White Sox rookie Ryan Sweeney hit his first career home run in the bottom of the fifth Saturday against the Royals.

Sweeney has been hitting the ball fairly well since his promotion, but the Sox may send him packing when Jim Thome returns.

I don’t love Sweeney, but he’s certainly worth keeping around over some of the other options. Why not let the kid get more at bats and see where it goes?

The White Sox will be in rebuilding mode in a matter of time and they’ll need guys like Sweeney with some big league at bats.

Just, out.

After losing star closer B.J. Ryan to season-ending ligament surgery, the Blue Jays have lost ace and former Cy Young winner Roy Halladay for 4-6 weeks to appendicitis. In addition to that, third baseman Troy Glaus may hit the DL with a heel injury. He’s already missed 14 games this season.

“You’ve got to look at it as a chance for someone else to step up,” Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi told the Associated Press. “We’re not going to sit here and raise the white flag, say we’re quitting.”

Ricciardi can say what he wants, but I’m pretty sure he knows, like we do, that the Blue Jays are toast.

They have one prospect in the minors on Baseball America’s top 100. He is an outfielder that isn’t expected to be ready until 2009. A lot of good that should do for them. Who, then, does Ricciardi think is going to step up?

The Jays have won one of their last 10 games and are tied for last in the AL East, 9.5 games out of first.

Just, out.