox Insider. Follow him @CSNChi_Beatnik on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Sox information.

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