It's Vazquez's shot at redemption

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It's probably a good thing Javier Vazquez doesn't read the papers or listen to sports radio because he wouldn't like what he'd be reading or hearing lately.

To put it kindly, Vazquez is not the most popular White Sox player these days.

Maybe it's his 12-16 record. Maybe it's a perceived lack of emotion when he's on the mound. But more likely, it's the fact that he hasn't come through in the clutch down the stretch, with his last outing against Minnesota - a 9-3 thumping - serving as exhibit A.

But despite all the negatives this season, the veteran righty will have a huge shot at redemption Thursday when he takes the mound against James Shields in the opener of the ALDS against Tampa Bay.

"There's a reason Javy's going to be my first guy," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I have a lot of confidence in him, our coaching does staff does too. And so does our general manager."

And Vazquez is quite appreciative.

"For me it's a blessing to pitch the first game," he said. "I feel ready to go. I just want to win - that's all I'm trying to do."

When Vazquez takes his 16 losses to the mound, he'll become part of a select group of pitchers in major-league history.

According to retrosheet.org, Vazquez is the first pitcher with at least 16 losses to start a postseason opener since Steve Carlton (15-16) did it for the Phillies in 1983.

Carlton beat the Dodgers in the NLCS 1-0 and won Game 4, but he lost Game 3 of the World Series. Dennis Martinez of the Orioles was 7-16 that year but didn't pitch in the postseason.

The last 16-game loser to start any postseason game was Livan Hernandez for the Giants in 2002. He beat Arizona 8-3 in Game 4 of the NLDS, got a no-decision in Game 4 of the NLCS, and was 0-2 in the World Series.

But none of that will matter if Vazquez regains his form Thursday.

"I think right now he's just got to go and be himself, be aggressive," Guillen said. "The only thing I ask of Javy is he be aggressive and give it the best stuff he has. I don't care how many innings you're going to get."

Vazquez chafed a bit Wednesday when asked whether he should try to be more emotional when he pitches.

Bottom line? Ain't gonna happen.

"I care as much as any other player; that's why I'm here," he said. "If I don't want to win and do my best then I would retire right now.

"You want to play the game, play the best, but showing emotion ... that's just not me."