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CHICAGO -- Fresh off announcing Robin Ventura as their new manager earlier in the week, the Chicago White Sox did a little housekeeping with their roster.

The White Sox made five moves Friday, one of which was to release right-hander Tony Pena, who underwent Tommy John surgery on Aug. 31.

The team also outrighted pitchers Kyle Cofield, Josh Kinney, Shane Lindsay and Leyson Septimo to Triple-A Charlotte.

All five players will become free agents.

Pena was 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA in 17 appearances before tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Kinney appeared in 13 games with the White Sox, while Lindsay appeared in four. Lindsay became the first Australian-born player to appear for the White Sox.

Cofield and Septimo did not appear in the major leagues this season.

The White Sox’s 40-man roster is now at 36 players.

The White Sox certainly have their needs as baseball's nonwaiver trade deadline approaches -- like a middle of the order slugger who preferably bats left-handed -- but the most attainable need remains a right-handed reliever.

With Sergio Santos now the closer and Jesse Crain the only right-hander available for late-inning duty before the ninth, a one-inning pitcher who throws from the right side isn’t only desired, it might still fit into a budget already stretched as thin as possible.

Right-hander Brian Bruney has emerged to somewhat dispel that notion, so reaching out to get just any righty isn’t want the club needs. Getting a right-handed reliever to mimic what Crain is doing could go a long way toward making a very good bullpen great.

Anything less than that isn’t needed because that level would be Bruney. That back-handed compliment isn’t meant as a knock, but it does seem as if the White Sox still aren’t convinced that Bruney has what it takes for important late-inning situations.

Bruney hasn’t allowed a run in seven outings this month (5 2/3 innings), but the White Sox lost five of those games and one was a blowout victory so it’s not as if the spotlight was at its brightest in those outings.

Bruney earned a hold in the July 1 victory over the Cubs, and on June 29, he earned a victory over the Rockies. Going back even one outing further he pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings against the Nationals.

So the bar has been set. Bruney has been effective of late so unless the White Sox can land somebody better than what he has to offer, then don’t bother with a deal for a right-handed reliever.

It doesn’t seem as if Tony Pena is about to help any time soon. Early Wednesday the right-hander was placed on his second rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte only to experience elbow discomfort later in the day. He will be re-evaluated Thursday. Pena has been on the disabled list since May 29 with elbow tenidintis.

DETROIT – White Sox relief pitcher Tony Pena, who has been on the disabled list with right elbow tendinitis since May 29, is making progress since having a setback on his rehab assignment.

Pena threw 34 pitches Saturday and if he comes out of that feeling fine his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte will be reactivated.

Pena started the season as the middle-innings right-hander out of the bullpen but was ineffective before heading to the DL. Brian Bruney has since delivered in Pena’s former role.

The Chicago White Sox placed struggling right-handed reliever Tony Pena on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with right elbow tendinitis and recalled right-hander Lucas Harrell from Triple-A Charlotte.

Pena missed a handful of games earlier this season with the same ailment, but did not go on the DL that time.

Read the entire story.

Reliever Tony Pena is throwing the White Sox’s six-man rotation plan out of whack.

Manager Ozzie Guillen said he would be willing to extend the six-man beyond the off day next week, but Pena’s struggles are delaying a decision.

With six starters, that means there is one less reliever in the bullpen. With Pena struggling, and Sergio Santos being used as the closer, the only other right-hander to pitch in key situations before the ninth inning is Jesse Crain.

“If Pena goes out there and does what we thought he would do I don’t mind staying in a six-man rotation,” Guillen told reporters before Saturday's game. “We even talk about that to just leave it like that. But my worry is how much Crain will work. He goes out there because he’s the only righty we have besides Pena and Santos.”

Pena came on in the late innings Friday night at Toronto with the White Sox down by a run and was hit hard. The Blue Jays added on an insurance run.

“A lot of people in Chicago thought how crazy you are you were down by one and you brought in Pena,” Guillen said. “I don’t have anybody else. I used Crain the night before and it’s not fair for him to be out there every day to take care of somebody else’s job. I’m not going to do it. I don’t care what people say.

“I’m not going to make somebody suffer with somebody else not doing what they’re supposed to do. I’m not going to do it.”

If the White Sox do taper down to five starters at some point, Guillen said Jake Peavy and Mark Buehrle won’t be asked to pitch in relief. The established veterans are too engrained in their roles to change now. The four other starters would be considered to pitch in relief because Guillen feels they are young enough to be able to handle the change.

Congratulations Matt Thornton, you earned the White Sox’s closer role. Now watch your back. That seems to be the scenario surrounding Thornton’s anointment as the club’s first closer of the post-Bobby Jenks era.

Thornton was the favorite to land the role heading into spring training and the move became official when he looked more than capable of doing the job with his performance in Cactus League games. But manager Ozzie Guillen said Thornton will get “more than the chance to be the closer,” which means others will get a chance as well. So when Thornton has pitched a day earlier and a slew of right-handers are due up in the ninth, perhaps Sergio Santos or Jesse Crain gets the call instead.

So yeah, Matt, you got the job, but you seem to be on a short leash. Are you OK with that? “Hey, if I don’t do the job, I haven’t done anything my career to maintain that job all season long just based on past history,” he said. “It’s something where I have to earn it every single time I take the mound.” Good answer.

Not everything surrounding Chris Sale’s performance in March could be attributed to the simple fact that it’s just spring training or that he has never been in big-league camp before. The wunderkind left-hander showed he really was human after an eye-popping two months in the major leagues last season a mere months after leaving college. Sale had a 5.06 ERA in 10 2/3 spring innings, but he showed slight improvement after a change in his setup.

Sale started standing on the third-base side of the rubber while facing right-handed hitters and moved to the first-base side for left-handers. Expected to be a key piece in neutralizing a strong contingent of left-handed hitters in the American League Central, an inefficient Sale could prove to be a huge blow to the bullpen’s expectations. It might not be fair to place so much of a burden on such a young player, but Sale has shown that he can handle the load. His situation shows just how much Major League Baseball is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league. One reason the White Sox might not be too worried: He had 14 strikeouts vs. only two walks in Arizona.

The projection was that White Sox relievers were supposed to be nasty on left-handed hitters with Thornton, Sale and Will Ohman. Apparently the right-handers looked at that as a challenge and nobody in that group has stepped up more than Santos, who didn’t give up a run this spring in 9 2/3 innings. The former infielder appears set to make another jump in his development, which is impressive considering he already got some chances in the late innings last season.

Throw out a spring outing against the Mariners when Jesse Crain gave up two runs in an inning of a game that was already decided and the newcomer from the Twins also looked solid. And don’t forget Tony Pena, who posted a 3.60 ERA in 15 innings.

With Jake Peavy about to miss anywhere from two to four starts to begin the season, Pena will be key in getting the White Sox through that stretch, even if he doesn’t start a game. If Pena can absorb innings and keep everybody else on the staff fresh, the White Sox might be able to piece things together in April.

PEORIA, Ariz. -- There were no surprises among the roster moves the White Sox made as scheduled Tuesday, but the cuts it did give a look into the likely 12 pitchers they will take into Opening Day.

Nine players were affected in the moves, including outfielder Alejandro De Aza and catcher Tyler Flowers. Both were optioned to Triple-A Charlotte along with right-hander Gregory Infante.

Reassigned to minor-league camp were right-handers Brian Bruney, Jeff Gray, Josh Kinney and Shane Lindsay, as well as outfielder Jordan Danks and infielder Dallas McPherson.

The moves leave 29 players in big-league camp, a number that includes catcher Donny Lucy, who is not expected to make the opening day roster. A total of 13 pitchers also remain in camp.

Jake Peavy is among those 13 pitchers and it is widely assumed he will be on the disabled list once the season begins. Manager Ozzie Guillen has also stated a preference for 12 pitchers to start the season.

Barring any unexpected turn of events, that would leave the White Sox with the following staff (in alphabetical order): Mark Buehrle, Jesse Crain, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Phil Humber, Edwin Jackson, Jeff Marquez, Will Ohman, Tony Pena, Chris Sale, Sergio Santos and Matt Thornton.

If the White Sox end up going with an 11-man staff, Marquez figures to be the odd man out.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Chicago White Sox reliever Will Ohman has a unique definition of what a bullpen is.

"Bullpen ... usually comprised of six to seven players who are failed starters. They usually sit beyond the left or right field fence, not good enough to sit in the dugout. They call us in during extreme situations with no chance for glory."

With that in mind, Ohman thinks the White Sox bullpen for 2011 is looking pretty good.

"We've got a bunch of guys who are really bad at starting, so they're really good at bullpen-ing," he joked.

This is what people can expect from Ohman, who started his career with the Cubs. He and Jesse Crain are the two additions to a revamped bullpen that lost Scott Linebrink, J.J. Putz and closer Bobby Jenks in the offseason.

Ohman appeared in a combined 68 games for Florida and Baltimore in 2010, striking out over a batter per inning. Crain, who spent the first seven years of his career with the division-rival Twins, made 71 appearances with a 3.04 ERA last year.

He doesn't anticipate any problems making the switch to the White Sox, with the fans in particular.

"Obviously, it goes better, smoother, if you start off the right way," he said. "But you cheer for your team, no matter where they come from. I'm part of this team. I'm not part of the Twins."

Crain and Ohman join Matt Thornton and Tony Pena as the veterans beyond the outfield walls at U.S. Cellular Field, teaming up with young flamethrowers Chris Sale and Sergio Santos to form a committee that hopes to shorten games considerably for a starting rotation which already has a lot of pressure on it with Jake Peavy's status up in the air.

Thornton is the frontrunner to close games this season, though manager Ozzie Guillen has not made his decision yet. Thornton filled in for Jenks from time to time last season, recording eight saves. He posted a 2.67 ERA in 61 appearances and had a career-best 12 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

The trio of Thornton, Sale and Ohman, all southpaws who dial it up to the high-90s, will give the White Sox flexibility when troublesome left-handed hitters come up in late innings.

"There's always enough work for everyone. We have a lot of really tough lefties in our division," Thornton said, likely referring to the Twins' duo of Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer.

"You're going to be fighting for innings sometimes, but others you're going to be begging for a day off."

Guillen has been vague about the closer role throughout spring training, mentioning having to close each inning individually and using his best pitchers when they're needed most.

Thornton isn't a fan of the idea of a rotation bullpen, but doesn't expect the closer role will be a merry-go-round.

"We've talked and everyone agrees that having one ninth-inning guy is the way we should go," he said. "I think you need to name a closer until you decide to go with someone else. When you look around baseball, bullpens just work better that way."

Regardless of who gets Guillen's blessing to handle the ninth inning, the White Sox feel they have one of the best bullpens in the game.

"Having that kind of group out there is a huge improvement," Thornton said. "There's some experience you lose out on, but you get some new guys who have a major fire and desire to be after it."

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox avoided arbitration with pitcher John Danks, outfielder Carlos Quentin and relief pitcher Tony Pena on Tuesday by agreeing to one-year deals with each, according to a major league source.

Read the entire story.

Expect the Chicago White Sox to come to terms will all three of their arbitration-eligible players in advance of hearings before an arbitrator that start next month.

John Danks, Carlos Quentin and Tony Pena all have earned the right to have their 2011 salaries decided by an independent third party. A player’s arbitration years are a buffer between their early years when teams can set their salaries and later years when they are eligible for free agency.

The White Sox's track record, though, is to come to deals with players before the sometimes contentious arbitration hearings, where teams end up accenting the negative in order to justify their point for a lower salary. It's never a great confidence booster or relationship builder just before a season begins.

The last time the White Sox had a case go to an arbitrator was in 2001 with Keith Foulke.

A source indicated earlier this winter that the White Sox will get serious with the option of signing Danks to a three- or four-year deal that would take him past his arbitration years. Danks reportedly declined a four-year, $15 million deal last offseason.

The team’s decision on Quentin will be interesting. He was also offered a four-year deal last offseason but declined for a one-year offer. The White Sox still don’t seem convinced that Quentin can stay injury- or stress-free over a full season.

A long-term deal with Quentin could be risky, but so could another one-year contract, especially if he puts up numbers like he did in 2008 when he hit 36 home runs with 100 RBIs. If he does that again, he could end up being worth more than the White Sox could afford once he becomes a free agent.

Expect Pena to wind up with a one-year deal.

Hold that thought on non-tender day going a long way to helping the White Sox fill out a roster for 2011.

Today is the day that all teams must offer a contract to their arbitration-eligible players still under club control. For the White Sox that means making a decision on Bobby Jenks, John Danks, Carlos Quentin and Tony Pena.

Jenks is expected to be non-tendered and, barring a last-minute unexpected trade, the right-hander will become a free agent. All other major-league teams are in the same situation and must decide on whether or not to offer a contract to their arbitration-eligible players or set them free.

The White Sox have been reportedly waiting for this day, when they can possibly find a bargain in a player that for whatever reason didn’t fit into his team’s plan moving forward.

Sounds like a sensible plan, except for the fact that the person most responsible for making player personnel decisions for the White Sox isn’t getting his hopes up.

“In some ways yeah, but I don’t know that I anticipate guys becoming available,” general manager Kenny Williams said in advance of Thursday’s deadline.

Call it Williams being pessimistic. Or maybe he didn’t want other teams to think he was waiting to pounce on their scraps.

The non-tender list comes out soon, and perhaps then we will be able to see if Williams can continue to hold his poker face if indeed that is what it is.

All signs continue to point toward White Sox reliever Bobby Jenks being non-tendered by Thursday’s deadline.

After saying late in the season that he is “disappointed on a number of levels” with Jenks, general manager Kenny Williams apparently hasn’t been convinced otherwise since the season ended.

There remains an outside shot at trading Jenks before the deadline, but like the White Sox, no teams seem willing to pay the right-hander the potential $9 million he could earn through arbitration. Even teams that see Jenks as a good fit could retain their assets and certainly sign Jenks for less as a free agent.

John Danks and Carlos Quentin will be offered arbitration by the Thursday deadline. Reliever Tony Pena, the last of the White Sox’s arbitration-eligible players, isn’t as easy of a decision. He showed some versatility as a spot starter last season, but also struggled at times when asked to protect leads. Pena could benefit from the fact that the White Sox have a number of bullpen openings this offseason.

It was a season that manager Ozzie Guillen called “unique” and the reasons vary widely.

From in-fighting to a slow start to an improbable comeback and then a slow fade back into obscurity, the White Sox went through plenty this season. Jake Peavy’s season-ending injury was a tough blow, Paul Konerko’s MVP push was a highlight and Chris Sale’s emergence was a revelation.

Bullpen injuries, a dreadful start in April and May and some scathing Twitter critiques (mostly from Guillen’s son Oney), kept the drama flowing. By the end of the season Guillen and general manager Kenny Williams had kissed and made up, Brent Morel emerged as a talent for the future and nine victories over the final 11 games removed at least a little bit of the sour taste from a wild ride in 2010.

Here is what went right, what went wrong, questions for the offseason and what to look for in 2011:

OUTFIELD

What went right: Juan Pierre became exactly what the White Sox hoped he would be as a leadoff man, the only problem is that his emergence didn’t start until June. He became the first White Sox player to lead the league in steals (with 68) since Luis Aparicio in 1961. Alex Rios had the steadiest season of any White Sox player, batting .284 with 21 home runs and 88 RBIs. When Carlos Quentin had three multi-homer contests in a span of four games in early July it was the latest example of how damaging he can be on offense.

What went wrong: Pierre was brought aboard to spark the offense in Guillen’s small-ball vision, but a .260 on-base percentage and a .193 batting average in April was a major reason for the team’s slow start offensively. Sure Quentin had his red-hot run when the ballpark was playing small during the hottest part of the summer, but nagging injuries continued to cost him playing time, which ruined his consistency at the plate.

INFIELD

What went right: Omar Vizquel. Omar Vizquel. Omar Vizquel. With all due respect to Konerko, Vizquel’s unexpected contributions, especially on defense, were what made the White Sox click on the infield this season. Vizquel’s steady hand at third base came when the starting pitchers made huge improvements, and it was no coincidence. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez showed Gold Glove ability, while second baseman Gordon Beckham fought through a sophomore slump to post an impressive second half (.310 after the break). Konerko put up MVP-type numbers in what could be his final season on the South Side: .312, 39 HRs, 111 RBIs.

What went wrong: You know that left-handed run-producing bat the White Sox have been looking for? Mark Teahen was supposed to supply a portion of that, but struggled early (on defense as well), fractured a finger and lost his starting gig. Beckham was the club’s No. 9 hitter, but he was still supposed to give more than a .216 batting average in the first half.

ROTATION

What went right: Freddy Garcia’s 12 victories (a number that could have been as high as 16 with some help from the bullpen) gave the starting staff much-needed stability from the front end to the back. When Gavin Floyd was posting a 0.80 ERA in five July starts, he was pitching as well as anybody in baseball. John Danks might not garner any Cy Young votes, but he was a leader of the 2010 staff, going 15-11 with a 3.72 ERA. Mark Buehrle just keeps on churning out solid seasons, becoming the only active pitcher with 10-consecutive seasons of at least 10 victories, 30 starts and 200 innings. Edwin Jackson was an animal in his first four White Sox starts, posting a 0.96 ERA over 28 innings.

What went wrong: The starting pitchers can be forgiven for their slow start to the season, but when it was time to make up for it in September, they were nowhere to be found. With the season on the line, the White Sox’s staff set a dubious club record by not winning a game in 18 consecutive starts. The starters were 0-9 over that stretch with a 6.45 ERA. Sure Floyd was terrific in the middle of the season, but he has a career ERA of 6.30 in April, a 5.47 mark in May and a 4.44 mark in September. That trend continued once again this season.

BULLPEN

What went right: The steadiest group on the team, until it was hit with a rash of injuries in the second half, the bullpen blended a nice mix of veterans and young pitchers. Bobby Jenks had 19 saves in 20 chances in the first half, while J.J. Putz and Matt Thornton proved to be an effective lefty-righty setup crew. Right-hander Sergio Santos, in just his second full season as a pitcher posted an impressive 2.96 ERA in 51 2/3 innings. Left-hander Chris Sale was even more impressive over just 21 second-half outings, showing just why the White Sox drafted him in the first round in June.

What went wrong: Calf, back and forearm injuries left Jenks with 27 saves, the least in any of his five full seasons. Jenks wasn’t the only reliever whose injuries hampered the team. Thornton and Putz were on the disabled list at the same time during a key stretch during the second half. Other issues: Santos allowed 32.2 percent of inherited runners to score, while Tony Pena had a .341 batting average against vs. first batters.

MANAGEMENT

What went right: After a slow start, Guillen was still able to guide the club to 88 victories, an impressive feat considering the White Sox were just 9-14 in April and 22-28 at the end of May. Williams admitted he doubted his abilities to access talent when the White Sox were off to a brutally slow start, but his decisions were validated when the club made a mid-season run to get back into contention.

What went wrong: From the day Guillen’s son Oney left his position with the team during spring training, the manager and Williams were on shaky ground, only repairing the relationship during the final week of the season. Williams took a chance on Teahen that didn’t work well in Year 1 of a three-year deal. Sure it was admirable that Williams took a chance to make the team better down the stretch, but Manny Ramirez didn’t come close to reviving his 2008 magic, and the White Sox were left holding a $4 million invoice.

OFFSEASON QUESTIONS

If Konerko doesn’t return, then who plays first base? Could they use the Konerko money to convince Adam Dunn to come to Chicago? Who will close if Jenks isn’t brought back, as expected. Putz is a free agent and Thornton has a team option, leaving a number of decisions to make in the bullpen. If the team doesn’t want to commit to free agent A.J. Pierzynski for multiple years, would they be willing to bring him back for just 2011?

The White Sox have no less than 14 player personnel decisions to make this winter. Free agents: Konerko, Pierzynski, Putz, Kotsay, Vizquel, Garcia, Ramirez and Andruw Jones. Arbitration eligible: Jenks, Danks, Quentin, Pena. Contract options: Thornton, Ramon Castro.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2011

Konerko’s return is 50-50. The team is interested and so is Konerko, but the veteran said that even if the White Sox are the highest bidder, it won’t guarantee that he comes back. Sale is expected to be converted back into a starting pitcher and could be the No. 5 starter if Peavy isn’t ready to return from a shoulder muscle injury by Opening Day.

Starting Brent Morel at third base and Dayan Viciedo at first leaves too many offensive question marks, so if Konerko doesn’t re-sign look for the White Sox to make a push for a veteran first or third baseman. The same goes for catcher if Pierzynski isn’t re-signed: look for the White Sox to bring aboard a veteran backstop for one or two years. Expect the White Sox to quickly exercise Thornton’s $3 million option for 2011.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -– Throw another name in the hopper for potential starting pitchers next season.

In the event Jake Peavy doesn’t start the season on time, Tony Pena might be considered for a brief run as the White Sox's No. 5 starter.

In his second career start Sunday, Pena gave up three first-inning runs to the Angels but closed out strong by not giving up a run over his final five innings. He allowed eight hits and two walks, striking out four while throwing 102 pitches over six innings.

“I think I can be a starter,” Pena said. “I don’t know when, and I don’t know how.”

Plenty would have to happen, though, for the White Sox to consider using Pena as anything more than a long reliever and spot starter. Peavy’s delayed return is an obvious factor. Another is the need to get Pena, who will be arbitration-eligible this offseason, under contract for 2011.

There are plenty of other roadblocks too. If the White Sox re-sign Freddy Garcia, that would all but eliminate Pena's rotation hopes. And if the team decides to use Chris Sale in a starting role at the beginning of the year, that could also keep the right-hander from his dream job.

The White Sox are already set in four rotation spots with Mark Buehrle, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Edwin Jackson.

If there is one thing that Pena acheived with Sunday start -- and his Aug. 21 outing at Kansas City -- it was to convince the White Sox to bring him back at least as a reliever for another year. Sox manager Ozzie Guillen liked the way Pena rebounded Sunday after his shaky beginning.

“That’s the way it always is, [when] you haven’t been in that situation before, you’re pumped up,” Guillen said. “I don’t want to say he was nervous, but he was excited about it. He bounced back, gave the team a chance to win and every time you give your team a chance to win you’re going to have a chance.’’

Pena made $1.2 million this season and would surely earn a raise on that if the White Sox offered him arbitration. Scott Linebrink and Sergio Santos are the only relievers guaranteed to come back, although Matt Thornton has an extremely team-friendly club option that is expected to be exercised. Adding Pena to that mix would give the club bullpen stability moving forward.

Pena certainly has shown that he has the mental makeup to be a starter. When he faced the Royals on Aug. 21, he retired the first nine batters before giving up five consecutive hits, but then settled himself back down again to retire the last 12 batters he faced.

Last Monday at Oakland, Pena didn’t start but came in for an injured Gavin Floyd in the first inning and delivered six hitless innings. It was the longest scoreless outing for a White Sox reliever since Melido Perez went seven scoreless innings against Boston in 1991.

Counting that outing, Pena had 9 2/3 scoreless innings over his last three relief appearances.

Against the Angels on Sunday while starting in Floyd’s spot, Pena gave up three first-inning runs on four hits. But he settled down quickly, not facing more than four batters in any of the remaining five innings.

“I felt comfortable and I had to think about coming back with shutout innings,” Pena said. “I was using my changeup and slider. It was good."

With Floyd expected to be shut down for the final week of the season because of soreness in the back of his right shoulder, Pena figures to get one more start Friday at home against the Indians.

This offseason, he might even continue his starting experiment in winter ball.

“It depends,” Pena said. “It depends on how my arm feels. I have a lot of innings in it right now. Maybe I’ll take one month [off]. But I’d like to have about five starts before I come back next year.”

By the numbers

9: Series sweeps by the White Sox this season after winning all three games in Southern California against the Angels this weekend. It was the White Sox’s second sweep over the Angels this season after also winning all four games of a series at U.S. Cellular Field just before the All-Star break. The White Sox were 7-2 against the Angels this season.

Quote

“I think so. Going into Minnesota it was a big series that didn’t go the way we wanted, and it’s only human to have a little bit of a letdown because we’ve been fighting for a chance to play in the postseason for so long. And after that series, it was slim-to-no chance. But it’s nice that we’ve come together and started playing well, and hopefully finish this last week strong.” –- Mark Teahen, on whether or not the team got a lift from Guillen’s team meeting before Wednesday’s game at Oakland on the heels of an eight-game losing streak. The White Sox have won four consecutive games since that meeting.

Look ahead

White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle (12-12, 4.27) will start the opener of a four-game series at home, the final homestand of the season. He needs 1 2/3 innings pitched to become the first pitcher in baseball history to record at least 10 victories, 30 starts and 200 innings for 10 consecutive seasons.

Buehrle will be opposed by Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz (16-7, 2.39), who has given up just one run combined over his past two starts (13 innings) after giving up five runs in one inning Sept. 10 against the A’s.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Tony Pena, who has made no secret of his desire to start some games, got his chance Sunday in place of an injured Gavin Floyd.

But giving up three first-inning runs against the Angels wasn’t the best way to go about making a case to be a starter.

“He’s going to have what he wants,” manager Ozzie Guillen said before the game. “He’s been waiting for this day for a little while.”

Actually, he had a crack at it on Aug. 21 at Kansas City and had some impressive moments in a seven-inning no-decision. He retired the first nine batters he faced in that game, gave up five consecutive hits for four runs and then retired the last 12 he faced.

“He can be a starter because he has a few pitches, he has a changeup, slider and fastball,” Guillen said. “Hopefully he goes out there and does what he’s supposed to do, have fun and pitch good.”

The odd thing about Pena is that when he knows he has to give the team innings, he is able to extend himself. He struggles when he’s in close games and needs to get things to the back end of the bullpen.

“He throws more strikes; he’s not the junky, funky guy out there,” Guillen said, explaining the difference in Pena. “He just throws more strikes and settles down. But he impressed a lot of people when he [was in] that role. I think Tony’s season has been very underrated. He had a couple of times when we needed to use him and he sucked it up for the team. I think it was a very good season for him.”

Pena, who does not have a deal for next season, is arbitration eligible.