Bob James could have come off the disabled list Sunday, but he isn`t ready yet. James did throw on the side, and the Sox were encouraged with his progress. However, they want to make sure he can throw without pain several days in a row before he`s reactivated.
General Manager Larry Himes plans to travel Monday to Double-A Birmingham, Ala. He`s probably going to take a long look at pitcher Adam Peterson, a candidate to be brought up in September. Peterson pitches Tuesday.
Latest slogan heard in the Sox clubhouse: ”Forty more days and then we could wear socks any way we want.” That`s an obvious dig at Himes` regulations for uniform socks.
The Sox might be forgiven if they appear to be sluggish for Monday`s game against the Red Sox. They jumped on a charter after Sunday`s game. The three- hour flight was expected to bring them in Boston at 4:10 a.m.
Texas catcher Gino Petralli probably won`t ever forget the seventh inning of Saturday`s game. Trying to catch Charlie Hough`s knuckleball, Petralli committed four passed balls, tying a major league record set in 1954 by the New York Giants` Ray Katt while trying to catch Hoyt Wilhelm.
”Charlie didn`t have his slow knuckleball,” Petralli said. ”He was throwing every one hard, and it made for a difficult night.”
The passed balls gave the Rangers 51 for the season, breaking the major league mark set in 1959 by Baltimore, which by then had acquired Wilhelm. Hough has thrown 45 of the passed balls.
Doctors finally determined the cause of the internal bleeding that had been plaguing Texas` top reliever, Dale Mohorcic. Four small ulcerations were found in his lower intestine. Doctors said the area was irritated by aspirin and other medication Mohorcic was taking for a sore back. The Rangers hope he can come off the disabled list Thursday.
Daryl Boston was the hitting star in Triple-A Hawaii`s 4-2 victory over Calgary Saturday. He hit his second homer with the Islanders and had two RBIs.
