Vazquez pleased with his progress
PHOENIX -- Javier Vazquez said he felt great Monday, but he needed to be a little more specific.
In his third Cactus League start for the White Sox, Vazquez pitched 4¿ innings against the Brewers and allowed 4 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits.
"I wish,'' Vazquez said when asked if he could fill in as designated hitter. "I remember a little bit from my National League days, but I don't pretend to be a hitter.''
Vazquez, who came up with the Montreal Expos and also spent a season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was overpowering at times against Milwaukee while recording 6 strikeouts.
But the right-hander wasn't perfect, as evidenced by the 3-run homer he served up to Mike Cameron in the fifth inning after third baseman Josh Fields made an error.
"I think I was getting a little tired because I didn't feel the way I was feeling the first few innings,'' Vazquez said. "But that's expected. It's still spring training and we've got 2-3 more starts to go. I feel great. I really felt good out there today. I threw the ball well, a couple mistakes and that's it.''
Staying put: Jim Thome made only his second trip in three years to the Phoenix area for a Cactus League game last week.
Given Thome's bothersome back, the White Sox prefer leaving him back in Tucson, where he can play in minor-league games.
That's the plan for this week. Thome didn't make the trip to face the Brewers on Monday, and the 37-year-old DH won't be around when the Sox play three straight games in Phoenix at the end of the week.
"This is a routine that we've been doing the last couple of years,'' Thome said. "And I've had a lot of at-bats up to this point. It works out good that I can stay here and get my work in.''
As in past springs, Thome is expected to play in minor-league games, where he can hit in every inning.
Feeling good: After slipping and falling on the warning track during Sunday's rainy game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, center fielder Jerry Owens said his sore right groin was not a problem when he woke up Monday morning.
"I felt great,'' Owens said. "I didn't feel anything with the groin at all. I didn't even think about it this morning.''
With just less than two weeks before the White Sox open the regular season at Cleveland, Owens was asked to look into the crystal ball.
"Hopefully I'll be in Cleveland on Opening Day,'' he said. "I don't know, but that's what I've been working for all off-season and this spring. Obviously, I don't make the decisions. I wish I did, but I don't.''
Alexei Ramirez made his first start in center field Monday against Milwaukee.
"I think he looked a little better than what we thought,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He's a good center fielder.''
White Sox 4, Brewers 4 (10)
White Sox' record: 9-11-1
At the plate: Nick Swisher had a 2-run double in the third inning; he leads the Sox with 12 RBI this spring. Pablo Ozuna and Javier Vazquez each had 2 hits.
On the mound: Starter Javier Vazquez pitched 4¿ innings and allowed 4 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits. Matt Thornton and Mike MacDougal each pitched 1 scoreless inning.
Next: John Danks starts against the Padres today in Tucson.
-- Scot Gregor