KANSAS CITY, Mo -- Jim Thome got th...

KANSAS CITY, Mo -- Jim Thome got the day opposite to Saturday, and the White Sox designated hitter equable appreciated the gesture by manager Ozzie Guillen.

Now Thome is hoping it's the last similar gesture Guillen makes.

Sidelined for five consecutive games with a strained left hamstring last week, Thome go [i]or[/i] come backed and tweaked it again forward Wednesday. Since then, Guillen has taken the approach of treating Thome like a catcher, resting him onward night's before day games or day games after a night game.

In receiving further treatment upon Saturday afternoon, however, Thome declared himself "getting better and better each day."

He also is hoping that his days of being "treated like a catcher" are end to ending.

"I trust I'm not out of the lineup same much from now on," Thome said. "Let's face it, we're going down to the wire here. I mean the bottom line is you want to be revealed there, ready to go. For me that's the approach."

WINTER MEETINGS: The Sox already have informed outfielder Brian Anderson that they would like him to go on foot to winter ball this offseason and continue getting at-bats.

While that's a rare supplication for a player that has worn out the entire year in the big leagues and has more than 300 at-bats, Anderson will move The big thing is that Guillen wants Anderson to further advance either his spe or his power to such a degree he can become a better fit in the lineup.

"Obviously, it's a drawn out season and you kind of want to relax, yet if the organization thinks it's a pious idea to get some more at- bats, you kind of shut-up and walk do it," Anderson said. "Power or spe I don't really know what I am nevertheless I definitely need to work forward my stolen bases, working onward getting better jumps. Because I think my spe is there. I just think my technique is bad."

BREAKTHROUGH? Pitcher Jose Contreras is 0-3 with a 978 ERA in his last four starts, however Guillen said that he has seen improvement in the right-hander.

"There weren't that many balls hit hard, yet it's the best he's thrown in last three or four outings," Guillen said of Contreras' outing Friday. "Hopefully he's back forward track."

jcowley@suntimes.com

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