ESPN

As far as scary moments go, Friday’s events for Paul Konerko were right there at the top of his most frightening times in the game.

The White Sox captain was concerned about possible vision loss after getting hit in the head by Jeff Samardzija.

“In the first 20 seconds I had blurred vision and was a little worried,” Konerko said. “Once I realized it was skin that had swelled up over the eye and not the eye itself I was OK in my mind.”

Konerko missed the last two games of the Cubs series over the weekend as he waited for the swelling and bruising to subside around his left eye.

“It was definitely tough not to play those other two games with the wind blowing out 100 mph,” Konerko said. “You don’t want to miss those ones, but that’s the game we play -- sometimes you get hit and have to sit out.”

Konerko totally exonerated Samardzija for the pitch. The Cubs pitcher called Konerko in the Sox clubhouse on Saturday afternoon to see how he was recovering.

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ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine takes your Cubs and White Sox questions during a live chat at noon Tuesday. Click here to submit your questions.

ESPNChicago's Doug Padilla and Bruce Levine break down the White Sox's sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley and discuss how much longer Alfonso Soriano will stay in the lineup.

As Jake Peavy prepared to pitch in the Crosstown Classic for the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, he couldn’t help but contemplate how close he came to becoming a Chicago Cub.

The 29-year-old pitcher was nearly on his way to the North side via a deal that would have sent five young Cubs players to San Diego when the Tribune Company went into chapter 11 bankruptcy. Then-general manager Jim Hendry was told by his bosses that he could not take on the hefty Peavy contract.

“I thought I was there and I knew it was very close,” Peavy said. “I was excited about it because I love the city and I have all the respect in the world for Jim Hendry and what they were doing at that time (with two straight division titles.) I loved the pitching staff that was in place and I really thought I could help, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”

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The aftermath of hitting Chicago White Sox captain Paul Konerko with a pitch on Friday was a bit surprising to Chicago Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija.

The split-finger fastball that tailed up and in to Konerko’s face has been interpreted as a purpose pitch on some national television broadcasts.

“I think those things create a big stir when things actually do happen,” Samardzija said. “In those cases you have to use common sense and know that I have him 0-2 and I’m throwing a splitter at 84 mph. I am not trying to hit him, I want to strike him out. There are times that you look at (a hit by pitch) as pretty obvious what has happened. Mine definitely wasn’t (intentional), but you have to have something to talk about.”

Samardzija was so concerned about Konerko’s health that he checked updates on his condition and tried calling Konerko after batting practice Saturday.

“Knowing that I did not hit Paul intentionally helped me move on after the game,” Samardzija said. “I did have to get over the initial hump of seeing a guy you know and respect take one over the eye. That is one spot for baseball guys that is sacred, around your vision. I’m sure it was a scary one for him but I had to get over the fact. It was an accident. Everyone knows Paul is a tough guy and he will bounce back big. I got word is he is all right and will be back soon so I wish him the best.”

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The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms with veteran infielder Orlando Hudson, according to a major league source.

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CHICAGO -- Trying to protect a weakened bullpen led to a major miscalculation by the Chicago White Sox coaching staff and a meltdown in a 10-8 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.

Jake Peavy, on his way to what appeared to be his fifth win, had a five-hit shutout through five innings and a six-run lead before losing his command in the sixth. By the time manager Robin Ventura and pitching coach Don Cooper decided to warm up a bullpen pitcher, Peavy had given up a two-run home run to Miguel Cabrera and a three-run blast to Ryan Raburn. The rest of the damage came off left-hander Will Ohman, who had to hustle to get in six or seven warmup throws.

Ohman entered the game with a man on first. He hit the first hitter, pinch hitter Delmon Young, and then served up a three-run home run to Austin Jackson.

“Obviously, the momentum changed rather quickly,” Ohman said. “I didn’t do what I needed to. I had Delmon with two strikes and go in and hit him. Then 0-2 homer . Unacceptable.”

Ventura and Cooper tried to stay away from using their depleted bullpen with their ace on the mound, but the inning and the game got away from them.

“You have seen Jake (get it done) in the past, but you can’t use everybody in the pen everyday,” Ventura said. “Even though you want to win this game you are looking (down the road). There are more games in the season, and you can’t use everybody every day.”

The miscalculation came with not having another righty up due to the fact that right-handed batters are hitting .333 against Ohman coming into the game.

Ventura took responsibility for watching over his tired bullpen.

”Sure, you have to be able to look at the (whole) season in the long haul instead of just batter to batter,” Ventura said. “We have some younger guys down there you want to take care of. It’s one of those for Jake where the sixth inning got him.”

STREAKING

1. Alejandro De Aza, OF: He has quietly been one of the best leadoff men in the American League, batting .286 with three home runs and 12 RBIs to go along with a .364 on-base percentage. Last week he had 12 hits and six runs scored, and he is batting .354 in May along with a .436 on-base percentage. Although you won’t see him on any SportsCenter highlights, the 28-year-old De Aza may be a diamond in the rough and a product of good scouting by the Sox. He has also played solid defense and has six stolen bases.

2. Adam Dunn, DH/1B: He is just the 14th player since 1921 to equal his previous years home run total (10 or more) in the first 33 games. Dunn had another solid week with three home runs, and has six homers and 10 RBIs in his last 12 games. Dunn, who has started mostly at designated hitter, will be challenged again next weekend as manager Robin Ventura said Sunday he will play him in leftfield against the Cubs. Dunn, whose 11 home runs are tied for second in the AL, is batting .250 with 26 RBIs. He’s also second in the league in walks (28) and has a .393 on-base percentage.

SLUMPING

1. Chris Sale, SP: Through little fault of his own, Sale had a tough week with elbow soreness and a demotion to the bullpen in which he blew a save in his first appearance. After a long conversation with Sox brass, he was elevated back to the rotation and took the loss against the Royals on Saturday, giving up three earned runs in five innings. The young left-hander, who is 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA this season, seems to be on his way back after a shaky first inning on Saturday.

2. Dayan Viciedo, LF: He has had a rough month, batting .176 with one RBI and no home runs in 12 games. He has also struck out 13 times in 34 at-bats. Viciedo went 3 for 19 in his last seven games and is batting .196 with three home runs and five RBIs this season. He may have to share time at the position with two or three others including Dunn. He is just the latest young White Sox player to struggle this season.

STREAKING

1. Adam Dunn, DH/1B: Game-winning home runs and big hits have been a part of the White Sox slugger’s game recently. Dunn told ESPNChicago.com that getting use to a DH routine has been key to his early season return to form. In the White Sox’s last seven games, Dunn is hitting .333 with 5 home runs and 9 RBIs. Dunn, who is batting .250 with nine home runs and 23 RBIs heading into Monday’s games, led all major league batters in home runs last week and had a game-winning blast off Tigers closer Jose Valverde on Saturday.

2. Gordon Beckham, 2B: Despite striking out with the tying and go-ahead runs on base to end Sunday’s loss to Detroit, Beckham is coming off his best week of hitting this season. Beckham came out of his season long slump with eight hits, batting .350 with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs in his past seven games. Hitting coach Jeff Manto has worked with Beckham, who is batting .215 on the season, on standing more erect at the plate thus avoiding a hitch from crouching too often. Beckham’s defense remains Gold Glove-caliber.

SLUMPING

1. Alexei Ramirez, SS: Ramirez is in a funk at the plate, going 2 for his last 16, dropping him to .196 on the season. The power numbers have also disappeared for Ramirez, who has just four extra-base hits in 112 at-bats. Ramirez is next to last in baseball with a sorry .476 OPS, including a .217 on-base percentage. But like his double-play partner Beckham, Ramirez’s defense is stellar.

2. Matt Thornton, RP: A tough week for the usually dependable Sox set-up man/closer, who posted a 15.43 ERA in his last three outings and a 2.14 WHIP. Thornton’s blown save and loss on Friday night against the Tigers was a product of a bullpen whose roles remain undefined with Chris Sale moving from the rotation to closer. Thornton is one of the top set-up men in the game, and he should remain in that role only.

It might be a little early to start handing out All-Star ballots, but Chicago White Sox starter Chris Sale is certainly opening up some eyes around the American League. Sale won his third game of the season on Tuesday, allowing just one run in six innings in a 7-2 victory over Cleveland.

The young left-hander was more excited about teammate Gordon Beckham's breakout three-hit game than his third win of the season.

“That was probably the [most fun] part of the game tonight watching Gordon go off,” Sale said. “He was taking good at-bats, taking good swings. Yeah, I think we got him back.”

Before the game manager Robin Ventura confirmed his belief in both Beckham and third baseman Brent Morel, who have been slumping with the bat since the season began. Ventura did say that at some point both needed to begin producing in order to remain starters.

“He swung it well,” Ventura said. “That’s just a part of believing in himself and that he keeps working at it. It’s just nice to see that it does pay off and that he hasn’t gone down that path of not believing in himself.”

Beckham not only hit his first home run of the season, he broke out of an 0-for-10 slump and doubled his RBI output from two to four. Beckham pointed to a good at-bat on Saturday night that may have jump started his offensive outburst on Tuesday.

“I battled in that at-bat,” Beckham said. “I didn’t feel great and knew that the game was on the line and did not give in, so that definitely was a good at-bat.”

A.J. Pierzynski started the White Sox scoring with his fifth home run of the season in the second inning of off Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez. Much like his teammates, Pierzynski was excited for Beckham.

“April is over and he and Albert Pujois went homer-less in April,” Pierzynski joked. “It was nice to see him get his first one out of the way. That should help him relax and use the whole field.”

With a record of 12-11 the Sox are in a three-way tie for first place in the AL Central with the Tigers and the Indians.

Chicago White Sox setup man Jesse Crain will throw a bullpen session on Thursday in his first serious attempt at returning to the mound since straining a left side oblique.

Crain went on the DL retroactive to April 21 and can return to the roster on May 6. There is no plan in place for Crain as of yet and a rehab outing or two is possible.

The veteran pitcher loosened up on the side Tuesday for Sox pitching coach Don Cooper.

“He will probably get on the mound on Thursday,” Cooper said. “He still feels some [discomfort], but I don’t think we have lost any time.

“We have not discussed it to the point of sending him out, or is he going to be all right after these two sidelines. So we have not gotten there yet.”

With Crain on the DL, the White Sox bullpen has five pitchers with 50 or fewer days of major league experience.

Crain has a 2.57 ERA with two holds so far in 2012. The right-hander missed 10 days in spring training with a right oblique strain.

ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine takes your Cubs and White Sox questions during a live chat at noon CT Tuesday. Click here to submit your questions.

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox reliever Jesse Crain will miss at least three games with a left oblique strain.

Crain, who was sidelined a week in spring training with a right side oblique strain, injured himself in a weight room conditioning session on Friday in Seattle.

“I was doing some body cool down stuff and on a twist I felt something,” Crain said before the White Sox took on the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. “It’s definitely frustrating, but it is better to take care of something early in the season than let it go on a long time.”

Crain is not sure when he will pitch in a game next but hopes to avoid the disabled list.

“It was frustrating to get the first one (right side) and getting through that,” he said. “(Now ) to have this happen without even throwing is pretty frustrating .”

Crain, who made 67 appearances and had a 2.62 ERA last season, has two holds in seven innings over six appearances this season, striking out 10 against one walk.

“My target date would be (Saturday),” Crain said, “but I hope to get some more treatment (Thursday night) and (Friday) and throw another side (session ) on Saturday as it keeps (getting better ).”

Crain threw on the side to loosen up prior to the game on Thursday.

Bruce Levine
Welcome to the chat! Ready to talk about both the hottest and coldest teams in baseball.

Grant B. (Burnsville, MN)
Hey Bruce, how much longer are the Cubs giving Soto to get his bat figured out? I assume he's on the block right now? He must have some serious intangibles behind the plate to be keeping Clevenger on the bench and Castillo at AAA!

Bruce Levine
You have to be careful when you trade a catcher. The unknown is whether Clevenger and Castillo can catch in the bigs everyday. Calling a game and endurance are a huge part of what a major league catcher is all about, not just results on offense. Teams would be interested in Soto, but like with any commodity, you try not to sell at the bottom.


Kevin Ryan (West Lafayette)
Do you think the Sox should send Gordon Beckham to the minors for a month or two, maybe just to let him find his groove? He has great potential and can be a great asset to this team.

Bruce Levine
Potential in his 4th year is something that people question at this point. What you see is what you might be getting -- a top quality defender and a .250-.260 hitter.


Dave (Northside)
With the Cubs picking up so much of Marlon Byrd's salary, is the ptbnl from the Red Sox going to be anyone special?

Bruce Levine
It's going to be a pitcher, most likely a left-hander that the Cubs have to choose from a list of players that they were given by the Red Sox. Now the Cubs are scouting those players to determine which one they want.

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ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine takes your Cubs and White Sox questions during a live chat at 11 a.m. CT Tuesday. Click here to submit your questions.