White Sox suffering some aches, pains
The White Sox’ pitching staff is seemingly set for the stretch run.
Young starters Chris Sale and Jose Quintana have been given extra rest, as has the rest of the rotation. The overworked bullpen also looks to be in better shape when Philip Humber was moved from the No. 6 starter to reliever.
Give the White Sox credit for taking every measure possible to protect all of their pitchers.
Now, it’s time to take care of the regulars.
After Wednesday night’s 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals at U.S. Cellular Field, the Sox announced Paul Konerko has a mild concussion.
Konerko was hit on the right side of the head by Jarrod Dyson’s elbow during a play at first base during the seventh inning Tuesday. Konerko didn’t play Wednesday, nor did right fielder Alex Rios (back).
“He’ll get tomorrow (day off) and get re-evaluated on Friday,” Ventura said of Konerko. “There have been some serious things with concussions. He’s got to be evaluated. There is the seven-day (disabled list) if it’s too bad.
“I don’t know if it’s there, but he does have a mild one, so it was more of a precaution to keep him out. No way could he have played tonight. Just better to keep him out of it.”
On Tuesday, center fielder Alejandro De Aza sat out his second straight game with lower-back stiffness, and third baseman Kevin Youkilis got the night off due to a sore right knee. Both were back in the lineup Wednesday.
As for Rios, he hit the outfield fence hard in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Angels and has been dealing with a sore back. Before Wednesday, Rios had played in 107 of the White Sox’ first 109 games.
“It’s been going on for a few days, but yesterday it got stiffer,” Rios said. “But I don’t think it’s something that’s going to keep me out of the lineup for more than a day or so. I’ll be fine.”
If sitting out a few days now helps Rios deliver a strong finishing kick, that’s not such a bad thing.
“Just take a day and tomorrow we have a day off, so that will be two days,” Rios said. “Then I’m going to come back better and I don’t have to take any other days off.”
The White Sox have lost two straight, but as always Ventura isn’t too worried about the short term.
“The big picture is you want everyone to play well in September,” he said. “It’s a long season. We want to win every game, but again we’re looking at the long haul of this, and it’s difficult and that’s what makes it a hard season, is guys playing every day.
“That’s why you have a 25-man roster. You’ve got to use everybody. We’ve got guys at ages where we need to give them a break.”
sgregor@dailyherald.com