General Manager Ron Schueler and manager Jerry Manuel evaluated the White Sox’s pitching staff Friday night. Their assessments were highly optimistic.
Some of that optimism was shaken in the sixth inning when rookie Jon Garland left the game after he was struck in the right elbow by a line drive off the bat of Tampa Bay’s Fred McGriff. But X-rays of Garland’s right arm revealed no fracture. Schueler and Manuel made the following points:
– Thirteen-game winner James Baldwin will miss no more than one starting turn as a result of the “tired arm” that contributed to his hitting four Orioles batters in Thursday’s 5-3 loss at Baltimore.
– Ken Hill, a 34-year-old, 13-year major-league veteran signed to a contract with Class AAA Charlotte on Friday, could quickly join the Sox if he pitches well in Saturday night’s start against the Toledo Mud Hens.
– Ten-game winner Cal Eldred, who has been on the disabled list since July 17 with neuritis in his right elbow, will pitch off the mound in practice Saturday.
“Hopefully Cal could be on rehab assignment before the end of the month,” Schueler said.
– Friday night’s starter, the 20-year-old Garland, and Sunday’s starter, 24-year-old Rocky Biddle, will remain in the rotation if they do well this weekend.
If most of these “ifs” are favorably resolved, the White Sox could go to a six-man rotation to help keep the starters rested for postseason play.
Schueler said he talked to Baldwin “and he has nothing more than a weary arm. Every pitcher has had one. I don’t expect he will miss a second start.”
Hill, four times a 16-game winner in the majors, had a 5-7 record and a 6.52 ERA when the Angels released him Aug. 7. He spent seven weeks on the disabled list earlier this season and has had arthritis.
“Our medical staff checked him out, and he pitched twice for us in Baltimore,” Schueler said. “The first time he was not impressive but the second he was, and we signed him. He’s a veteran with postseason experience. We feel he may be able to help our staff down the stretch drive.”
Then there were 6: How well Hill pitches for Charlotte on Saturday could determine when the Sox go to a six-man rotation, Manuel said. Schueler said he hoped Hill would work as many as five innings and throw 80 to 85 pitches.
“A six-man rotation is not a bad idea at this time of the season,” Manuel said. “As for Cal, we’ll know more tomorrow. It appears he will be back.”
Schueler said Kip Wells, 22, a sometime starter before he was sent to the minors to work on his control, is “still in the mix” for service this season. Manuel’s plans for a six-man rotation would probably involve current starters Mike Sirotka, Jim Parque and Baldwin, plus Garland or Biddle or both, plus Hill and/or Eldred.
Harold and Paul: Hitting coach Von Joshua praised the attitude and work ethic of Paul Konerko, whose at-bats have been reduced since the July 31 deal that brought Harold Baines back to the Sox. When Baines is the designated hitter, Frank Thomas plays first base and Konerko sits.
“It’s hard for any player, especially a young one, to go from playing every day to part-time play,” Joshua said. “But Paul’s been a professional. He takes extra hitting and gets ready for the times he will bat. He watches pitchers from the dugout.”
