Buehrle back and feeling good
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Less has always been more for Mark Buehrle.
The White Sox' No. 1 starter has thrived for eight-plus seasons despite throwing a fastball with the velocity of your average high school pitcher.
Buehrle also needs less time than most of his peers to get ready for the season. That's why the 29-year-old lefty isn't at all concerned with missing a week of spring training.
Buehrle was back in camp Monday after heading home to Missouri to be with his wife, Jamie, for the birth of the couple's second child.
"It's only going to help missing all that time," Buehrle said. "I played catch two times. I tried to do as much as I could while being around the family and taking care of all of that. I did what I need to do to throw on Wednesday."
The Sox are off today, and Buehrle is scheduled to start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. In his spring debut March 2, he threw 2 scoreless innings.
"Buehrle is a different sort, a different case," pitching coach Don Cooper said. "You never know, he might go 4 against Milwaukee."
Danks gets spanked: In his first 2 spring appearances, John Danks looked to be in midseason form while pitching 5 scoreless innings.
Starting Monday against the Cleveland Indians, the left-hander barely made it through 2 innings, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits.
"I'm not really worried about it," Danks said. "I know where I am right now and I feel good. It's just one of those days, not much you can really do about it. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it or anything like that."
Danks' biggest problem was locating his fastball. And the Sox' defense, particularly third baseman Wilson Betemit, was shaky.
"It was rough, a struggle," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "When pitchers don't do their job, the people in the field have to help, and I was not happy today. The infield has to help him."
Poreda impresses: Chris Getz provided the lone offensive highlight in Monday's loss with a 3-run, inside-the-park homer.
Aaron Poreda was the White Sox' main man on the mound. The big left-hander pitched 4 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 2 hits.
"Good outing," Ozzie Guillen said. "We have to see how we can use him and make him mature a little bit more. This kid's only got a couple of years (in professional baseball). I like the way he throws."
Guillen said Poreda would likely be a relief pitcher if he makes the 25-man roster.
"I don't see him as a starter," Guillen said. "If he doesn't make this ballclub, let the minor-league people and Kenny (Williams) deal with it."