Sox activate Danks off disabled list

May, 24, 2013
May 24
1:38
PM CT
CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox made it official Friday afternoon, reinstating John Danks from the disabled list.

Read the entire story.

Chat alert: Doug Padilla at 12:30 CT

May, 24, 2013
May 24
10:27
AM CT
ESPNChicago.com's Doug Padilla takes your White Sox questions during a live chat at 12:30 CT. Click here to submit your questions.

White Sox move frees roster spot

May, 23, 2013
May 23
4:55
PM CT
The Chicago White Sox placed infielder Angel Sanchez on waivers Thursday, opening a spot on the 40-man roster.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported that if Sanchez gets through waivers, the White Sox will offer the Rule 5 selection back to his former team, the Los Angeles Angels.

(Read full post)

Schedule says time is now for White Sox

May, 23, 2013
May 23
1:13
PM CT
QuintanaAP Photo/David BanksThe White Sox better give their fans something to cheer about, or a makeover may come.
CHICAGO -- Backed into a hole because of a stagnant offense, a Swiss cheese defense and a bullpen that has been anything but relief, the Chicago White Sox now have four-plus weeks to get it straight or kiss it all goodbye.

And it might not be just the season that they will bid farewell to, but the entire look of a roster that is among the top third in payroll in all of baseball.

(Read full post)

Bullpen still has many question marks

May, 23, 2013
May 23
12:49
AM CT
CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox could be prepared to make more roster moves in the near future to address a struggling bullpen.

They made one Wednesday when left-hander Donnie Veal was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.

Addison Reed has been solid in the closer's role and Jesse Crain has taken over as the setup man. After that, the White Sox continue to have question marks with a group that was expected to be one of the team's strengths.

Over the past nine games, the bullpen has posted a 7.33 ERA. In that time, the relievers have raised their overall mark from 3.29 to 4.13.

Brian Omogrosso and Nate Jones each gave up two runs in Wednesday's 6-2 defeat to the Boston Red Sox, although one of Omogrosso's runs was unearned.

Jones, in particular, has been a concern for manager Robin Ventura and pitching coach Don Cooper. The hard-throwing right-hander was expected to build off his success as a rookie last season, when he posted an 8-0 record and a 2.39 ERA in 65 outings.

(Read full post)

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox optioned left-handed reliever Donnie Veal to Triple-A Charlotte after Wednesday's 6-2 defeat to the Boston Red Sox.

Veal was called on to pitch in the ninth inning and allowed both of his inherited runners to score on a single by Daniel Nava. Veal also walked a batter in his two-thirds of an inning.

Veal was not charged with a run himself in the outing, reducing his ERA to 8.59 in 14 outings this season. He has nine walks and five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings of work.

The move creates roster space to bring back John Danks, who hasn't pitched in the major leagues in over a year after having shoulder surgery in August. That move has yet to be made official, but manager Robin Ventura said that Danks will start in Friday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins.

Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 6, White Sox 2

May, 22, 2013
May 22
10:42
PM CT
video


CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox missed out on their first series sweep of the season, falling 6-2 on Wednesday to the Boston Red Sox.

How it happened: David Ortiz blooped a two-run single into left field in the first inning and it ended up being enough for Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz. Hector Santiago, working on three days of rest as he took Chris Sale's turn in the rotation, recovered to give up just those two runs and three hits with four walks over six innings. He took a soft comebacker off his pitching hand in the first inning. White Sox relievers Brian Omogrosso and Nate Jones each gave up two runs as the Red Sox put the game away late. Paul Konerko hit a ninth-inning home run.

What it means: With John Danks expected to make his first start of the season Friday, Santiago took advantage of his last chance to make an impression. If Danks returns, either Santiago or Dylan Axelrod will be bumped from the starting staff. Santiago boasts the better stuff among the two, but Axelrod has proven himself to be a steady and savvy pitcher. One of Santiago's positives actually work against him, as he has more bullpen versatility than Axelrod.

Outside the box: The White Sox didn't get much offense against Buchholz, but Alex Rios found a way to contribute once again. Rios not only drove in a run with an RBI groundout in the third inning, he extended his career-best hitting streak to 17 games with a sixth-inning single. Rios' hit streak is the longest in the American League this season.

Offbeat: The White Sox will face their third interleague opponent of the season Friday, but the first one they have played host to as the Miami Marlins will be at U.S. Cellular Field for a three-game series. Normally solid in interleague play, the White Sox are just 1-4 this season after trips to Washington and New York to face the Mets. The White Sox are 164-124 (.569) all time in interleague play, the third-best winning percentage in baseball behind the Yankees (.604) and the Angels (.575).

Up next: The White Sox will have an off day Thursday before facing the Marlins. The White Sox have yet to name a starter for Friday, but it is likely that Danks will pitch in his first major league game in more than a year, opposite the Marlins' Tom Koehler (0-2, 2.82 ERA) in the 7:10 p.m. start from U.S. Cellular Field.

Jesse Crain dominant in setup role

May, 22, 2013
May 22
8:23
PM CT
CHICAGO -- After fighting off numerous injuries that included oblique and shoulder woes last season, reliever Jesse Crain appears to be at the top of his game again.

Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura has been riding his hot pitcher as of late during the Sox's recent streak of seven wins in their previous 10 games before Wednesday.

Crain has been used to a point where he is on pace to pitch in more than 80 games in 2013. That said, you won't find Crain complaining about extra work. As of Wednesday, he was leading the league in appearances (24) and holds (14).

"I feel staying consistent is the key for me and my routine." Crain said. "I try to work at my conditioning and preparation the same way without having to change anything. My way of doing things doesn't mean I am going to have success every time out, but I think it leads to more consistency."

Crain, 31, has been on an incredible streak, having gone 18 straight appearances without giving up a run.

"Hey, before we start, I don't talk about numbers," he said before talking to ESPN Chicago. "Relief pitchers, at least the ones I know, don't show too much emotion when it comes to doing well or not. I think you kind of learn that you don't show any emotion about anything. Your family might have some trouble with that sometimes, but we as professional pitchers learn to control exterior emotion."

The White Sox's setup man says he believes it takes a special type of pitcher to survive the grind of bullpen demands year in and year out.

"There is a brotherhood among guys who do this for a living," he said. "There are few guys even on your own team that understand relief pitchers. Some of them think it is easy to come into a game and throw one inning. What they don't understand is that mentally and physically you have to be ready every single day. I know we aren't out there playing eight innings, but you are mentally in each game."

Crain is on pace for 52 holds, which would be a major league record. The current record is 40 by Luke Gregerson with the San Diego Padres in 2010.

No plans for MRI on Chris Sale

May, 22, 2013
May 22
7:39
PM CT
CHICAGO -- No MRI exam is in the works for pitcher Chris Sale, who was scratched from his outing Wednesday because of tendonitis in his left posterior shoulder.

While there is concern, there does not seem to be panic among the White Sox organization that the soreness is more than a temporary nuisance.

Sale is under orders to avoid baseball activity for the time being, but he still is being aimed at his next start, which would take place Tuesday. He figures to have a bullpen session over the weekend.

"With him skipping a start, it's one of those where he was voicing concerns about his shoulder being a little sore," manager Robin Ventura said. "I don't know if it's overreacting, but it's being very cautious of how we handle him going forward. It's something that hasn't come up before, so let's take care of it now."

With John Danks set to return to the rotation as early as Friday, the White Sox will be adding to their starting depth, but Ventura said he is only willing to go five starters at a time. He’s not even interested in using a sixth starter possibly once a month to get guys like Danks and Sale a breather every once in a while.

(Read full post)

Gillaspie's friends in tornado's path

May, 22, 2013
May 22
6:55
PM CT
CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox infielder Conor Gillaspie said he has been unable to reach two former college teammates, who live near the area devastated by Monday's tornado in Oklahoma.

Gillaspie, an avid weather junkie who is a native of Kansas, said that two players from his Wichita State days live in the area of Moore, Okla., which took the brunt of a storm that packed winds of up to 200 mph and caused a reported 24 deaths, not to mention untold property damage.

Gillaspie sounded confident that the people he knows were not among the casualties.

"Obviously I can't get a hold of anybody," Gillaspie said. "I'm sure if there would have been a loss of life, I probably would have heard of it by now. I just can't get a hold of anybody because all the cellphones are down, phones are down, power's pretty much out everywhere in that area. It's a sad day for a lot of people down there. I feel for them. I've been around destruction like that."

A self-described storm chaser, Gillaspie has always been drawn to weather and the reason that storms like Monday's are able to become so powerful.

(Read full post)

Team will pick up slack without Sale

May, 21, 2013
May 21
11:57
PM CT
CHICAGO -- The news of Chris Sale having to miss a start did not shake up the Chicago White Sox, who have made a habit of competing shorthanded all season long.

The injury hex started in spring training when it became apparent that rehabbing starter John Danks was not going to be ready in time to get big league hitters out. Danks, who is returning from shoulder surgery last summer, most likely will make his first start Friday against the Miami Marlins.

Gavin Floyd was lost for the season (and maybe for good) with elbow surgery and position players Dayan Viciedo and Gordon Beckham went down in the second week of the season.

(Read full post)

Solid rotation gets another gem

May, 21, 2013
May 21
11:28
PM CT
CHICAGO -- John Danks hasn’t pitched all season, Gavin Floyd was lost for the year and on Tuesday came the news that Chris Sale would skip a start because of shoulder soreness.

Yet the Chicago White Sox's rotation keeps rolling right along, with left-hander Jose Quintana delivering the latest gem for a club that has disappointed in every department except when it comes to the starting staff.

Quintana took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday before three consecutive singles chased him from the game. Thanks to a pair of strikeouts from reliever Jesse Crain, Quintana finished the night with 7S scoreless innings, while striking out five with two walks in his team’s 3-1 victory.

(Read full post)

Rapid Reaction: White Sox 3, Red Sox 1

May, 21, 2013
May 21
9:57
PM CT


CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox made it two consecutive wins over the Boston Red Sox with a 3-1 victory Tuesday in the middle game of a three-game series.

How it happened: Jose Quintana took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before the bullpen took it the rest of the way. Quintana didn’t give up a hit until David Ortiz dunked a broken-bat blooper into centerfield with one out in the seventh. Three consecutive singles loaded the bases before reliever Jesse Crain struck out Will Middlebrooks and Stephen Drew to end the threat. Jeff Keppinger got the White Sox on the board in the fifth inning with a two-run home run, his first of the season. Alex Rios extended his hit streak to 16 games and also drove in an insurance run in the eighth inning. Addison Reed closed it out for his 16th save in 17 chances. The game ended in a driving rain storm.

What it means: On the day the White Sox learned that Chris Sale would miss his next start because of tendonitis in his shoulder, Quintana’s outing was just what the team needed. The White Sox are saying that Sale’s tendonitis is only mild and he will return to the mound next week. Quintana’s no-hit threat came only nine days after Sale pitched a one-hitter against the Los Angeles Angels.

Outside the box: Make that a 2.84 ERA for White Sox starters over the last 31 games, with 20 quality starts in that stretch as well. At the start of play Tuesday, White Sox starters led the American League in ERA, opponents’ batting average (.216), opponents’ on-base percentage (.280), WHIP (1.09) and baserunners per nine innings (10.13) over the last 30 games.

Off beat: The White Sox improved to 21-23 on the season, which isn’t much different from their record after 44 games last year. In 2012 at this time the White Sox were 22-22. The White Sox’s victory in Game 44 last year was the start of a nine-game winning streak that included sweeps of the Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays.

Up next: The White Sox will send left-hander Hector Santiago (1-2, 2.78 ERA) to the mound against Boston in the finale of the three-game series after Sale was scratched with mild tendonitis in his left posterior shoulder. The Red Sox will counter with right-hander Clay Buchholz (6-0, 1.78) in the 7:10 p.m. start from U.S. Cellular Field.

Reed getting job done in closer's role

May, 21, 2013
May 21
9:18
PM CT
CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox have had numerous great closers in their proud history and Addison Reed is doing his best to make his mark on the position.

Reed has saved 15 of 16 opportunities in 2013 and has come through on 90 percent of his career save chances. The 24-year-old has had the good fortune of having some of the best pitching instructors in the game as a support system the last couple of seasons.

“They all have been awesome and different in their own way,” Reed said Tuesday. “Last year getting to work with (bullpen coach) Juan (Nieves) was awesome. He gave me tons of great info and working with (Bobby Thigpen) and (Don Cooper) has been just as important to me improving. I am grateful to have worked with these great baseball guys who all have imparted different things for me.”

(Read full post)

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox will have the unique circumstance of three different men managing the team June 2-4 during a three-game series in Seattle.

Manager Robin Ventura will miss the first two games of the trip for the graduation of his daughter in California. Bench coach Mark Parent will manage the first game Ventura misses on June 2. Parent will miss the second game on June 3 for his son’s high school graduation.

“We are still going over how we are going to do it on the third,” Ventura said. “My first choice would be to have Joe (McEwing) do it, but he likes to coach third. We have Coop (pitching coach Don Cooper) who has done it. I am not going to have Joe manage and coach third base at the same time. We will figure it out.”

Ventura said he would never have been able to manage in the golden era of baseball when baseball men missed births of children and other family events.

“I wouldn’t be here working under those conditions,” he said. “I would never miss an important day for my family. This was already on the agenda as off days when I took this job. There are things you will miss, but for the big things it is essential that you are there and tell them you love them.”

The Sox manager also got the OK from his wife, Stephanie, and his four kids before he signed a three-year contract to manage the team in October 2011.

“I am not so sure they just wanted me out of the house,” Ventura joked. “The kids are older now, so it is easier for us to make family schedules. We just tell them we are going and they love to come back to Chicago and join us. It has become an easier thing for all of us.”
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TEAM LEADERS

WINS LEADER
Jake Peavy
WINS ERA SO IP
5 3.31 58 51
OTHER LEADERS
BAA. Rios .306
HRA. Dunn 11
RBIA. Rios 27
RA. Rios 28
OPSA. Rios .927
ERAC. Sale 2.53
SOC. Sale 61