"Wednesday was a perfect example why the Sox acquired Alex Rios.

With Paul Konerko bruised and sore and Jermaine Dye looking physically and mentally spent, Rios replaced Dye in right field against the Seattle Mariners, still giving the Sox a formidable middle of the order with Rios, designated hitter Jim Thome and left fielder Carlos Quentin batting 3-4-5.

''Hopefully when we get to Oakland, [Dye will] get back together,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. ''This game is more mentally and physically tougher. When you struggle, you try to figure out what you're doing wrong, what you can do to get it right, you try to rush more than what you're supposed to do. And you should sit back and relax mentally and hopefully that helps you.

''We got a few guys going through that situation and that's why in the next couple of weeks you're going to see different lineups, especially with Rios in town to figure out. I'm going to pick the guys who are swinging the bat better, the matchups to whoever is pitching that day, and hopefully that lineup works.''

It was Rios' debut with the Sox after he was acquired off waivers on Monday, with Dye in the midst of a .156 slump since the All-Star Break. Rios struck out in his first at-bat.

New to Guillen

Despite a report that said Major League Baseball had issued Guillen a warning concerning his comments over the weekend in which he threatened revenge against opposing teams that continued to plunk his hitters, Guillen said that he heard nothing on Wednesday.

If there was a warning, he or the organization would have been contacted. At least as of Wednesday, neither were."