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White Sox give Wrigley's intensity credit

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By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

06/17/09 12:00 AM ET

CHICAGO -- As it turns out, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen did not, in fact, puke upon his arrival at Wrigley Field on Tuesday afternoon as he said he would.

"I want to," Guillen said as he sat in the visitors' dugout with rain thumping the top steps. "I didn't find a place to do it."

Clearly, Guillen's disdain for the Friendly Confines still was in full force before Tuesday's scheduled contest, which was postponed because of heavy rains in the area.

No makeup date was announced.

"If someone has to use the bathroom during the game, we have to take a taxi back there," Guillen said. "If we want to hit, we have to go to the rats. We're really spoiled on the other side."

Both Guillen and White Sox players admitted that, while Wrigley has its charm on the field, it leaves something to be desired off the field.

The visitors' clubhouse is cramped. And the low-hanging dugout ceilings are more suited for ballplayers in the early 1900s than the early 2000s.

"Obviously, the facilities aren't like most places," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said. "It's old."

Guillen, who has made it no secret that he dislikes the ballpark on Chicago's North Side, still made it a point to share his appreciation for the people and the fans that make up the intracity rivalry.

"In this series, it's the closest you'll get to the World Series [intensity]," Guillen said. "This is fun. As soon as the game starts, it's a great feeling. The fans are into it. The city is into it."

Konerko, who will spend his 11th season taking part in the annual Interleague showdown as a member of the South Siders, shared Guillen's views in that regard as well.

"No matter how many years you play in it, these games always have a different feel than the rest of them," Konerko said. "It's just short of the playoffs. We know it means a lot to our fans. I think it means more to our fans than maybe theirs. I just get that feeling. I think when the Cubs don't win these games, their fans get upset. I think when ours don't win, they get angry."

Rookie Chris Getz would have received his first start on Tuesday in the intracity showdown, as the White Sox second baseman.

He'll have to wait until Wednesday to do so, but he still couldn't hide his excitement about the matchup.

"I really don't know what to expect," Getz said. "I'm going to treat it like it's any other game. I'm sure when I get out there, I'll have a little bit more adrenaline."

Then Getz was asked about another of Wrigley's great charms.

How much has he been heckled during his Major League career?

"I feel like I've been heckled pretty good," he replied, "but it's yet to be seen if this takes the cake."

Pitching matchup
CWS: LHP John Danks (4-5, 4.81 ERA)
Danks lasted into the eighth inning for the first time all season but was upstaged by Detroit's Justin Verlander in a 2-1 loss last Wednesday. Danks went 7 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He struck out seven and walked two. He faced the Cubs once, on June 20, 2008, and gave up one run on five hits over six innings in that game. He did not get a decision.

CHC: RHP Ryan Dempster (4-3, 3.87 ERA)
Dempster did not get a decision in his last start against Houston. The right-hander posted another quality start, giving up one run on seven hits over seven innings. He's given up one earned run over 20 innings in his last three starts. He was 1-1 with a 7.84 ERA against the White Sox last season. Dempster is 3-0 with a 4.06 ERA in five starts at Wrigley.

Tidbits
Guillen was asked if, in the event of a rainout on Tuesday, he would rather play a doubleheader at Wrigley or one game there at a later date. "I don't want to come to this place," Guillen said. "If I have to, I have to. Let's play three games tonight and get out of here. Please. Ten miles from here, we'd be nice and real dry in the [media] room, relaxed. And here, look at all you guys getting wet." ... At Wrigley Field, the White Sox are hitting .266 with a 5.52 ERA during Interleague Play and have been outscored by a 184-170 margin. At U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox have hit .244 with a 3.74 ERA, outscoring the Cubs, 153-138. ... The White Sox have won three straight games against the Cubs by a 21-9 margin after the Cubs had won six in a row and nine of the previous 10 dating back to the 2006 season.

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Up next
• Thursday: White Sox (Jose Contreras, 2-5, 5.32) at Cubs (Ryan Dempster, 4-3, 3.87), 1:20 p.m. CT
• Friday: White Sox (Clayton Richard, 2-1, 3.76) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo, 7-5, 5.36), 6:10 p.m. CT
• Saturday: White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 6-2, 3.43) at Reds (TBD), 6:10 p.m. CT

Jesse Temple is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.