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Sox’ Williams says LOL on Kubel claim

Random White Sox thoughts while wondering why major-league baseball doesn’t just move the nonwaiver trade deadline from July 31 to Aug. 31 …

ŸAccording to multiple national reports, the Sox have been awarded a waiver claim on Minnesota Twins outfielder/designated hitter Jason Kubel.

That came after they reportedly claimed Jim Thome off waivers, also from the Twins.

I enjoy a good rumor as much as anybody, but some of these national Internet baseball guys might want to screen their sources.

When I texted White Sox general manager Kenny Williams about Kubel on Thursday, he came back with: “Kubel? Do you know something I don’t know?”

When I responded with the details on Kubel, Williams came back with: “I don’t know what the (heck) you’re talking about.”

The final text from the Sox’ GM? “LOL.”

So there you have it.

ŸThere are at least 153 reasons for Adam Dunn’s horrible season with the Sox.

Not only does that number match his strikeout total, Dunn is well on the way to posting the lowest batting average for a season in the modern era.

With just 34 games to play, Dunn is hitting .165. In 1991, Rob Deer set the (sub)standard by hitting .179 for the Detroit Tigers.

As for the various reasons for Dunn’s struggles, the overall better pitching in the American League tops the list.

I think there is some merit there, but how do you explain Adrian Gonzalez, who played his first five full seasons with the San Diego Padres in the National League before joining the Boston Red Sox this year?

Like Dunn, Gonzalez is a left-handed hitter.

Unlike Dunn, A-Gone is batting .347, and his 21 home runs and 99 RBI make him the solid MVP favorite.

ŸI think it’s fairly safe to assume the White Sox won’t be picking up relief pitcher Jason Frasor’s $3.75 million club option for 2012.

Frasor is 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA since coming over in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays.

With Josh Kinney and minor-league phenom Addison Reed, the White Sox are going to have two choices when it comes to finding a right-handed setup man next year.

ŸThe Sox might have to come up with another left-handed reliever in 2012.

The more you watch Chris Sale’s emergence, the more you want to see him in the starting rotation.

ŸRounding the corner and heading for home, it’s … Omar Vizquel.

At 44, it looks like Vizquel’s stellar career is entering the final month.

Not only has he lost another step on defense this year, Vizquel is batting just .154 (4-for-26) over his last 11 games.

If he is back in a White Sox uniform in spring training, it’ll be as a coach.

ŸBrent Morel has played solid defense all season, and he’s batting .286 since the all-star break.

Not bad, but the 2 home runs and 22 RBI in 93 games don’t cut it for an AL third baseman. Even worse, Morel has 6 walks in 308 at-bats.

sgregor@dailyherald.com

White Sox scouting report

White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams said the team did not claim Twins outfielder Jason Kubel off the waivers.