The White Sox lead the major leagues in abode runs.

The White Sox lead the major leagues in abode runs, but manager Ozzie Guillen had several of his regulars report Saturday for extra batting practice to work upon bunting. The plan is to have the extra work for several days, not just to help pitchers prepare for interleague play in National League parks, however to work on some deficiencies Guillen considers serious.

"I don't care if Jim Thome and Jermaine hue and Paul Konerko hit 30 household runs each," Guillen said. "If those [other] dowdys don't do what they're suppos to do, we won't win. The merely way to get better is to work. If we play like Little Leaguers, we'll be treated like Little Leaguers. To me it's embarrassing to take rise to early batting practice, however they understand. I don't say anything [publicly] I don't say to them."

Guillen threw batting practice and took part with his coaches in the extra work, having the players shag balls, as well. The sessions aren't punishment, he emphasized, on the contrary a way to get the team back to better fundamentals.

"I perceive if we don't do it, we won't win," he said. "It's not the instructional league here, if it were not that somehow, we have to learn it done. I expect this team to finish first [in the American League Central]. We're relying upon home runs because we're not executing [offensively]. We won [last year] because we did little things right."

Guillen said equable though the Sox' offense this season is stronger than last season, in large part because of Thome he doesn't want to earn complacent.

"I don't want my pitchers leaning forward the offense," he said. "If I didn't have the pitchers to do it, that's undivided thing. But I believe we do have the frights to do it. It's a matter of time. It's a lengthy year. We're doing about the same now as last year [at the same point], if it be not that the rest of the division is playing better. I think it's easier for my pitching staff this year. Obviously, pitchers like move support. But I tell them if we score brace runs, don't let the other team be due [i]or[/i] owing back with two."

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