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CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox's need to pay cash for a backup outfielder Monday brings to light all of the issues that have continued to torment highly-regarded prospect Jared Mitchell.

The former first-round draft pick, whom the White Sox continue to hold in high regard, can't seem to catch a break and the White Sox's acquisition of Casper Wells from the Oakland Athletics on Monday only seems to highlight that.

The early-season injury to Dayan Viciedo, and the fact that the team started the season with only four outfielders, has brought the White Sox's major-league ready depth into focus. On the lower levels, the White Sox have some of the most impressive outfield talent around, but when it comes to players who can jump into the major leagues now, it isn't nearly as strong.

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CHICAGO -- Four weeks into the regular season with a brand new team and already things seem to be as normal as they can be on Planet Pierzynski.

Former Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski has been getting along swimmingly with his new Texas Rangers teammates. He nearly caught a perfect game during the first week of the season, he's already been back to Chicago in a series against the Cubs and recently had the occasion to torment the Los Angeles Angels yet again with a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning.

Next comes the most awkward stage, when he plays against the White Sox in a three-game series that begins Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.

White Sox pitcher John Danks seemed to regret the fact that he won't be there as he heads out to Birmingham, Ala., on a minor-league rehab assignment this week. But the injured pitcher and native Texan already got a chance to check out his former teammate play in person.

"I saw him the opening night when they were playing in Houston," Danks said. "It was weird seeing him back there. Obviously we all know A.J. and how good of a player he was. It was fun to watch him, and kinda weird to not see him in a White Sox uniform."

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CHICAGO -- The lone bright spot on an otherwise tough day for the White Sox was a Paul Konerko drive that inched him up a pair of home-run lists.

Konerko’s two-run home run in the third inning off Tampa Bay Rays starter David Price was the 426th of his career, tying him with Billy Williams for 45th on the all-time list. He is also just 29 home runs behind Frank Thomas on the White Sox’s all-time list.

In typical Konerko fashion, he was less worried about his place in history and more concerned about the game that had just been played and the next one in front of him.

“It’s cool, I guess,” Konerko said about matching Williams. “I don’t think too much about it. Right now, I’m one of those guys trying to find a feel. I feel good in one at-bat and the other at-bat it might go away.”

Against Price, Konerko is now 10-for-20 (.500) lifetime with two home runs and six RBIs. The long ball also ended his 65 at-bat homerless streak at U.S. Cellular Field. His last one came Sept. 25 of last season against the Cleveland Indians.

“Facing some good pitching, you just have to strap it on,” Konerko said. “So I’m not thinking too much about [home-run lists] because I know the guy on the mound doesn’t give a [expletive]. So I can’t, either, and I wouldn’t either way. They’re trying to get me out. As long as that’s happening, I have to be focused in.”

CHICAGO -- While the bullpen strains under the weight it is being asked to carry and the defense continues to provide more assistance to the opposing offense, the Chicago White Sox continue to drift aimlessly.

Another loss by a reliever was combined with two more White Sox errors that led to an 8-3 defeat by the Tampa Bay Rays and a 3-5 homestand that followed a 3-7 road trip.

Making it that much worse is that the White Sox need to step up their game in the wake of so many April injuries, not regress in areas that were a supposed strength.

The bullpen is still top-notch, but a lack of run support has left it pitching in tight games each and every night, and things haven’t always gone the Sox's way in such circumstances. Nate Jones was tagged with the loss Sunday, the bullpen’s sixth loss this season. Only the Toronto Blue Jays and their eight bullpen defeats have more in the American League.

“We’re looking at what you have here and what’s available, and you go from there,” manager Robin Ventura said. “You try to win games right now not waiting and looking in the future. Guys are playing hard and this is one of those that is probably a work in progress of trying to figure that out and who’s playing and who’s doing what. But again, you try to make due and make sure everybody is giving a constant effort. That’s all you can ask.”

Ultimately, it all goes back to that ineffective offense. Adam Dunn, whose struggles have been mighty in the early going, continued to show signs of life with a first-inning RBI single. Team leader Paul Konerko added a two-run home run.

Everybody else, though, was an easy target for Rays starter David Price, who snapped a streak of five starts without a victory. His last truimph came Sept. 30 of last season, against the White Sox.

The White Sox have already used the disabled list six times in the first 24 games, an extreme worst-case scenario for a club that lacks not only roster depth but in potential breakthrough prospects at the minor league level.

Tyler Green (second base), Conor Gillaspie (third base) and Dewayne Wise (center field) all filled in for injured players Sunday and were a combined 1-for-10.

“I don’t sense anybody looking around saying we can’t win with what we have,” Konerko said. “I think the only time you think about those guys is when you see them. I think every team is going to have that little span during the season where it seems like every day somebody’s going down. Hopefully, this is ours right now and we start getting guys back and we’re kind of over that and it’s done with and some other team’s going to have to deal with that in August or September, maybe.”

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox were upended 8-3 by the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday to end an abbreviated homestand with a 3-5 record.

How it happened: Paul Konerko hit his fourth home run and Adam Dunn continued his revival with a first-inning RBI single. But the White Sox sprung a leak in the later innings as Matt Joyce hit a game-tying two-run home run in the sixth inning, while the bullpen, combined with an error from Alex Rios, was touched for a three-run eighth inning. Ben Zobrist singled in a run in the eighth against Nate Jones for a 4-3 Rays lead, and with the White Sox almost out of the inning, Rios dropped a two-out shallow fly ball for two more runs.

What it means: The combination of an inconsistent offense and a less-than-trustworthy defense continues to cause the White Sox problems. Dylan Axelrod gave up three runs over six innings, but the White Sox offense could only match that total. Add to that two more errors, one of which led to the two eighth-inning runs, and the White Sox simply have too much to overcome in a daily basis. The White Sox entered play on Sunday tied with the Indians for most errors among AL Central teams (14).

Outside the box: Konerko managed to move himself up two home run lists Sunday. He not only hit his 426th home run to tie Billy Williams for 45th on the all-time list, but he also closed the gap on Frank Thomas’ White Sox career home-run mark. Konerko is now 29 home runs away from Thomas, who had 448 in a White Sox uniform. Konerko hit seven big league home runs before joining the White Sox.

Offbeat: It might be time to update Conor Gillaspie’s profile from a developing defender to one who has an unconventional give-and-take style. Gillaspie has always been a work in progress with the glove but has been a pleasant surprise since coming over to the White Sox. He made a first-inning error on an easy ground ball, only to atone for the miscue with a diving stop to his left on a ground ball from Evan Longoria and throw to first for the out. He made a similar play earlier in the homestand to cut down a runner at the plate.

Up next: The White Sox will have a day off Monday before opening an eight-game, three-city road trip at Texas. In the series opener on Tuesday, White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana (2-0, 2.78) will oppose Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish (4-1, 1.65) in the 7:05 p.m. start from Rangers Ballpark at Arlington.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox made it official, saying John Danks will begin his minor league rehab assignment Thursday at Double-A Birmingham.

The left-hander, who had shoulder surgery in August, hasn’t pitched in a major league game since last May.

Danks pitched in spring training but started the season on the disabled list because of low velocity. He has spent the past month at extended spring training, pitching every fifth or sixth day in controlled settings. His last outing in Arizona was on Friday, although he tabbed it as not the sharpest performance.

There is no timetable on Danks’ return to the White Sox, although he hopes that with Gavin Floyd's move to the disabled list Sunday that he could be on the fast track back to the club. Danks expects to make at least two starts in minor league games, although he did admit it could be more.

CHICAGO -- Jeff Keppinger was out of the Chicago White Sox’s lineup for a third consecutive day with back spasms, but the club isn’t anticipating a stint on the disabled list.

“It looks like he’ll be good by Tuesday, for sure,” manager Robin Ventura said.

The White Sox have a day off Monday before opening a three-game series and an eight-game, three-city road trip Tuesday at Texas.

Before his back discomfort surfaced, Keppinger had started to recover from a slow start with two hits in three consecutive games.

The White Sox have already seen six players go to the disabled list this season. Keppinger would have ran that total to seven and three from the Opening Day starting lineup.

CHICAGO -- Although he didn’t know the details, John Danks still got the word he had been waiting to hear.

After nearly a month of pitching at extended spring training, the rehabbing Danks will make his next outing in a minor league game.

Danks still doesn’t know if he will be going to Double-A Birmingham or Triple-A Charlotte later this week, but simply knowing a change of pace is coming managed to lift his spirits.

“Obviously, in the scheme of things it has to be done on the field, but to graduate from Arizona [extended spring training] and get to move on, that's a good thing,” Danks said.

The left-hander had shoulder surgery Aug. 6 and hasn’t pitched in a major league game since May 19 of last year. He pitched in spring training, albeit on a cautious schedule, and started the season on the disabled list.

With Gavin Floyd now on the disabled list, Danks admitted to some extra incentive to finish up his rehab and rejoin the rotation. But if he had it his way, he would have started the season with the club despite lower velocity than he is accustomed to.

As it is, he might never reach the 94 mph range with his fastball and will have to learn the craftier side of pitching. He has said he is willing to make those adjustments.

“That was hard to watch,” Danks said about seeing Floyd leave his Saturday start early. “I don't know the extent of his injury, but we all hope he is OK. That's actually what I said [Saturday] when it happened: ‘I'm ready. I'm ready to get back out there.’ Maybe that'll move the process along a little quicker, I don't know. As far as my recovery goes, I'm on the right path.”

Calling the pace of an extended spring outing a “high-school scrimmage,” Danks just wants to get in a real game-setting again with fans in the seats, vendors walking the aisles and the smell of grilled meats in the air.

“There's going to be a couple people there and it's actually run as a game,” Danks said. “That's the big thing … It'll be fun to get out there and pitch in an atmosphere.”

CHICAGO -- As expected, Gavin Floyd was moved to the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, although there was a bit of good news when it came to the right-hander’s injury.

An MRI late Saturday night showed that Floyd had a flexor muscle strain and that there appeared to be no damage with ligaments or tendons. A precursor to Tommy John surgery would be an elbow injury with ligament damage.

Floyd had a similar injury last season that kept him out of action from Aug. 27-Sept.12. He also had elbow tendonitis that sidelined him from July 8-23.

“Last year it was a different spot,” Floyd said. “It was kind of the same thing [Saturday]. It was one pitch, and I felt it and I was like, ‘I’m going to pitch through it.’ I threw a couple more and it was just getting worse and stiffening up and I threw one to [Evan] Longoria and felt like I was babying it in there and started protecting myself. [Catcher] Tyler [Flowers] knew, and he came out and talked to me.”

The difference with his current flexor muscle strain is that he feels it more when throwing fastballs. Last season, it affected him more on curveballs.

No timetable has been set, but manager Robin Ventura thinks a mere two-week absence still isn’t out of the question. But a third elbow injury in two seasons leaves cause for concern.

“I don’t think there’s anything we are doing that’s making it happen,” Ventura said. “I think baseball makes that happen. Things happen. I don’t think it has anything to do with the way they are training. It’s just part of playing baseball. It’s not a natural act. You know hopefully they get over it quick.”

Ventura has already said that left-hander Hector Santiago will assume Floyd’s starts for now. Santiago struggled in relief of Floyd on Saturday night, giving up four runs on 109 hits in 3⅔ innings.

Assuming the White Sox don’t use Monday’s off day to skip anybody in the rotation, Santiago would be in line to start Friday at Kansas City.

CHICAGO -- The little-used Chicago White Sox bench stirred the pot Friday, raising the energy and carrying the team to its first three-game win streak of the season.

Hector Gimenez, Tyler Greene and Conor Gillaspie were insurance policies that paid big dividends Friday, with each hitting a home to rally the White Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox outslugged the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday for a 5-4 victory that gave them their first three-game win streak of the season.

How it happened: The White Sox delivered their offense through the long ball, but this time it came from unexpected sources. Hector Gimenez and Tyler Greene each hit their first home run in a White Sox uniform, while Conor Gillaspie added his own long ball. Jake Peavy gave up two early home runs to put the White Sox in a hole, but recovered to pitch a solid 6 2/3 innings. Closer Addison Reed gave up a run in the ninth inning, but finished it for his eighth save.

What it means: The only thing better than having the bench carry you to a victory is when the bench helps a struggling offense to carry you to the victory. Gimenez was giving Tyler Flowers the night off, while Greene was playing in place of Jeff Keppinger, who was dealing with back spasms and is day to day. Gillaspie is technically a reserve too, but has been starting ever since Gordon Beckham broke a bone in his hand earlier this month.

Outside the box: The Rays did better than most at getting to Peavy at U.S. Cellular Field. Including Friday’s outing, the White Sox’s right-hander now has a 2.38 ERA over his last 13 home starts dating back to June 1 of last season. White Sox starters have a 2.20 ERA over their last nine games, up from the 1.95 ERA they had over the last eight games before Peavy game up three runs.

Off beat: How much was the power show needed Friday? The story is best told by the numbers. Entering Friday’s game, the White Sox’s offense was 11th in the American League in slugging percentage (.380), 13th in batting average (.228), 14th in runs per game (3.38) and dead last in OPS (.657), on-base percentage (.277) and walks (45).

Up next: The White Sox will send right-hander Gavin Floyd (0-3, 4.98 ERA) to the mound against the Rays in the third game of the four-game series. Tampa Bay will counter with left-hander Matt Moore (4-0, 1.04) in the 1:10 p.m. start from U.S. Cellular Field.

CHICAGO -- Call it destiny that Kyle Long ended up as a Chicago Bears first-round draft pick Thursday.

Another Chicago team once tried to get him to the shores of Lake Michigan when the White Sox made the left-handed pitcher their 23rd-round pick in the 2008 first-year player draft.

Instead of signing with the White Sox, Long enrolled at Florida State to play baseball.

“First and foremost I turned that down because I wanted to get my education,” Long said Friday at his introductory Bears press conference. “Anybody coming out of high school that has an opportunity to get drafted would obviously like to see where they would get drafted and it was a pretty cool experience for my family and I getting to meet some big-name people and get to work out at some major league parks was a pretty cool deal. But I wanted to go to college and I wanted to get the college experience and get an education.”

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CHICAGO -- Just because U.S. Cellular is leaving the Chicago market doesn’t mean U.S. Cellular Field will be changing its name any time soon.

A White Sox spokesperson reiterated that the team’s ballpark at 35th and Shields isn’t in store for a name change just because all U.S. Cellular customers in Chicago will be switching cell phone carriers to Sprint.

That information first was revealed over the winter when news of Sprint’s acquisition of U.S. Cellular's Chicago market was first revealed. And with the deal set to become official in the coming weeks, it remains the case.

So instead of the situation in San Francisco where Pacific Bell Park was changed to SBC Park and ultimately to the current AT&T Park, there are no plans to change the U.S. Cellular Field name to Sprint Park or even return to the Comiskey Park name.

In 2003, U.S. Cellular signed a 20-year deal for the naming rights to the ballpark, spending $68 million to do so.

CHICAGO -- It’s getting to the point that you can’t spot a White Sox player without trying to figure out his latest injury.

Jeff Keppinger was not in the starting lineup Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays because of back spasms and Dewayne Wise was a late scratch because of a sore neck. The White Sox were already without starters Gordon Beckham (hand) and Dayan Viciedo (side), who are on the disabled list.

Then there is starter John Danks, who had shoulder surgery last summer, and Angel Sanchez, the utility infielder who is dealing with a strained lower back.

For a franchise that has used the least number of DL days over the past decade, it’s as if injuries are catching up to them all at once.

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CHICAGO -- Dylan Axelrod has been as steady as they come and about as good an example as possible for a Chicago White Sox team that has managed to do everything possible to sabotage itself.

The less-than-intimidating right-hander with the ho-hum fastball was mowing down hitters again, and still has nothing to show for his four starts this season.

Axelrod is the poster boy for the argument that a pitcher's won-loss total means nothing. In his three solid starts, the last two of which were categorized as quality, Axelrod has nothing to show for it in the win column. But that one hiccup at Washington in the first road series of the season branded him with a loss that stands as his only decision.

Axelrod was at his best yet again Monday against the Cleveland Indians by staying in the strike zone while changing speeds. He went six innings while giving up just one run on three hits but left with the White Sox holding a tenuous one-run lead.

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