June 26--Jeff Samardzija has been traded twice in the last year and spent at least two years dealing with trade rumors.
So the fact his name will come up again before the July 31 trade deadline is no surprise, especially if the White Sox can't put together a hot streak.
"It just taught me not to pay attention to it," said Samardzija, who's slated to start Sunday against the Tigers. "It's easy to get distracted in this game, whether it's trade rumors or personal life ... so many different things can take you off your game on the field. It's so important to make your priorities between the foul lines, and everything else after that takes care of itself."
Manager Robin Ventura will have to win with the players he has been given, and said he's not involved in any talks over which players are going to be on the market.
"There might be a change here and there but you have the people you have unless you can move them," he said. "Those are the facts. Right now we're going to have to figure out a way for this group to get better. I don't do the moves though."
Ventura does make the lineup moves, however, and on Thursday sat Alexei Ramirez, one player with whom the Sox are willing to part. Whether Ramirez will start Friday is unknown.
"We need him out there with a clear mind," Ventura said.
Hanging in: Ventura has received heat from Sox fans, but said he does feel support from the higher-ups.
"There's give and take there," he said. "They're frustrated with what we're doing too, as a team, the wins and losses part of it. Yeah, you feel support, but I don't see us separated as far as pointing a finger. I mean we're all in it together, and that's important but you're trying to figure out how to change it and that's all we can do."
World news: White Sox pitching prospect Frankie Montas was selected to play for the World team in the annual Futures Game on July 12 in Cincinnati two days before the All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park.
