Humber could take Peavy’s job
You might have heard this one before, but Jake Peavy could be back in the White Sox rotation in a matter of days.
But there’s more than one catch to this situation.
Not only do Peavy’s healing rotator cuff (tendinitis) and latissimus dorsi (surgery) need to stay strong, but the Sox need to believe he’s a better option than Phil Humber.
Judging by Humber’s second consecutive splendid start, it’s not such a no-brainer.
After allowing 3 hits and 2 runs the first time through Baltimore’s order Saturday night, Humber allowed just two base runners during his last two spins through the order: One on a strikeout/wild pitch and the other a walk.
The 28-year-old Texan finished with 5 strikeouts versus 1 walk in 7 innings. Put that with Monday’s no-run, 1-hit, 2-walk effort at Yankee Stadium and Humber allowed just 2 runs and 7 runners in his last 14 innings.
His 3.20 ERA ranks No. 1 among the five Sox starters.
“I definitely felt a lot more confidence (Saturday night),” Humber said, “after going into a place like (Yankee Stadium) that’s a really good ballclub and a big stage for me.”
Perhaps more important, Humber didn’t simply stick with what worked against New York and apply it to the Orioles.
He said he was in perfect sync with Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski as they kept most of the Orioles off-balance.
“They’re really aggressive, that whole lineup top to bottom,” Humber said. “So we threw a lot of sliders tonight. I don’t know how many we threw, but I threw more sliders than fastballs I’m quite sure. You have to keep pitching to what the hitters are doing.”
Ozzie stews: Sox manager Ozzie Guillen wrapped up his two-game suspension Saturday.If he handled Saturday#146;s loss the same way as Friday#146;s loss, then it was another arduous night away from the ballpark.#147;I watched for a few innings,#148; Guillen said before Saturday#146;s 6-2 loss. #147;It was on and off. It was painful to watch as a fan.#147;I was here for a little while hiding in the parking lot and then I went home.#148;Dunn at first: For the first time in a Sox uniform, Adam Dunn donned a glove. He spent all 9 innings at first base Saturday night and handled 9 chances without an miscue.On the one play he failed to handle #8212; an attempted backhand of A.J. Pierzynski#146;s one-hop throw in the eighth inning #8212; the Sox catcher received the error.#147;We try to figure it out,#148; said Ozzie Guillen. #147;We try everything, man, right now and see what happens.#148;Dunn, who entered the night hitting .155 in his first year as a designated hitter, went 1 for 4 with a sharp single to right.