Crain’s trade value takes a hit
Jesse Crain was hoping to throw a couple bullpens this week, come off the disabled list Sunday or Monday and get back in the game.
Without coming out and saying it, the White Sox were hoping Crain would come off the DL Sunday or Monday so they could trade him before Wednesday’s nonwaiver trade deadline.
Barring a miracle, that is not going to happen.
Crain, who has been out since June 30 with a strained right shoulder, threw 33 pitches Tuesday and was scheduled to throw again before Thursday afternoon’s game against the Tigers.
But after doing some light throwing in the outfield, Crain wasn’t able to get back up on the mound.
“I’d rather be throwing in the pen and wasn’t up to it today,” Crain said. “It’s still a process, day by day. Hopefully it starts to feel better. I felt improvement before I threw my bullpen (Tuesday). And after the bullpen, I don’t know. It definitely wasn’t better today.”
Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said he has no idea when Crain will throw again.
“I guess I would call it a slight setback because we had a sideline the other day and we were hoping to climb from there and he just wasn’t feeling up to it,” Cooper said. “You move forward and he goes back in and talks to (trainer) Herm (Schneider) and talks to our people and figure out what’s the plan now for him. I’m not sure what that plan is, but right now it’s not throwing sidelines.”
The White Sox can still trade Crain in August, but he would have to pass through waivers and would likely be claimed by an American League team.
General manager Rick Hahn would have to work out acceptable trade with the claiming team or pull Crain back and keep him on the Sox’ roster.
Crain is a free agent at the end of the season.
Peavy’s choice:Starting pitchers always get to choose the uniforms to be worn for games, and Jake Peavy on Thursday selected the 1983 throwbacks the White Sox have been wearing this season for Sunday home games.Peavy hasn#146;t pitched a Sunday home game this year. He obviously likes the #146;83 uniforms, and Thursday was likely his last chance to wear one with the trade deadline approaching.#147;I wanted to wear it,#148; Peavy said. #147;I never wore it. Last year I never made a start on Sunday and didn#146;t get to pitch in those (1972 throwbacks). We all know the situation and I hadn#146;t pitched in these, and these are so cool. When (clubhouse manager) Vinny (Fresso) asked me if we were wearing black or white, I said those, let#146;s get the Sunday uniform out. And I appreciate Robin (Ventura) letting me wear it.#148;Flowers power:After looking bad while striking out in his first at-bat against Tigers starter Justin Verlander on Thursday, catcher Tyler Flowers followed with an RBI double and a solo home run.#147;My first at-bat, (Verlander) made me look like an idiot,#148; Flowers said. #147;He hit 99 (mph), painted a couple sliders and curveballs. After that first at-bat I was thinking it might be a long day. But I was fortunate he threw me a couple pitches I could hit and I was able to hit them. But everyone batted well. We took advantage of the situations and opportunities for the most part, so that was good.#148;BBA39912868Tyler Flowers watches his home run off Justin Verlander in the sixth inning Thursday. Associated PressBBABBA40002786Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander heads into the dugout after giving up four runs to the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 25, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)Associated PressBBABBA40002963Chicago White Soxs Paul Konerko hits an RBI single off Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander, scoring Alexei Ramirez, during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 25, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)Associated PressBBA