Good thing for Sox they reside in AL Central
If the White Sox played in the American League West — or East — they’d already be in big trouble. Ditto for the National League West or East.
Fortunately for the Sox, they are stationed in the AL Central, baseball’s worst division through the first six weeks of the season.
The Tigers are the big favorites to win the Central, but they entered Monday night’s game against the White Sox with a .500 record (17-17) and were 1 game behind the front-running Indians.
Sox first baseman Paul Konerko isn’t losing any sleep over the standings at this early stage of the season.
“I don’t look at the standings too much right now,” Konerko said. “You’re at that point of the season where you just try and get as good as you can get. As a team you just really try to get yourselves in order. It’s nice if no one runs away with it while you’re doing that, but yeah, I don’t think anybody in here is coming in every night and checking the scoreboard.”
The White Sox have played some good baseball this season, albeit in very short stretches.
“You kind of want to know where you’re at, but you realize there’s still a long way to go,” manager Robin Ventura said. “Even for them (the Tigers), you know they’re going to play well at some point. It’s nice to play well early but again, you can play well early and then go into the all-star break and it changes.”
Crain update:
Jesse Crain (strained left oblique) is back from Class AAA Charlotte and expected to come off the 15-day disabled list as soon as Tuesday.
Crain made 2 rehab appearances with Charlotte and pitched 2 scoreless innings.
On Sunday, Crain needed only 9 pitches to complete a perfect inning. The right-handed reliever also pitched Friday.
“I was actually pretty sore on Saturday, just body-wise,” Crain said. “I hadn’t pitched in a game for three weeks so when you throw in a game, it’s a lot different than throwing a bullpen. I think it was good to get out there and throw again Sunday to make sure everything was good to go.
“I feel good, ready to go. The two outings out there showed me I was over it and didn’t feel it at all.”
Looking ahead:
The White Sox play the Cubs at Wrigley Field this weekend. With the NATO summit also in town, congestion could be a problem.
Many of the Sox bus over from U.S. Cellular Field. Paul Konerko lives closer to Wrigley, so he’ll do his own navigating.
“I might be on foot the whole time,” Konerko said. “I don’t have to come south at all. You definitely have to look at what’s going on, but I think I’m lucky and I can stay on side streets and alleys and stuff and not have to deal with it.”
As for playing the Cubs so early in the season, Konerko isn’t overly thrilled.
“I’m not a fan of having it in May,” Konerko said. “I know we’ve had it a couple years now in May but it seems like it should always happen in summer, those two series. Again the schedule, you can’t always get what you want. Those series always seem to be good games. Everyone always seems to enjoy them.”