By Jim Callis
August 21, 2003

To say that Thursday was a good day for the White Sox would be putting it mildly. Not only did they take sole possession of first place in the American League Central, but they also bolstered their bullpen by adding Scott Sullivan from the Reds for a player to be named later. The Cincinnati Post is reporting that the minor leaguer is Triple-A infielder Tim Hummel. Chicago and Cincinnati will split the $596,000 remaining on Sullivan's 2003 salary.

Sullivan, a 32-year-old righthander, comes at hitters from a sidearm angle with a 90-mph sinker and a cut fastball. He annually ranks among the major league leaders in relief innings and has continued his workhorse ways despite trips to the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis in each of the last two seasons. In 50 games this year, he has gone 6-0, 3.62 with a 43-26 strikeout-walk ratio in 50 innings. Opponents are batting just .211 with four homers against him. For his career, he's 37-24, 3.91 with nine saves in 494 appearances. Sullivan is making $2.8 million this season, the end of a three-year, $6.95 million contract. The White Sox hold a $3.1 million team option for 2004, and can buy him out for $250,000.

Hummel, 24, was a second-round pick from Old Dominion in 2000. At one point he looked like he'd be the White Sox' second baseman of the future, but the club made trades for players such as D'Angelo Jimenez and Roberto Alomar. Hummel has played just six games at second base this year, instead seeing time at third base and shortstop. He's having his best year ever with the bat, as his 15 homers are two more than he hit in his first three seasons combined. Hummel is hitting .284 with a .349 on-base percentage and .447 slugging percentage in 126 games. He still projects as a second baseman, because his bat would stand out there. His power surge aside, he may not have the pop for third base and lacks the range of a typical shortstop.