Sox planning to honor Baines
TUCSON, Ariz. -- If you want to hear Harold Baines' speech July 20, make sure you get there early.
"It's going to be a quick one," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "That's the way he is."
A life-sized statue of Baines will be unveiled at U.S. Cellular Field before the Sox' game against the Kansas City Royals.
"I'm very honored, very grateful," Baines said. "I didn't play this game for statues, but I'm very honored they appreciate the way I played the game for the organization. It's very meaningful, but I never look at materialistic things. To be honored with the guys that are already out there, it will be a very special day."
Baines will become the seventh member of the White Sox to be immortalized with a statue. Club founder Charles A. Comiskey, Minnie Minoso, Carlton Fisk, Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox and Billy Pierce are the others.
Baines, the Sox' first-base coach, played 22 major-league seasons and had three separate stints on the South Side. The outfielder-designated hitter ranks third in White Sox history in home runs (221) and RBI (981).
"I think it's awesome," Guillen said. "He deserves that; he earned it. When you talk about the White Sox, Harold Baines' name has to be mentioned in the top. To me, it's No. 1."
Danks for nothing: John Danks has one more exhibition start before the regular season opens.
The left-hander is looking for much better results than he had Sunday. Danks pitched 4½ innings against the Royals and allowed 5 runs on 6 hits. He also walked four.
"Out of the windup, I felt great," Danks said. "Out of the stretch, I think it was a combination of stuff I've been working on mechanically and trying to be too quick. This is my first real bad one. It happens. Go out there and be ready Friday."
If Danks is lacking command, he's not going to be much better than he was in the second half of last season (1-7, 7.11 ERA).
"That's the first time he's really struggled,' manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He cannot have the luxury of going out there and falling behind people and walking people because he's going to get hurt.
"He couldn't find the plate and he's going to have to get over that."
Not a lock: Outfielder Brian Anderson hit his fourth home run of the spring Sunday, and he upped his Cactus League average to .362.
While he appears to have the edge over Carlos Quentin in the race for the reserve outfield job, Anderson has not won anything yet.
"He has to continue to play," Ozzie Guillen said. "He's been playing good, and it's about time. We've been waiting for that Brian Anderson for the last three years."
Royals 6, White Sox 5
White Sox' record: 9-15-3
At the plate: Carlos Quentin was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI. The outfielder hit his first home run of the spring, a solo shot in the fifth inning. Brian Anderson also homered, a solo shot in the eighth. Jim Thome was 2-for-4.
On the mound: John Danks pitched 41/3 innings and allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks. Ehren Wasserman pitched 12/3 scoreless innings. Matt Thornton gave up 1 run on 3 hits in 1 inning.
Next: Jose Contreras starts against the Mariners today in Peoria.