Sox pitcher Smith tries to process good with the bad
White Sox pitcher Shane Smith admitted having mixed feelings about being chosen for the American League all-star team. He's the first rookie pitcher in team history to be an all-star, but he's also posted a 12.33 ERA in his last four starts.
“I definitely didn't soak it in yesterday after the outing,” Smith said Monday at Rate Field. “It kind of took me to get home after the flight to really sit with it. The way things have been going … get punched in the face every couple days, it's tough to realize the body of work you've done over the last couple of months.”
To say Smith's rise was unexpected is putting it mildly. The Boston-area native took the mound just seven times in college at Wake Forest, wasn't drafted, then spent most of last season in Double-A for the Brewers. The Sox made him the first pick of the Rule 5 draft, which meant he had to stay on the major league roster.
General manager Chris Getz talked about trying to find some extra rest for Smith. He'll get some during the all-star break, since he may not pitch in the game and if he does, it wouldn't be for more than an inning.
“We'll continue to work and hopefully we can get him back on track to be the pitcher he was early on,” Getz said. “The stuff's still there, so it's just a matter of getting him back to being sharp.”
Remembering Bobby
Chris Getz was a teammate of former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks, who died Friday at 44 after a battle with stomach cancer. The Sox general manager paid tribute to Jenks on Monday.
“Personally, I was lucky to play with him in 2008 and '09 (with the Sox),” Getz said. “I think you can pick up the theme when everyone talks about Bobby and what a great teammate he was. Just a big heart. He was this, almost fun-loving kid and obviously a tremendous competitor.
“He didn't have an easy life. I know his family's got to be really going through it right now. It's obviously really sad and we've got the (World Series) reunion coming up here shortly and it'll be nice to have a lot of those guys around to tell stories about Bobby Jenks and the impact he made on this organization, but more importantly on them.”
Jenks is survived by his wife Eleni and six children. The Sox are planning to wear a No. 45 patch in Jenks' honor for the remainder of the season.
Around the horn
Before Monday's game, the White Sox placed first baseman Ryan Noda on the 10-day injured list with a right quad strain and recalled infielder Tristan Gray from Triple-A Charlotte. Gray is new to the White Sox, but has 17 games of big-league experience with the Rays, Marlins and A's. Manager Will Venable suggested Miguel Vargas will be the primary first baseman. …
Luis Robert Jr. is close to returning from a left hamstring strain. Venable said Robert, who last played on June 24, could be back in a couple days with no rehab assignment. … Pitcher Davis Martin (right forearm strain) is expected to start a rehab assignment in Charlotte later this week.