White Sox manager Jeff Torborg likes an 11-man pitching staff. When Wayne Edwards was sent to the minors Saturday, that left him with 10.
Melido Perez went 6 2/3 innings Friday night. So Saturday night, Torborg had nine-and had Ramon Garcia warming up early when starter Greg Hibbard struggled.
Is he troubled by the situation?
”The term isn`t `troubled,` ” said Torborg. ”It`s awareness that you don`t have your long guy. Or, if you go extra innings, what happens if they tie the game off Bobby (Thigpen) and I`ve used everybody to get to Bobby?”
With Mike Huff joining the club Monday and Ron Kittle-who hit two homers Friday night at Triple-A Vancouver-expected soon, chances of adding an 11th pitcher quickly aren`t very good.
Meanwhile . . . Even though Perez has been marvelous (4-0, 1.27 ERA) in the bullpen, he continues to want out. ”I`m doing good,” he said. ”Always, I do the best I can. But that`s not my job.”
And Alex? Friday night was the second time in six starts Alex Fernandez had failed to finish the second inning. The four starts in between ranged from terrific (a complete-game four-hitter against Texas) to pretty decent.
”Not a great way to start off the second half,” said Fernandez, who spent an hour after the game in a heart-to-heart-to-heart talk with Torborg and pitching coach Sammy Ellis.
”He made a terrible pitch to Greg Vaughn, and Vaughn hit it out of sight,” Torborg said of the 2-0 pitch that became a three-run homer in the first. ”When he gets in trouble, it`s not stuff-it`s location. That was supposed to be low and away. It was low and in. That`s home run territory.”
Ouch: The Brewers` Robin Yount remained hospitalized with problems in his urinary tract after passing a kidney stone last week. He already has missed more games (six) than in any of his previous four seasons, but might be back Sunday.
