Guillen vows not to rush Dunn back into action
The White Sox are off to a solid start this season, and they’ve gone most of the way without two of their best — and best-paid — players: Adam Dunn and Jake Peavy.
Dunn (appendectomy) took batting practice for the second straight day Monday and should be back by the end of the week.
“When he tells me he’s ready to go, I am going to give him an extra day,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “Every time he’s running he’s uncomfortable there. And we better wait to see how he’s running the bases a little bit. Very cautious for us. Obviously, the pain is going to be there. How much he is going to tolerate, that is the question.”
As for Peavy, the injured starter (shoulder tendinitis) threw 32 pitches in a bullpen session at U.S. Cellular Field before Monday night’s game against the A’s.
Peavy is scheduled to make his second minor-league start Wednesday, this time with Class AAA Charlotte. The goal is 80 pitches.
In his first rehab start, with AA Birmingham last Friday, Peavy threw 72 pitches and allowed 2 unearned runs on 5 hits in 3 innings.
Initially expected to rejoin the White Sox in early May, there is a chance Peavy could be ready to go at the end of the month, possibly April 23 at Detroit.
“I really do almost feel completely normal,” Peavy said. “There is nothing but general soreness. There is no pain, no discomfort areas that should be. We tried to push the envelope in spring training and make the club. My body shut it down and obviously it spoke for itself.
“But with a little time off and little bit slower of a climb, with some medication, it certainly responded.”
Player’s club:
After batting .417 with a double, 3 home runs and 8 RBI in six games, White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko was named American League co-player of the week along with the Indians’ Asdrubal Cabrera.
“It doesn’t mean anything to me, really,” Konerko said. “I think I get a watch out of it. It’s nice, but you think about it for five seconds and you are already thinking about the next game.”
As for his fast start — Konerko is batting .421 after going 2-for-3 Monday against the A’s — the Sox’ captain isn’t preparing an MVP speech just yet.
“My thing is just the long haul, and come November that’s when you think about it as far as when it’s all said and done, did you have a good year?” Konerko said. “You know you have to piece that together as you go. It doesn’t matter if it’s early, middle or late. It’s nice to do well all the time.”
Minor matter:
Right fielder Dayan Viceido hit a 2-run homer in the eighth inning Monday night, and first baseman Jim Gallagher was 4-for-4 with 2 doubles while raising his average to .412, lifting Class AAA Charlotte to a 4-3 win over Durham.