KANSAS CITY -- Mark Teahen ran smack into a flurry of media activity as he made his return to Kauffman Stadium.

The ballpark that Teahen called home the previous five seasons was buzzing on Friday in the aftermath of the news that Trey Hillman was out and Ned Yost was in as the manager of the Royals. For Teahen, who played for Hillman in 2008 and '09, the news was sobering if not completely surprising.

"It's unfortunate," Teahen said. "Trey's a great guy. I'm sure he'll land on his feet. Strange that it happened while I'm in town. I wish him the best."

The Royals went 75-87 and 65-97 in Teahen's two seasons under Hillman. The White Sox third baseman has stayed in touch with some of his ex-teammates and had a feel for the frustration that had been growing in Kansas City after an 11-23 start this year.

"They were aware they hadn't been performing up to expectations and a lot of times the manager has to take the fall for that," Teahen said.

Besides the unsettling news about his former manager, Teahen's first regular-season trip back to Kansas City has been a pleasant one. He had the opportunity to dine with friends at the Capital Grille on Thursday night, and then rose bright and early on Friday to take Rachel Wait to her first-grade class in nearby Liberty.

"It was in fulfillment of what her parents bought at my charity auction in January," Teahen said.

While visiting with some familiar Kansas City reporters, Teahen also talked about setting a wedding date with fiancee Lauren McClain.

"It's going to be on Dec. 31 -- New Year's Eve -- so we'll make it a full night," Teahen said.

Asked what type of reception he was anticipating for his first plate appearance back at Kauffman as a visiting player, Teahen provided a touch of the deadpan humor he was known for as a Royal.

Teahen joked that he anticipated about a 15-minute delay "to let the cheers die down."

Humor aside, Teahen offered a more realistic expectation.

"Hopefully, there will be more cheers than boos," he said.

Peavy aims to keep rolling

KANSAS CITY -- White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy expects to stay on a roll when he takes on the Royals on Saturday in the middle game of the weekend set. Those early-season concerns about the former Cy Young winner are growing weaker by the start.

"I can be good and it has nothing to do with the league," Peavy said. "I can win if I'm healthy and right."

Peavy has a 1.33 ERA dating back to his second inning on April 28 against the Rangers. Thanks to an arm angle correction and a sound ankle that is allowing him to drive through his pitches with force, Peavy is confident he'll be the consistently dominant pitcher for the White Sox that he used to be for the Padres. .

"Are there going to be hiccups along the way where I have a bad start and give up some runs? Sure, but I have the potential to go seven or eight innings and shut people down," Peavy said. .

Peavy's first win this year came against the Royals. The White Sox can only hope that May 3 outing by Peavy was truly the start of something big.

Andruw waiting his turn for No. 400

KANSAS CITY -- Andruw Jones will have to wait a little longer to take aim on becoming the 46th player in baseball history to hit 400 home runs.

Jones needs three homers to reach that milestone, but was out of the lineup on Friday because of a sore neck.

"I'd rather give another day off to make sure you are ready to play the next day," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "That's the rule that I go by."

The White Sox are hopeful that with Thursday's open date and the rest on Friday it will mean that Jones is ready on Saturday.

"He'll have to tell me," Guillen said. "If he's ready to perform, he'll play [Saturday]."

Third to First

Carlos Quentin sat out Friday's game after developing an upset stomach. "Carlos is sick, I don't know what he ate," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "It's not a big deal.". . . According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Paul Konerko was the first White Sox player since Zeke Bonura in 1935 to lead or share the Major League home run lead entering the month of May. ... Mark Kotsay and former White Sox third baseman Robin Ventura were selected as two of the 28 members of the NCAA College World Series Legends team. The All-CWS Legends team will be recognized in an on-field ceremony at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb., on June 18.