Danks, Floyd hope to answer Sox' concerns about rotation
Adding Orlando Cabrera, Nick Swisher, Carlos Quentin and Alexei Ramirez is going to perk up baseball's worst offense.
Adding Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel figures to have the same impact on baseball's worst bullpen.
For the second straight day at SoxFest on Saturday, fans generally showered general manager Kenny Williams with applause for his off-season acquisitions.
But with spring training right around the corner (Feb. 16), the White Sox' usual strength -- starting pitching -- remains a concern.
"Please tell me you have another ace up your sleeve,'' one patron said to Williams at the Palmer House Hilton on Saturday.
Considering the Sox head into camp with suspect veteran Jose Contreras and two unproven kids (John Danks, Gavin Floyd) compromising three-fifths of the rotation, the angst is understandable.
But Williams said Contreras is healthy, and after dealing with a divorce last season while going 10-17 with a 5.57 ERA, the big right-hander is expected to perform more like the pitcher who played a major role in the White Sox' run to the 2005 World Series championship.
As for Danks and Floyd -- who were a combined 7-18 with a 5.43 ERA last season -- Williams insists they are much better alternatives to the starting pitchers that were available this off-season.
"There were some moves, some safe moves, that would have put some names in that spot,'' Williams said. "But those names aren't as good as John Danks or Gavin Floyd. I'm not interested in being popular. The only day I want to be popular is in late October.''
Danks, acquired along with pitcher Nick Masset from the Texas Rangers last winter in the trade for Brandon McCarthy, beat out Floyd for the fifth starter's job in spring training.
In his first big-league season, Danks held his own during the first half (5-6, 4.62 ERA). But after the all-star break, the 22-year-old left-hander was 1-7 with a 7.11 ERA before being shut down for the final three weeks.
"I think Danks needs to throw more strikes,'' said Mark Buehrle, who will pitch out of the top of the rotation with Javier Vazquez. "He made the team out of spring training because he threw strikes, but that was his problem during the season.''
As for Floyd, who joined the White Sox in a trade from the Philadelphia Phillies for Freddy Garcia last off-season, he was 1-5 with a 5.27 ERA in 16 appearances (10 starts) while spending the other half of the 2007 season at Class AAA Charlotte.
"Floyd, one game he had no-hit stuff, one game it seemed like he shouldn't be out there,'' Buehrle said. "If he gets more consistent, I think he'll be fine.''
Floyd was much more consistent at the end of the season, posting a 3.41 ERA over his last 6 starts. In his first 4 starts with the Sox, he had a 7.97 ERA.
"I feel real good about the way I finished up,'' said Floyd, who celebrates his 25th birthday today. "I made some adjustments and I think they paid off. If they give me another opportunity to start, I'll try to make the most of it.''
Ideally, Danks and Floyd combine for 18-20 wins this season and everybody is happy on the South Side.
Right now, it looks like the White Sox' veteran starters are going to have to carry a heavier load.
"Obviously, we're going to miss (Jon) Garland,'' Vazquez said. "He was a very consistent pitcher and a winner. We expect good things from Gavin and John, but Mark and Jose and me, we need to step up a little bit more.''