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Alex Rios News & Rumors

Hidden Sox assets: Adam Dunn and Alex Rios
January 29
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The way Adam Dunn sees it, the White Sox added two key players this offseason: Alex Rios and Adam Dunn. Those former All-Stars contributed almost nothing last season, so you see where Dunn is going with this. "We made two pretty good moves," Dunn said Saturday at SoxFest. "That was hopefully getting me and Alex back. That's the way I'm looking at it. We pretty much have the same team. We lost a couple of key players [Mark Buehrle, Carlos Quentin, Sergio Santos]. We have guys capable of stepping in and filling that role and do a little better. That's what we're expecting." Looking healthy, rested and somewhat lighter — although he couldn't say how much because he doesn't step on a scale —"
Dunn believes he and Rios can turn things around
January 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"Adam Dunn arrived Saturday at SoxFest appearing leaner than his 6-foot-6, 285-pound frame suggests. And, typically, the embattled White Sox slugger looked optimistically to the future. "We made two pretty good moves this off-season," said Dunn, who last season struck out a franchise record 177 times, batted .159 and failed to hit 38 home runs for the first time since 2003. "That was hopefully getting me and Alex (Rios) back. That's the way I'm looking at it. We lost a couple of key players. We have guys capable of stepping in and filling that role and do a little better. That's what we're expecting.""
Agent hopes Rios can use September as springboard to successful 2012
November 15
Chicago Tribune
 
"General manager Ken Williams has been hard-pressed to project his 2012 Chicago White Sox roster because of subpar performances from several players. One of those players is center fielder Alex Rios, who batted .227, including a .213 mark in the first half. Paul Kinzer, the agent for Rios, hopes that Rios' .307 batting average in September can serve as a building block for 2012. "I think he thinks he can build on that and take it in," Kinzer said Monday at the general managers' meetings."
Guillen refuses to pin blame on Sox's down year on Dunn, Rios
September 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"Sunday was a day of reflection for Ozzie Guillen, which was a good idea since it would be awkward for him to look ahead to next year when he may not be the White Sox's manager. Most fans lay blame for the Sox's demise — and thus Guillen's — on Adam Dunn and Alex Rios, who started the first series of the season as the third and fifth hitters in the lineup. And while it may not be quite that simple, those two seem to have never bought in to the "all in" ad campaign, combining for fewer than 25 homers and barely 90 RBIs for the 77-82 Sox after Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Royals. In the eyes of many fans, the greatest criticism of Guillen was sticking with Dunn and Rios for three-fourths of the"
Resurgent Rios extends hitting streak to six games
September 7
Chicago Tribune
 
"Moving his hands away from his body has helped Alex Rios break out of a four-month slump. But learning to hit the ball up the middle and not try to pull the ball every time has helped Rios make a steady climb in the final month of the season. There was an exception Tuesday night, as Rios pulled a home run in the fifth inning of the Chicago White Sox's 3-0 win at Minnesota. But Rios is hitting the ball with more authority as he is batting .423 during a six-game hitting streak."
Alex Rios' anger after White Sox loss tells story of frustrating season
September 1
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Alex Rios' frustration came to a head before he struck out with the bat on his shoulder and the tying run on first base for the final out of the White Sox' 7-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. After he struck out looking in the sixth inning with Paul Konerko on second, Rios did make solid contact in the dugout. ''He swung the bat pretty good in the dugout,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said, trying to make light of the subject after a tough loss. ''He swung better than at the plate. He was connecting very hard.'' Until then, the only good contact made was by the Twins in a six-run first against upstreaming Sox right-hander Jake Peavy (6-7) and by Sox first baseman Brett Lillibridge, who"
Rios scratched from Sox's lineup after right hand bruise
August 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"Center fielder Alex Rios was a late scratch from the Chicago White Sox's lineup Saturday night because of a right hand bruise. Rios needed medical attention Friday night after diving into third base. X-rays were negative, and Rios was listed as day-to-day."
Rios wants to be poised for success
August 6
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alex Rios said he's started the process of revamping his batting stance in an effort to resurrect his production. Rios, who didn't start for the White Sox on Friday night for the second consecutive game, said he has moved his hands away from the middle of his body and said he will continue this if he feels aggressive and comfortable. This is the start of a process that Rios hopes won't require the entire offseason to get comfortable with. "I want to get a super simple stance where I don't have to be thinking too much about my mechanics," said Rios, who is batting .207 in 102 games. "So that's my goal for this offseason." Rios said he has watched other hitters to form some ideas about what"
Rios trying to maintain confidence
August 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alex Rios was on the White Sox bench for Thursday's series finale against the Yankees, but it was hard to get an answer about how long that would last. "Rios is going to play when I play him," said manager Ozzie Guillen, who then launched into another passionate rant about how he'll play whom he wants when he wants. As for Rios, he finally talked about season-long struggles that have produced a .207 average and almost daily boos from U.S. Cellular Field crowds, saying it was a mix of both mental and physical issues. "It gets to your head," he said. "It's mentally and physically draining. It gets to a point where you almost lose your confidence in yourself, but I haven't gotten to that"
Bring me the head of Alex Rios
August 5
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Steve Rosenbloom
"Or traded. Or released. Or at least waterboarded. Alex Rios, hello. I was hating on Rios last weekend, just hating on him, because he played defense like an absolute dog against Boston. Among other things, Rios lolly-gagged to some hits, one of which was a dunker to right-center that allowed a runner to score from first base. I vented on Monday, extending my hate to Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen, the general manager and manager, doing nothing, just standing there, endorsing Rios' heartless play, looking stupid as the stiff in center field just pantses Sox management. To reiterate, because you can't say it enough, Rios is the biggest dog to play for the Sox in at least two decades, maybe"
Rios, Dunn aware struggles hurting White Sox, vow to keep working
August 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The last thing Alex Rios and Adam Dunn needed was an injury to Paul Konerko — one more spotlight shining on how badly the White Sox struggle to score runs. Rios and Dunn are the poster children for a pitter-patter offense, and they know the Sox would be leading the AL Central if they were having normal years and not hitting .206 and .165, respectively. "We obviously don't want to be in the situation we're in,'' Rios said before he went 0-for-2 in the Sox' rain-shortened 6-0 loss to the New York Yankees in seven innings that extended their losing streak to four. "Let's talk about me. I'm having a bad season. Some people think that you don't care or this and that. They don't understand. You"
Rios may have new look at plate next season
August 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"White Sox fans might see a different Alex Rios in 2012 when he steps to the plate. Hitting coach Greg Walker believes the struggling center fielder will at least have to consider making adjustments in his swing after this season. "Next year is for next year, but we've talked about making changes," Walker said of Rios, who was batting .207 with only 24 RBIs entering play Tuesday. Walker said it's not uncommon for Paul Konerko to consider making adjustments prior to each at-bat but that it's tough to make major changes during the course of a regular season. Rios' second poor season in his last three years has prompted the thought of major changes."
Rios keeping thoughts of cut in playing time to himself
August 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"Center fielder Alex Rios chose his words carefully Monday while explaining why he didn't talk following Wednesday's promotion of Alejandro De Aza that cut into his playing time. "Sometimes you got to know when not to talk because you don't want to speak your mind," said Rios, who is batting .207. "Sometimes if you speak your mind, it causes trouble. I'd rather keep it quiet and not cause any disturbance." When asked if he understood the Sox's decision, Rios took nine seconds before replying. "I'd rather not comment," he said. Despite his cut in playing time, Rios vowed he wants to stay with the Sox and salvage a terrible season."
Sox send Rios to bench
July 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"The 3 1/2 years and $42 million left on Alex Rios' contract no longer guarantees him his starting center field position, general manager Ken Williams stressed Wednesday. "Throw the contracts and salaries aside," Williams said as Rios was benched in favor of recently promoted Alejandro De Aza from Triple-A Charlotte. "If we have $20 or 30 million sitting on the bench, then that's a Kenny Williams problem. That's not (manager Ozzie Guillen's) problem. We'll have pretty good pinch-hitters." In addition to his .208 batting average, Rios was batting .159 in 82 at-bats with runners in scoring position, .059 (2-for-34) in the same situation with two outs and 0-for-8 with the bases loaded."
White Sox bench Alex Rios, call up De Aza
July 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The White Sox traded starting pitcher Edwin Jackson and third baseman Mark Teahen to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitchers Jason Frasor and Zach Stewart on Wednesday. The Sox also called up center fielder Alejandro De Aza from AAA Charlotte and put him in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Detroit Tigers. He replaces Alex Rios."
Rios remains in search of comfort, production
July 17
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alex Rios said he's moved his hands away from his body at least twice in an effort to find comfort in his batting stance, but the search for production continues. "I haven't felt comfortable the whole season," Rios said Saturday before going 0-for-4 and dropping his batting average to .207. "I've been trying so many different things, even trying to hit the ball up the middle. It worked for a little bit, and then I don't know what happened. It's been frustrating, but what else can I do? Just keep working and try to get out of this hole." Rios has a unique batting stance in which his hands are placed low and close to his body. "I feel good having them there," Rios said. "Like I said, I've"
White Sox' big-spending offseason a big disappointment
July 13
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It's hard to gauge who needed the All-Star break more: the disappointing White Sox or their disappointed fan base. Expectations are everything, and the Sox' big-spending offseason set the bar where chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and general manager Ken Williams like to put it: high enough to have a chance in the American League Central and, when things fall into place, high enough to dream of making 2005 happen all over again. As Sox fans taking four days to decompress from a frustrating first half know all too well, their team can't seem to beat anybody in its division, let alone the National League champs in October. The Sox are 8-16 within the division, a low blow for a unit selling itself as"
White Sox's Rios: We want fans to be part of game
July 9
Chicago Tribune
 
"White Sox outfielder Alex Rios said the tragic death of a fan at a Texas game would not stop him from throwing balls into the stands. "That's not going to stop," Rios said. "(Fans) have to be a little more careful and judge the situation a little better. Because it's just a ball. You don't want things like what happened. "He lost his life for a ball and that's a shame. But I guess it's not going to stop. We want the fans to be part of the game, too." Rios said he felt for the fan, who fell while trying to catch the ball, and his family, but also for fellow outfielder Josh Hamilton, who threw the ball into the stands."
Alex Rios back in White Sox' lineup, wants to move on after benching
June 30
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"A day after he was pulled from the game for not hustling, Alex Rios was back in manager Ozzie Guillen's lineup when the White Sox played the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. Rios took his punishment, declined to say much about it and was pleased to be back in center field. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. ''I'm not going to comment on anything,'' Rios said before the game. ''It happened last night, and what can you do? [Guillen] had to do what he had to do, and it's all good. Let's move forward. ''I'm not going to comment because I want to keep the distractions away from the game.'' In Rios' second at-bat Tuesday, he fouled out to first baseman Todd Helton, who caught the ball near"
Redemption time for Beckham, Pierzynski and Rios in Sox's win
June 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"Despite another stressful performance by the Chicago White Sox's offense, they received contributions in other departments to compensate for the fact they scored three runs or fewer for the fourth consecutive game. Gordon Beckham, who went 0-for-3 that dropped his batting average to .226, quickly started a double play with the bases loaded that helped the Sox get out of a jam in the eighth inning. "I think that was the key right there," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "The play Gordon and (shortstop Alexei) Ramirez make, I think that lifted the team. That's a hell of a play in a great situation. (Reliever) Brian Bruney turned the double play, but I think the play by Beckham was outstanding.""
Guillen yanks Rios over lack of hustle
June 29
ESPN.com
 
"On a night that Alex Rios was removed from a game because of a lack of hustle, his replacement couldn't make the game-saving play in time. Rios had already dropped a fly ball earlier in the game for an error so when Ozzie Guillen didn't like the way he ran out he own fly ball in the seventh inning, the manager went with Brent Lillibridge in center field."
Dunn getting Rios treatment with a few days of rest
June 8
Chicago Tribune
 
"Adam Dunn will get a few days of rest in a manner similar to slumping teammate Alex Rios as manager Ozzie Guillen hopes his slugger will snap out of his 62-game malaise. "Hopefully it will refresh his mind, get his stuff together and hopefully start over," Guillen said. "That's the reason I did it. Hopefully that works. We've been doing a lot of different things with him and nothing works. Hopefully a little break for a couple of days recharges his batteries." Guillen wants Dunn to keep his faith, added that Dunn has taken early batting practice for each of the past five days."
Guillen benches Rios to ease his frustration
June 6
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"For all the attention on Adam Dunn's struggles, White Sox center fielder Alex Rios also has been going through some tough times. Though bothered by a sore toe, Rios has been a major part of the team's ­inconsistent offense, hitting 2-for-17 in his last six games and 6-for-40 in his last 10. Manager Ozzie Guillen took Rios out of the lineup Sunday and will sit him for several days in hopes of helping his mental approach. ''I think right now Rios is mentally very frustrated,'' Guillen said of the .199 hitter. ''He's very disappointed. I will give him a couple days break to hopefully recover and put his stuff back together. I plan to talk to him to tell him what the plans are. It's something"
Guillen wants Dunn, Rios to forget their struggles
June 6
Chicago Tribune
 
"Forget about it. That's what White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen wants slumping Adam Dunn and Alex Rios to do. Dunn is hitting .179 with five homers and 78 strikeouts. Rios, out of the lineup Sunday, is hitting .199 with four homers. "If we add Rios' and Dunn's bats from now on, this ballclub will be better," Guillen said. "We cannot worry about what they have not done. Let's worry about what they can do for the rest of the season. Whatever they did bad, just throw it away.""
Konerko back at first base, Rios out for Sox
June 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"Paul Konerko's left wrist has healed enough that he was given the go-ahead to not only bat for the White Sox but be back at first base for Sunday's finale against the Tigers. Konerko had miss the previous two games after having a bone fragment flushed from the wrist."
Struggles of Dunn, Rios not unique
June 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"Despite the struggles of Adam Dunn and Alex Rios, the White Sox are far from the worst offense in the American League. And hitting coach Greg Walker points out that the Sox aren't the only team with slumping sluggers. "If you look all over baseball ... everywhere I go, everyone is saying the same thing," Walker said. "We have a lot of people scuffling in this league right now. It's going to get better with the weather and as the year goes on. "Pitching has dominated this league for a couple of years, and we're fighting. We're not giving in to it. And we're playing better. But we have some work to do." After batting .342 in a three-game sweep at Boston, the Sox ranked seventh in the AL with"
Jays fans can't forget or forgive Rios
May 27
Toronto Sun
 
"Alex Rios hasn't played in the Blue Jays outfield for over two years now but judging by crowd reaction it's clear Toronto fans haven't forgotten him. In his previous returns to the Rogers Centre, Rios has been constantly greeted with jeers from the Toronto faithful. Fans were disappointed by his lacklustre play before being shipped out of town in 2009. Things took a turn for the worse between Rios and Jays fans when he questioned the dedication and support of Toronto baseball fans. He expected another harsh welcome Thursday night as the White Sox opened a four-game series against the Jays. "I'm expecting the same as last year," said Rios before the game. "A lot of boos and stuff like that,"
Ozzie Guillen: Adam Dunn, Alex Rios need to start producing
May 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The White Sox will not be a player in the American League Central race if Adam Dunn and Alex Rios don't get on board offensively. "I don't want to put heat on any player, but if Rios and Dunn don't produce or don't hit the way we think they can hit, it's going to be tough for us to compete,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said Wednesday. "It's going to be hard for the rest of the players.'' A 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers in the rubber match of a three-game series was an exercise in missed chances, offensive futility and — depending on how you spin hitting into double plays — bad luck. Alexei Ramirez, Rios and Brent Morel hit into DPs, and Dunn, who had homered the night before, then got most of"
Sox's Dunn, Rios fail to deliver in clutch
May 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"The shortcomings of Adam Dunn and Alex Rios confirmed manager Ozzie Guillen's pregame fears Wednesday. Dunn extended his misery against left-handed pitchers by striking out against Darren OIiver with the tying and winning runs on base in the eighth inning, and Rios failed to deliver game-tying hits in the seventh and ninth innings of the White Sox's 2-1 loss to the Rangers. "There are too many things (going wrong) that if I start talking, we wouldn't finish," Rios said after his batting average slid to .206. "We've been working on stuff, but sometimes it feels like it's going to start going well but it doesn't." That has been the case for the Sox, who failed to cut their nine-game deficit"
Rios struggling in horrific slump
May 4
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alex Rios' slump has reached the point where he's going to swing if he's feeling fine, regardless of his stance or where his hands are placed. "I don't know what happened," Rios said of his .168 batting average entering Tuesday night's game. "I just got lost at some point and it has been a little difficult to get that feeling back. But I'm working on it, and let's see what happens." Rios pulled a home run down the left-field line Monday night and prefers not to discuss his mechanics. He would rather just take aggressive swings at strikes."
Rios says he's not too worried about big toe
April 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Center fielder Alex Rios said his sore left big toe is an ongoing issue that he has dealt with for "a couple of years now'' and that he will continue to play through it. "It's not something I'm worried about,'' Rios said. "It's not going to keep me out of a game.'' Manager Ozzie Guillen gave Rios a day off Sunday because he was in an 0-for-20 slump. After a day to clear his head, Rios singled sharply in his third at-bat Monday to break the skid. "Yeah, it's always good when you can get away for a health day when things aren't going well,'' he said before the game. "I feel refreshed now, and I can start over and battle again.'' Guillen knows from experience that slumps often go on because"
Rios to get a day off to rest sore toe
April 19
Chicago Tribune
 
"White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen plans to give center fielder Alex Rios a break during one of the games of this four-game series at Tropicana Field. But that rest won't be nearly enough to let Rios' sore left big toe fully heal. Rios revealed Monday that his toe has nagged him for the last five years. "I don't think it's going to heal," Rios said. "It could be arthritic or turf toe, but (the pain has) been there for a while. I've learned how to play with it." Rios said a lubricant was injected into his toe during spring training, but "that didn't work." "It's just painful, but I can play every day with it," Rios said."
Alex Rios hitting well, seems poised for another strong year
March 24
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"With Opening Day nine days down the road, most veterans have had enough of camp and are ready for the real deal. White Sox center fielder Alex Rios is fine with hanging out in sunny Arizona for a while, though. "The more you play and the more pitches you see, the better it is,'' Rios said Tuesday. "I don't mind being here for six or seven weeks. I just want to see plenty of pitches, as many as I can, so I can be as ready as I can be.'' It's not like Rios needs to find a groove. He hit his fourth home run of the spring Monday night against San Diego Padres right-hander Mat Latos, tying him with Lastings Milledge for the team lead. His 14 RBI rank among the leaders in the Cactus League. Rios"
Alex Rios hitting well, seems poised for another strong year
March 23
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"With Opening Day nine days down the road, most veterans have had enough of camp and are ready for the real deal. White Sox center fielder Alex Rios is fine with hanging out in sunny Arizona for a while, though. "The more you play and the more pitches you see, the better it is,'' Rios said Tuesday. "I don't mind being here for six or seven weeks. I just want to see plenty of pitches, as many as I can, so I can be as ready as I can be.'' It's not like Rios needs to find a groove. He hit his fourth home run of the spring Monday night against San Diego Padres right-hander Mat Latos, tying him with Lastings Milledge for the team lead. His 14 RBI rank among the leaders in the Cactus League. Rios"
With home runs, Rios' bat is doing the talking
March 8
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"When an upbeat Alex Rios proclaimed the White Sox were "the team to beat" in the American League Central on his first day in camp, nobody made a big deal about it, although Rios said he heard some comments in the clubhouse about his bravado. Talk is cheap; let your game do the talking was the general sentiment. Rios is backing it up. He hit his second and third home runs of the spring, including a tape-measure blast in the Sox' split-squad game against the Cleveland Indians that ended 16-16. Rios drove in five runs. "I'm glad he believes that,'' catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "You'll never hear me say that. We have as good a chance as anybody. That's how it is.''"
Alex Rios oozes confidence
February 22
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The consensus around American League Central circles is that it's a take-your-pick division when it comes to the favorite. Throw a blanket over the Minnesota Twins, White Sox and Detroit Tigers. And while the Sox have been oozing with optimism at the start of spring training about their chances of winning it, nobody from within has stepped forward and declared them the favorite — until Monday. "Oh, yeah. Definitely,'' Sox center fielder Alex Rios said. "We're the team to beat. We have good additions. The core is solid, and with the additions, we're even stronger. We're going to give a hard time to a lot of people out there." An upbeat Rios checked into camp a day before today's first"
Sox's Rios: 'We're the team to beat'
February 22
Chicago Tribune
 
"Center fielder Alex Rios answered a reporter's question innocently, but it's the kind of reply manager Ozzie Guillen will warn his players to stay away from when he addresses them Tuesday before the White Sox's first full-squad workout. When asked Monday how the Sox stack up against the rest of the American League Central, Rios replied calmly: "Oh yeah, definitely. We're the team to beat. We have good additions to the team. The core is solid, and with the additions, we're even stronger. "We're going to give a hard time to a lot of people out there." Guillen wants his players to be confident but not boastful, until they have fulfilled their potential. And he doesn't want them to be consumed"
Sox rally for 4-2 victory
August 8
Chicago Tribune
 
"After the White Sox worked out their kinks during the first six innings, much like their troubles through the first two months of the regular season, they reverted to the form that has seen them hold onto first place since July 11. Thanks to Alex Rios' clutch hitting and solid late-inning pitching, the Sox rallied for a 4-2 victory over the Orioles at Camden Yards to maintain their 1 1/2-game lead over the Twins in the American League Central. Rios snapped out of a 1-for-16 slump when he singled to score Juan Pierre with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. The only twist was J.J. Putz pitched the ninth for the save in place of Bobby Jenks, whom manager Ozzie Guillen said has been"
'Comfortable' Rios says he joined Sox at right time
July 21
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"There was a time last season when outfielder Alex Rios had mixed feelings about leaving the Toronto Blue Jays and joining the White Sox, who had claimed him off waivers. These days, Rios is feeling that getting away from the Blue Jays might be one of the best things that happened to him in his career. ''Yeah, this is the best thing that could have happened,'' Rios said before going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI in the Sox' 4-0 victory Tuesday against the Mariners. ''I needed a change in my career, and it came at a good point. ''I went from a team that has no chance to make it to the playoffs to a team that's a contender every year. That's a good thing because it motivates you to try"
Rios wants playoff spot more than All-Star berth
July 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alex Rios won't lose any sleep if he is not selected to the American League All-Star team despite his impressive credentials. "It's a nice experience when you go to an All-Star Game, for you and your family," said the center fielder, who is batting .307 with 13 home runs, 42 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. "But I don't mind if I make it or not. I'm just looking at what a better experience it would be going to the playoffs and winning games." Rios had one at-bat and caught the final out in the 2007 All-Star Game. Manager Ozzie Guillen believes reliever Matt Thornton, Paul Konerko and Rios deserve to be selected when the National League and AL rosters are announced Sunday. "It depends on what"
Rios making gamble pay off
June 15
Chicago Tribune
 
"General manager Ken Williams swung hard and missed 2½ years ago when he pursued free agent Torii Hunter. But as difficult as it was for Williams to digest that Hunter went on to consummate a five-year, $90 million contract with the Angels at a Del Taco fast food restaurant in Southern California, his appetite for a run-producing center fielder has been satisfied by the re-emergence of Alex Rios — who gave several White Sox followers an upset stomach after watching him struggle for the final seven weeks of 2009. Rios' renaissance — a .317 batting average, 15 doubles, 13 home runs, 31 RBIs and 19 stolen bases — is reminiscent of his 2007-08 seasons, when he averaged 45 doubles, 20 home runs,"
Rios wants to stay even with Sox stumbling
June 9
Chicago Tribune
 
"Losing has been the only down side to center fielder Alex Rios' rebound year. So even if the White Sox start to dismantle their team, Rios would like to stay with the Sox through 2014. Rios has a full no-trade clause in his contract for this season that will be shortened to a limited no-trade clause in 2011. But given his production and age (29), the Sox aren't about to trade him. "There's a limited no-trade clause, but that's one of the things I was looking for," Rios said Tuesday. "Not winning has been the roughest part. We have a pretty good team, but it hasn't worked out the way we wanted it to. But it's part of the game. Things happen and sometimes you don't know why they're"
Pink proves to be hot for Rios
May 11
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"If there was, in fact, any sort of battle -- real or perceived -- between Alex Rios and his former fan base in Toronto, he got the final word Sunday. And he did so by letting his bat -- which was pink in honor of Mother's Day -- do the talking. "Yeah, I'll think about using it again," Rios said of his rosy-color-propelled four-hit performance that included a game-tying solo home run in the seventh inning. The center fielder reached base in all five plate appearances and scored three runs in a game the White Sox had in hand until giving up four runs to the Jays in the ninth inning to eventually lose, 9-7. In eight games against Toronto this year, Rios hit a robust .353 with three home runs"
Rios on upswing, but loss to Jays a 'downer'
May 10
Chicago Tribune
 
"An 11-game hitting streak and a four-hit performance Sunday did nothing to alleviate the sting that Alex Rios felt after the White Sox wasted his effort in a 9-7 loss to the Blue Jays. "It's a downer," said Rios, who hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning and scored what looked like an insurance run in the eighth. "You get pumped up because you're winning and doing well, but things happen. It's part of the game, and you want to get that (win). But you have to bounce back on Tuesday and start winning games." Rios is batting .353 with three doubles, three home runs and five RBIs against Toronto this season. The Blue Jays waived Rios last year, and the Sox claimed him. Rough and"
Rios admits he feared he had 'lost it' last year
April 28
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"There's a reason why outfielder Alex Rios is always a bit guarded with the media when discussing what went wrong last season. After all, when a player feels as though he has ''lost it'' and his career might be over at 28, it's not exactly a moment he's looking to revisit. On Tuesday, Rios was discussing the start of his 2010 season (.271, three home runs, nine RBI). In doing so, he opened up about how bad things got for him in 2009. ''This good start gives you that confidence that you can do it, that you can still do it,'' Rios said before the White Sox' game against the Texas Rangers. ''Last year was a long year for me, and I went through a lot. To be honest with you, I thought I lost it."
Rios goes drama clubbing
April 25
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It took almost three weeks for the White Sox to win their first series, but the way they did it -- dramatic walk-off style in successive victories against the Seattle Mariners -- may be a key to future success. The glum faces that had manager Ozzie Guillen worried were gone Friday when the Sox lost their lead in the late innings. And they didn't return Saturday when the Mariners scored twice against Bobby Jenks to take a two-run lead in the ninth on a controversial ground-rule double caused by fan interference that scored two runs -- and led to Guillen's ejection. When Paul Konerko homered off Mariners closer David Aardsma in the bottom of the ninth with one out, the ruling took on real"
Repeat walkoff performance for Sox
April 25
Chicago Tribune
 
"This was the season the White Sox were supposed to manufacture runs on the bases and win close games. Well, one out of two isn't bad. Close games, for sure. After Saturday's dramatic come-from-behind walkoff 5-4 victory over the Mariners, four of their seven triumphs have been decided by one run. But in the last two days, seven of their 11 runs have come on home runs — and that includes two straight with two outs in the ninth inning. On Friday night, it was Andruw Jones playing hero, on Saturday it was Alex Rios. The pair gave the Sox their first back-to-back "walkoffs" since J.C. Martin and Ken Berry did it in 1967. "The pitching staff is going to keep us in the game and when we have a"
Watching Rios video gets Guillen's ire up
April 14
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Manager Ozzie Guillen is glad he's not Alex Rios. If he were, Guillen said Tuesday, he probably would be serving some jail time right now. Before the second game of the series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Guillen watched the YouTube video of Rios getting into it with a few Blue Jays fans last June. In the video, a kid is trying to get an autograph from Rios, who gets an earful from an adult after apparently refusing the request. ''That kid is lucky it wasn't Ozzie,'' Guillen said. ''I would beat the [crap] out of him and the [other] guys. Because the way they approached him to go to that point is not the way to approach a human being. They were making fun of him. ''I swear to God, I'd be"
Rios gets more boos after foiling no-hitter
April 14
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"If Alex Rios was hoping to work his way back into the hearts of Toronto Blue Jays fans in this four-game series, that idea went out the window about the time his eighth-inning home run went over the left-field wall. Rios prevented a bit of history in the White Sox' 4-2 loss by ending Blue Jays lefty Ricky Romero's bid for a no-hitter six outs shy of the achievement. ''Oh, man, now it's going to be crazy,'' Rios said when he was asked how Blue Jays fans will feel about him now. Rios, whom the Sox claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays last August, has been Public Enemy No. 1 in the series. He had three hits Monday in his return to Toronto, then followed that up with a homer to break up a"