Fields, Masset endure some pain, suffering

TUCSON, Ariz. -- White Sox pitcher Nick Masset and third baseman Josh Fields both had painful days in a 10-10 tie against Colorado on Wednesday.

Fields is expected to miss a couple of days after being nailed by a pitch on his right forearm by Colorado pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez in the first inning.

"He is lucky. He is lucky something worse didn't happen," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "It got hit pretty bad."

Fields was just warming up with the bat after struggling early this spring. He is hitting .429 over his last four games.

Masset was cuffed around by the Rockies, allowing 6 runs on 6 hits while walking two.

"He just didn't have it today," Guillen said. "His velocity was good, but besides that he was erratic big time. He left a couple of balls on the plate and he got whacked."

Masset started in place of Jose Contreras, who was scratched because of flu-like symptoms.

Hail to the Red Sox: Guillen said "thank you" to Red Sox players for sticking up for their coaches and threatening to boycott their season-opening trip to Tokyo.

"I tip my hat to the Boston Red Sox players," Guillen said. "God bless them. Now we find out some players care about the coaching staffs. Hopefully in the longshot coaches start making a little bit better money."

Red Sox players threatened to boycott their final Grapefruit League game Wednesday and not boarding the team flight for Tokyo, where Boston will play Oakland in the season opener after learning staff members were not receiving stipends.

Coaches, trainers and clubhouse staff were not going to receive a stipend, worth about $40,000, for the trip before major-league baseball stepped in to declare these personnel would be compensated after all.

"I don't have any doubts that everybody (on this club) would do the same thing the Boston Red Sox did," Guillen said. "I expect that. If they don't care if the coaches get paid, I guarantee they will find another coaching staff because I (would) not (go) to take my coaching staff there."

Quentin in the swing again: White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin is starting to feel better, but in time to remain with the club for Opening Day remains a big question.

Quentin's left shoulder has been bothersome most of the spring after off-season surgery, but his swing is showing signs of life.

"I feel that every day it's doing better. The swing is getting better and I'm getting the strength I need," Quentin said. "I get some general soreness, but it's diminishing as the days go by. Hard to put a percentage on it because it's so day to day, but I guess I'd say it's close to 90 percent."

Quentin is hitting .227 with 5 hits in 22 at-bats.

"Optimistically, I want to be playing every day," Quentin said. "There's still some games to play and they have some decisions to make. I'll go out there and do everything I can and that's all you can do."

On the move: The White Sox sent left-handed pitcher Andrew Sisco and catcher Donny Lucy to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, and infielder Brad Eldred and pitcher Tomo Ohka were reassigned to minor-league camp. The Sox have 32 players in camp: 14 pitchers, three catchers, nine infielders and six outfielders.

White Sox 10, Rockies 10

White Sox' record: 9-12-2

At the plate: Jim Thome hit a pair of home runs while going 3-for-5 with 6 RBI. He has 4 spring homers. Alexi Ramirez was 2-for-3 with a solo homer and 3 runs scored from the leadoff spot. Brian Anderson went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.

On the mound: Starter Nick Masset allowed 6 runs and 6 hits in 3 innings, his worst outing in 5 appearances.

Next: Mark Buehrle starts today against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

-- John Moredich