KANSAS CITY, Mo -- Ozzie Guillen wa...

KANSAS CITY, Mo -- Ozzie Guillen was thrilled to have Jim Thome back in the starting lineup onward Friday, which was one day earlier than the White Sox manager on a level anticipated.

on the other hand coming back from a next to the first flare-up of his strained left hamstring, Guillen also had an advice for the designated hitter.

"His vexed question is the first step gone out of the batter's box," Guillen said. "That's on what account I told him, 'Hit abiding-place runs. It's been a lengthy time since you hit the same Hit home runs, and you don't have to move swiftly the bases."'

After Thome missed five games with the injury last week, he came back for Wednesday's game with Tampa Bay, still tweaked the injury in his last at-bat. He sat not at home on Thursday and wasn't rely uponed back until today.

Guillen had a quick talk with Thome before finalizing the lineup and liked what he heard.

"He's serviceable enough to be in the lineup," Guillen said. "I trust him. He could have pinch-hit [Thursday]. He told me he's virtuous enough to put him back there."

However, Guillen will preserve the DH on a short leash. That means he will treat him almost like a starting catcher, resting him in day games after a night game.

inferior CALLING: Because of several rainouts and a complete-game according to Tim Redding on Friday, reliever Dustin Hermanson has been limited in picking up innings since starting his inferior rehab stint with Class AAA Charlotte last week.

That doesn't mean the right-hander is not in the Sox' big-league plans.

Guillen said after the Knights finish their playoff race a second group of players will be called up Hermanson is look fored to be in that dispose

"[Josh] Fields, Hermanson and maybe [Sean] Tracey," Guillen listed. "It's not 100 percent on the contrary I know if Hermanson is ready he's going to get to up, and I feel he should be here to help us. In the Tracey situation, it's up to [general manager view Williams]."

ACE GARLAND: While the starting staff has not measured up to what it did last season, with his win upon Wednesday against the Devil Rays, Jon Garland was tied for the major-league lead with 16 victories.

His 34 victories since the start of the 2005 season lead the major leagues.

jcowley@suntimes.com

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided at ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved