Harold Baines’ retired number isn’t the only thing missing from Comiskey Park of late.
Baines himself also has been missing in action, spending most of his time on the bench while Frank Thomas plays designated hitter and Paul Konerko plays first.
“What can I say?” Baines said. “I get ready when I’m called upon.”
Baines was called upon Wednesday and delivered the game-winning RBI double in the first inning of the White Sox’s 1-0 victory over Detroit. Baines said his lessened playing time doesn’t mean he won’t return to the Sox next year, if asked.
“I knew what my role was when I came over,” Baines said. “Frank is the DH here. I’m here to be a lefty off the bench.”
Top cat: Sox prospect Jon Rauch was named Minor League Player of the Year on Wednesday by Baseball America. Rauch, a 6-foot-11-inch right-hander, was a combined 16-4 with a 2.66 earned-run average for Class A Winston-Salem and Class AA Birmingham, striking out 187 batters in 166 innings.
The 21-year-old is playing on the U.S. Olympic team in Sydney, where he’s the No. 4 starter on the staff.
“Jon got better and better as the season went on,” said Allan Simpson, editor of Baseball America. “We feel he has an extremely high ceiling, and not just because he’s 6-11. He has a chance to dominate major-league hitters with his fastball. He has nasty life on the pitch and a power pitcher’s mentality.”
A third-round draft pick in ’99, Rauch has a combined 20-8 record and 3.11 ERA in his two years in the minors.
He’ll likely get an invite to the Sox’s training camp next spring and could compete for a starting job, though it’s likely he’ll begin 2001 in Class AAA Charlotte.
The last Sox player named Minor League Player of the Year was Thomas in 1990, though Konerko also won it when he played in the Dodgers’ system in 1997.
Eldred update: Cal Eldred played catch from 45 feet on Wednesday in his first action since team physician James Boscardin surgically inserted a screw into his right elbow Saturday.
“I have to be realistic and take a day-by-day approach,” Eldred said. “If I can do that, then at the end of each day there may be a smile on your face when you realize you made a little ground. Just chip away each day. I’m not going to give up. I’ll give up when we play our last game and I can’t go.”
Manuel said James Baldwin would have to begin throwing on the side by Monday if he hopes to build up his arm and get on schedule to make a postseason start.
If Baldwin doesn’t get at least one start before the end of the regular season, he may not pitch in the first round.
“I don’t know if we could wait that long and take a chance going in,” Manuel said. “I think he has to have an outing.”
Deja vu: Detroit third baseman Dean Palmer was ejected in the fourth inning for arguing a called strikeout. It was the second time this year Palmer was ejected during a Sox-Tigers game at Comiskey in which Jim Parque pitched. He also was ejected on April 22 for charging Parque on the mound after being hit by a pitch.
Stand-up guys: Several Sox players have committed to try their hand at stand-up comedy Thursday night at Riddles comedy club in Orland Park. Parque, Mike Sirotka, Jon Garland, Kip Wells, Keith Foulke, Konerko, Sean Lowe, Bill Simas and Jose Valentin are among the players who have agreed to perform.
