Sox touched by visit with wounded soldiers

BALTIMORE - There are bigger things than baseball, as six White Sox players discovered during an emotional visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in nearby Washington on Tuesday afternoon.

Sox relief pitcher Scott Linebrink, who arranged the trip, Jim Thome, Mark Buehrle, Javier Vazquez, John Danks and Horacio Ramirez visited soldiers who were wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In May, Linebrink launched "Scott's Heroes'' and invited two members of the U.S. Armed Forces to one home game each month with VIP treatment.

"Considering what we've been doing this year with the military, I thought it would be a good idea to head over there," Linebrink said. "This is actually my first time to Walter Reed. We've always gone to Bethesda (Md.) in the past. It was really good to put some of the faces with what's going on overseas. That really makes it hit home a little more when you get to shake these guys' hands and just get to tell them how much you appreciate what they're doing over there."

Linebrink said many of the wounded soldiers perked up when they saw Thome in the group.

Thome was still choked up about the trip later in the day Tuesday.

"It was just a great experience, something I'll never forget," Thome said. "I told (wife) Andrea today that I'm so glad I went because it really opened my eyes up to what happens and what they go through after the fact. These guys are over there doing this for us, and you feel a little guilty. It really puts it into perspective."

Linebrink said the visit was important, even if the general public disapproves of the war.

"There are a lot of people over there enduring stuff that we can't even imagine so we can have our freedom and do the things we love to do," Linebrink said. "Regardless of what you think about the war, we always have to support our troops. I don't want to get political, but wherever you guys are at, we support you 100 percent."

Early exit: Nick Swisher left Tuesday night's game against the Orioles in the fourth inning after fouling a pitch off his left leg. Swisher has a contusion and is day to day.