Thornton headed to disabled list, but news is good

There was great news Tuesday on White Sox relief pitcher Matt Thornton.

And some potentially bad news.

Out for the past week with soreness in his left elbow and forearm, Thornton had an MRI on Monday, and no structural damage was discovered.

There were fluids in the elbow, but they were removed with medication.

"It's a typical pitching elbow and there's no problem at all for any kind of career-ending thing," Thornton said. "So that's kind of a relief for me and my family that there's nothing major wrong.

"It's just a matter of getting the irritation out of there, and I'm guessing the fluid was causing the muscles to spasm up and act up and that was the problem I was having. It's flushed out of there, so go forward from here."

Thornton said he will try to play catch Wednesday, and that's where the bad news comes in for the Sox.

Needing at least another 5-6 days to get ready, the White Sox are going to put Thornton on the disabled list Wednesday (retroactive to Aug. 18). They also are going to DL J.J. Putz (right knee).

"I need some guys that can go out there," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I'm not saying we're in trouble, but I think everyone in the bullpen has to pick it up a notch for at least the next seven days because we won't have Thornton."

Thornton is just happy his season isn't over.

"Major relief," the all-star reliever said. "I've gone through Tommy John (surgery in 2002), so anytime you find out the ligament is as good as new and everything around it's just fine, I was pretty relieved with that."

On second thought: Manager Ozzie Guillen apologized for ripping into his team Sunday after the White Sox lost two of three at Kansas City, all in extra innings.

"I think I was a little wrong and a little too hard on the players because that's the way I am," Guillen said. "I don't care if you lose or win. We don't make any excuses.

"Those guys played (31) innings in two days. Guys pitching 3 or 4 innings and you hear your manager say that and it's not a good thing.

"But I was upset. I look back on myself and say, 'Those guys give that to you, so how the (heck) are you talking about them like that?'

"I don't regret it. That's the way I felt at that particular moment. In the meanwhile, they played their heart out and we just got beat."