CLEVELAND — It’s not every day Jerry Reinsdorf picks up the phone to discuss White Sox business in public. In fact the Sox chairman hasn’t made himself available to media during the entire season to talk about his team and has done so on rare occasions over the last several years.
But after David Kaplan, an afternoon radio talk show host on ESPN 1000’s “Kap and Co.” and TV host of “Sports Talk Live” on Comcast SportsNet – of which Reinsdorf owns a majority share — said on his radio show he had heard Sox vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn weren’t on the same page, Reinsdorf called to say all parties involved are “in lockstep.” Kaplan said a scout from outside the Sox organization told him Hahn and Williams disagreed on whether the organization should rebuild for the long-term future or try to win now.
Reinsdorf told Kaplan “the front office – Reinsdorf, Williams, Hahn — is 100 percent in lockstep” and that it’s “untrue that Rick wanted to rebuild and Kenny didn’t.’’
A Sox spokesman characterized the discussion of about Hahn and Williams as “absolute nonsense.”
Fulmer optioned; Ranaudo gets the call
Right-hander Anthony Ranaudo will be recalled from AAA Charlotte to start Wednesday against the Cleveland Indians to fill the opening in their rotation with right-hander Miguel Gonzalez on the disabled list with a strained groin. Ranaudo will likely fill the spot until Gonzalez returns, which means at least one more start.
Ranaudo made his only start for the Sox in an 8-1 loss to the Cubs July 27 at Wrigley Field, allowing three earned runs on two hits — home runs to Kris Bryant and Javier Baez — and four walks. He struck out three, completed 6 2/3 innings and was sent back to Charlotte after the game.
Fulmer, the No. 8 overall draft pick in 2015, allowed 11 earned runs over 11 2/3 innings in relief and will be stretched out as a starter at Charlotte. The Sox may give him some starts in September, Ventura said.
“Broadening my horizon as a reliever, being in those situations in tight games, this will do nothing but help me in the future,’’ Fulmer said.
Lawrie close
Second baseman Brett Lawrie (hamstring) will play another game at AA Birmingham as part of his minor league rehab assignment Wednesday “and we’ll see how he is then,’’ Ventura said. Birmingham had an off-day Tuesday.
This and that
Melky Cabrera hit his 300th career double.
*Jose Quintana made his sixth straight quality start, which is tied for the third-longest active streak in the AL behind Corey Kluber and Justin Verlander.
Woof! Sox attempt at world record
The Sox announced plans to attempt breaking a Guinness World Record for most dogs in attendance at a sporting event. The promotion is set for the annual “Bark at the Park” event when fans can bring their dogs to U.S. Cellular Field Sept. 13 when the Sox host the Indians. Fans will need to bring 1,000 dogs into the park to be certified by a Guinness World Records adjudicator.
