CHICAGO (AP) -- The decision by the White Sox to postpone Monday's game might benefit them more than the Mariners, but Seattle manager Lou Piniella wasn't complaining anyway.

The game between the White Sox and Mariners was called because of cold weather and will be made up as a doubleheader Aug. 8, starting at 4:05 p.m. CT.

"I think it's very prudent on their part to cancel the game," Piniella said. "I know it's darn cold and it's miserable and we went through three days of this in Detroit and it wasn't any fun. This is a Green Bay Packer day."

The delay benefits the White Sox, who had reliever Tanyon Sturtze, who has a 24.00 ERA, making a spot start in place of injured James Baldwin. Baldwin was hit in the chest by a batted ball in his last start and suffered a bruise, which has limited his mobility.

"It looks like hopefully (Baldwin) can make his next start," White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said.

The postponement also allows shortstop Jose Valentin (strained right hamstring), Frank Thomas (tendinitis right ankle) and infielder Greg Norton (sore hamstring) time to heal.

"I needed the day off -- I'm happy," said Thomas, who was 3-for-11 over the weekend against Anaheim. "This will give me a chance to bounce back."

Valentin, who had missed the weekend series, was in the White Sox lineup Monday. Manuel doesn't want his team sitting too long.

"The only thing is, we like to play," Manuel said. "I want to play as many games as possible and avoid those doubleheaders."

The Mariners don't want to cool off, either. Seattle scored 47 runs in its three-game series at Toronto, getting 11, 17 and 19 in a sweep. Alex Rodriguez keyed Sunday's 19-7 game by hitting three home runs and driving in seven.

"It won't really bother me," Rodriguez said. "You take the day and you rest and get ready for the next day. Sure, in an ideal world I'd like to continue but it's cold."

Rodriguez went 4-for-5 Sunday, hitting a solo homer in the first, a two-run shot in the fourth and a grand slam in the eighth.

"It's one of those games where you look at the scorecard and you hope it's repeated again in your career sometime," he said.

Rodriguez is more impressed with the Mariners' strong start.

"The main thing is that the team is playing well," Rodriguez said. "We're playing hard more than anything, we're preparing ourselves. I feel we have a good team here."

Rodriguez was one of many who hit in the indoor batting cages at Comiskey Park when they learned the game had been called.

"These guys are ready to hit. They like to work," Mariners hitting coach Gerald Perry said.

Would-be game notes
Cal Eldred (0-0) will make his third start for Chicago Tuesday against Aaron Sele (1-0). Gil Meche will start for Seattle Wednesday. ... The White Sox reinstated outfielder Jeff Liefer from the 15-day DL and optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte. Liefer was placed on the DL March 25 with a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. ... The Mariners went 8-4 against the White Sox in 1999.