Starting Sox rotation shaping up after rough start
Spring training statistics might not matter much when the regular season starts, but it is still better to be good than bad in exhibition play.
Groundwork for the 162-game grind is set in the spring, so you don’t want to be too shaky in March.
And that leads us to the White Sox’ starting rotation.
Gavin Floyd has been solid — and somewhat invisible — all spring, but fellow starters John Danks, Jake Peavy, Chris Sale and Phil Humber were roughed up early in Cactus League play.
With the April 6 season opener at Texas just over two weeks away, it looks like the foursome is turning the corner out in chilly Arizona.
New manager Robin Ventura is still tinkering with the rotation’s order, but let’s take a closer look while projecting 1-through-5.
John Danks
Armed with a new five-year, $65 million contract, Danks is expected to get the ball on Opening Day.
Much more fine-tuning is needed between now and April 6.
In 3 Cactus League starts, Danks is 0-3 with a 7.00 ERA. Control has been the left-hander’s biggest problem, and Danks walked seven in 5 innings during his first 2 Cactus League starts.
In his last outing, Danks allowed 3 runs in 4 innings, but he reduced the walk total to two.
“I know it will come,” Danks told reporters in Arizona when asked about his control problems. “As spring goes on, we’ll focus a lot more on results.”
Danks had trouble commanding the changeup early last season while getting off to an 0-8 start. The change has been giving him trouble again this spring, but Danks still has 3 more exhibition starts to iron out his troubles.
Gavin Floyd
While his name is still popping up in trade rumors, Floyd isn’t likely to be moved until July, assuming the Sox are out of playoff contention.
For now, the right-hander looks to be the best choice to follow Danks in the rotation, although he could switch spots with Peavy.
Floyd is entering the final season of a four-year, $15.5 million contract, and he’s costing the White Sox $7 million in 2012.
In spring training, Floyd has pitched only one Cactus League game, allowing 1 run in 4 innings while striking out five. The 29-year-old starter has also pitched a “B” game and a simulated game.
“I’m seeing hitters,” Floyd told reporters. “That’s the most important thing.”
Jake Peavy
Rarely do veteran starters need to deliver positive results so early in spring, but Peavy found himself in that position Saturday.
Trying to prove he’s finally healthy after four straight years of various injuries, Peavy lost his first 2 Cactus League starts while allowing 9 earned runs on 12 hits in 41⁄3 innings.
Against the Mariners on Saturday, Peavy pitched 5 no-hit innings and had 5 strikeouts.
“It was a good day,” Peavy told reporters. “It’s spring training, you know. I’m sure everybody will be happy about this one.”
Chris Sale
Like Peavy, sale struggled in his first 2 exhibition starts, giving up 8 earned runs on 10 hits in 71⁄3 innings.
But the converted relief pitcher bounced back in his last outing, pitching 6 scoreless innings against the Reds on Monday while striking out six and walking none.
“Obviously, it was my best outing of the spring,” Sale said. “I found a groove and kept going with it.”
Phil Humber
He’s been so-so in 2 Cactus League starts, allowing 3 earned runs in 5 innings, but Humber should still be one of the better fifth starters in the American League this season.
Humber was a huge surprise in the first half of 2011, going 8-5 with a 3.10 ERA in the first half.
After the all-star break, Humber ran out of gas while going 1-4 with a 5.01 ERA. The right-hander also missed three weeks after being hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of new teammate Kosuke Fukudome, who was with the Indians at the time.
sgregor@dailyherald.com