Colon struggles in spring debut for Sox

GLENDALE, Ariz. - It's probably hanging on a wall somewhere in their massive clubhouse at Camelback Ranch, but the White Sox don't ever make their spring depth chart available for public perusal.

So let's just make this assumption - Jose Contreras has leapfrogged Bartolo Colon in the Sox' starting rotation.

Expected to be the club's No. 5 starter this season, assuming he's healthy, Contreras looked to be in midseason form Sunday while pitching 2 scoreless innings and striking out four in his Cactus League debut.

Colon made his first spring start Monday and was shaky. The 35-year-old righty labored through 12/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks while throwing 40 pitches.

"To me, the most important thing is he was out there healthy, healthier," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of Colon. "I don't worry about velocity. I worry about location, and his location was erratic, there's no doubt. He's not the guy that's going to throw 99, 98 (mph) again.

"I don't expect that. But I think the location will help him. This guy knows how to pitch. I have a lot of confidence in him because this guy doesn't worry about anything.

"I just worry about how he's going to feel tomorrow. He knows exactly what stage he is at right now and his abilities. I have a lot of confidence that he's going to pitch better and better."

Colon, who again declined to speak to reporters, got his fastball up to 90. But the Royals usually made the veteran pay when he left pitches up in the strike zone.

"He tried to go from the level of intensity he was at batting practice up a level," said Sox pitching coach Don Cooper. "I think he was quick from the stretch. He always is quick, but he hasn't been in the stretch for a while."

While Contreras next starts against the San Francisco Giants on Friday in a Cactus League game, Colon is scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game that same morning.

Before Monday, Colon last pitched Sept. 13, when he was with the Boston Red Sox. He had bone chips removed from his elbow in October.

"(Colon) went in healthy, felt healthy during the game and felt good afterwards," Cooper said. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow. I really wasn't concerned. I'm always hoping for good results, but I really wasn't concerned about results or velocity today. I was concerned about what we just mentioned; do you feel good before, during and after and tomorrow?"

There still is plenty of time before the White Sox open the regular season April 6 at home against the Royals.

If Colon - and Contreras for that matter - continue to make progress, they'll be in the rotation. If not, the Sox have youngsters Jeff Marquez and Clayton Richard waiting for a shot.

"I don't know (Colon), so it's hard for me to say," Guillen said. "I know exactly with (Mark) Buehrle, with (John) Danks. Maybe next outing he comes out light's out. But I have to protect myself and the ballclub and make sure we have a Plan B just in case."

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