Belle Takes the Blame for Slump

Albert Belle of the Chicago White Sox told reporters from the Chicago Sun-Times and the suburban Daily Herald he’s the team’s problem.

Speaking out about team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf’s trading Wilson Alvarez, Danny Darwin, Roberto Hernandez and Harold Baines earlier this month, Belle told the Sun-Times that the team never would have been dismantled if he had been hitting better.

“I’m pretty sure those moves wouldn’t have been made if I had been having the kind of season I should be having,” Belle said. “I’ll take the blame.”

Belle, who signed a five-year, $55-million contract with the White Sox in the off-season, hit .311 with 48 homers and a league-high 148 RBIs last season with the Cleveland Indians. He is hitting .259 with 23 home runs and 84 RBIs for the 61-64 White Sox this year.

“I certainly could have been much more productive--not home runs so much as driving runners home,” Belle said. “I haven’t been doing it like I’m capable. It’s what I’m supposed to do and I’m not.

“Physically and mentally, I’m exhausted by the end of every game,” he said. “I go home and look in the mirror and say, ‘What else could you have done today?’ ”

Belle’s performance in the first half of the season earned him a spot on the American League All-Star team. He had 18 homers and 70 RBIs before the break.

But in the 37 games since, he has only five home runs and 14 RBIs.

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New York Yankee pitcher David Cone was put on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Monday with mild tendinitis in his right shoulder.

Cone will be reevaluated daily, the Yankees said.

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Texas right fielder Juan Gonzalez was a late scratch from the starting lineup for Tuesday night’s game against Milwaukee because of a tight right groin.

Gonzalez, the 1996 AL MVP, leads the Rangers with 30 homers and 100 RBIs. He hit two homers in the first game of Monday night’s doubleheader against the Brewers.