No update yet on Alfonso Soriano, who met with the team orthopedic specialist Sunday. Soriano was not expected back until Tuesday. Jake Fox will get the majority of playing time in left.

“We like the offense that Fox provides,” Lou Piniella said of Fox, who drove in a career-high five RBIs on Saturday.

The rap against Fox is that he’s a hitter with no place to play.

“I don’t call him a liability,” Piniella said. “He’s not a Gold Glover but, look, we don’t expect that. We expect this young man to go up and take his cuts at home plate and help us from the offensive side of things. If we get enough of a lead, we’ll put somebody out there with the other skills, and that’s Sammy [Fuld]. [Fox] works hard and he’s trying to get better at everything he does and it’s wonderful to see.”

* Jeff Baker, who injured the little finger on his right hand during batting practice Saturday, was available to pinch hit.

* Mike Fontenot has been working with hitting coach Von Joshua, and one thing Piniella has noticed is that the second baseman isn’t taking his offensive struggles out on the field with him.

“He’s done a nice job, to his credit, defensively,” Piniella said. “He’s plyaed very well. Usually when you see a fall off at home plate, you see a fall off with the glove. It’s good to see — that’s professional.”

* Piniella says he doesn’t look at the standings.

“I don’t pay attention to anything,” he said. “If nobody gives us a chance, let’s keep it that way.”

He also wasn’t going to comment on recent statements by White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen or anybody else. Piniella has enough to think about.

“I do the best I can every day [to hold my tongue] and once in a whlie, when I go into the interview room after a tough loss, I saw a little prayer to God to give me the patience not to say anything that will cause any controversy,” he said.

A reporter quipped that the media is praying for the opposite to happen. PIniella laughed.

“I believe you,” he said. “I understand the nature of the beast.”

– Carrie Muskat