Floyd pushes Danks out of starting rotation

When they were competing for the final spot in the starting rotation during spring training, John Danks clearly got the best of Gavin Floyd.

But with just over two weeks to go in the regular season, it looks like Floyd is going to finish in better shape.

While Danks has tailed way off after a promising first half -- the rookie left-hander is 0-7 with a 7.01 ERA over his last 9 starts -- Floyd is finally living up to his potential.

Over his last 3 starts, Floyd has pitched 18½ innings and allowed 6 earned runs on 17 hits.

It looks like the right-hander is going to take Danks' spot in the rotation the rest of the season.

"We are trying to figure out how to give the (last) 3 starts to Floyd, and give a couple of starts to (Danks),'' said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "With the day off (today and Sept. 24), it's going to be hard to figure out how to do it.''

Danks is expected to make an appearance or two out of the bullpen, or he might just throw sidelines the rest of the season.

"We're not mentioning Danks right now,'' said Sox pitching coach Don Cooper. "He's going to be in the bullpen, but it's more we're going to be working on some things, things we've talked about this year, and also preparing for anything he might have left in the bullpen, as well as for next year. Again, it goes back to us wanting to take care of Danks.''

Good impression: As the White Sox' bullpen was getting lit up again Tuesday night, manager Ozzie Guillen called for rookie Heath Phillips.

Before heading back to the dugout, Guillen had one request.

"I said, 'I don't care what you do. Don't make me come back. The fans are getting tired of seeing me on the field,' '' Guillen said. "After the game I said: 'Thank you.' It's embarrassing to keep going back out there.''

Phillips, a starter at Class AAA Charlotte before joining the Sox on Sept. 4, pitched 2½ scoreless innings against the Indians on Tuesday. The left-hander has pitched 4½ scoreless innings of relief over his last three outings.

Guillen said Phillips has the makeup to develop into an effective long reliever.

"The way he's throwing right now, what he does, I like it,'' Guillen said. "He's had a lot of success. Obviously, he's going to get a shot to make the ballclub (next season).''