Opportunity knocks for Masset
Coming out of spring training, Nick Masset wasn't sure if he was even going to be on the White Sox' 25-man roster.
The 25-year-old pitcher made it, and Masset isn't about to complain about his role. The right-hander has been the Sox' long man out of the bullpen, and he'll make a spot start on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins.
"I'm looking forward to it,'' Masset said. "That's what I'm here for. I'll go out and try to get as many innings as possible.''
Masset has pitched 12 innings his relief this season, allowing 5 runs on 11 hits and 6 walks.
Last year, Masset made a memorable spot start against the Cubs, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits over 5¿ innings at Wrigley Field while earning his first major-league win. He also started 9 games for Class AAA Charlotte.
"I've started my whole career,'' Masset said. "I'll be prepared to probably throw 75 or 80 pitches, so hopefully I can go 5 or 6 innings for the team.''
Masset is getting the start because Friday's game against the Orioles was rained out. John Danks and Mark Buehrle both pitched on Saturday, and the Sox didn't want to bring either left-hander back on only three days rest Wednesday.
"I can't take any chances,'' said Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "One (Buehrle) has been overused for all these years, one (Danks) is too young. We can't take that risk. If this game was in September, or we were in the pennant race late in the season, we'd think about it. Right now, it's too early to make those crazy decisions.''
Second guess: White Sox starting pitcher Javier Vazquez was pulled from Monday's game against the Orioles after working 8 innings and allowing 1 run on 4 hits.
Vazquez exited with a 2-1 lead, but closer Bobby Jenks couldn't hold it, allowing the tying run in the ninth.
Any regrets, manager Ozzie Guillen?
"The only thing I regret is getting married too early,'' Guillen said. "I have one of the best closers in the game. Today, he didn't do his job.''
Vazquez was pulled because he threw 100 pitches in brutal weather.
"I always want to stay in,'' Vazquez said. "That's the manager's decision. We have Bobby to close and that's it.''
Time capsule: The White Sox played a suspended game Monday for the first time since May 8-9, 1984. Harold Baines' home run in the 25th inning wound up winning it for the Sox in the longest game in American League history.
Still sitting: Jermaine Dye said he was ready to play Monday after sitting out the last three games with a strained left groin.
But after dealing with a two-hour, six-minute rain delay, Sox manager Ozzie Guillen didn't want to risk playing Dye at soggy U.S. Cellular Field.
"I'm going to give him another day to recover better,'' Guillen said. "I just want him to get back to where he was.''