Unstable rotation, but pitchers keep getting it done
There have been a lot of moving parts in the White Sox’ starting rotation this season.
John Danks was hoping to be fully recovered from Aug. 6 shoulder surgery by the end of spring training and break camp with the Sox.
That didn’t happen, but Danks is set to make his first start for the White Sox against the Marlins this weekend after staying back in Arizona for extended spring training and making 4 minor league rehab starts.
Gavin Floyd is done for the season after having reconstructive elbow surgery earlier this month, and ace Chris Sale was scratched from Wednesday night’s start against Boston with tendinitis in his left posterior shoulder.
Through all of the injury issues, only the Tigers (27) had more quality starts than the Sox (26) in the American League through Tuesday’s play.
“We know we have good pitching,” manager Robin Ventura said. “We just have to play good defense to help those guys and give us a chance. As long as they grind offensively, I want those pitchers to go out and not think they have to throw a shutout every night.”
Sale is still scheduled to make his next start — Tuesday at home against the Cubs.
The 24-year-old lefty said he felt some soreness in his shoulder after starting against the Angels Friday, but Sale still wanted to pitch against the Red Sox.
“It’s us that are taking the ball out of his hands,” Ventura said. “It’s not his decision, but he knows how he feels and how he’s going to feel in five days.”
With Danks coming back from a yearlong layoff and Sale dealing with a shoulder problem, the White Sox could opt to go with a six-man rotation like they did for stretches in each of the past two seasons.
“We talked about it,” Ventura said. “I don’t want to do that. I think they’re better off going five and going from there. I don’t see us doing that.”
Hitting home:Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie was born in Omaha, Neb., and played collegiate baseball at Wichita State.Both locations have seen their share of violent storms, and that#146;s a big reason why Gillaspie is so interested in tornadoes.#147;I#146;ve been around enough of them and enough warnings to kind of know, at least in that part of the country, they take it pretty serious,#148; Gillaspie said.A major tornado hit Moore, Okla., Monday, and Gillaspie is still waiting to hear from friends in the area.#147;People I played with in college,#148; he said. #147;Wichita State#146;s famous for getting a lot of Oklahoma kids from that area. I know a couple different couples that live down in that area. Obviously, I can#146;t get a hold of anybody. I#146;m sure if there would have been a loss of life, I probably would have heard of it by now. I just can#146;t get a hold of anybody because all the cellphones are down, phones are down, power#146;s pretty much out everywhere in that area.#148;BBA24611701Boston Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew, left, tags out Chicago White Soxs Alejandro De Aza during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Associated PressBBABBA22571585White Sox starter Hector Santiago throws against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Santiago took the mound after the White Sox scratched Chris Sale (shoulder) from his regularly scheduled start.Associated PressBBA