Jim Parque made his first spring appearance in Thursday’s intrasquad game, taking it slowly in his comeback from shoulder surgery.
He gave up three hits and two runs in a 20-pitch outing, using only his fastball and changeup.
“How his arm responds in the next couple of days will be the real test,” manager Jerry Manuel said.
Although Parque often expects instant results, he has come to terms with the gradual recovery process and said he’s “building in steps” toward his first real start in Seattle in April. Parque will be the No. 3 starter, barring any setbacks.
“Any championship team always has a 1-2 punch,” Parque said. “What separates the championship teams from the also-rans is the Nos. 3 and 4 [starters]. Now I’m doing everything possible I can to get to where I was in 2000.”
Manuel said Parque would be limited to 30 pitches in his start Monday and could begin to throw his curve.
“I’ve been waiting since June for this day,” Parque said. “I couldn’t sleep last night, and I probably won’t be able to sleep Sunday night either.”
Hype-free: Frank Thomas said he expects Jon Garland to stand out this year now that all the hype has died down. Garland has spent the last two seasons trying to live up to a reputation that few pitchers his age could reach. With a 3.69 earned-run average in 2001, he showed he’s almost there at 22.
“It didn’t really bother me,” Garland said of the hype. “I’m not going to lie. Every once in a while you catch wind of something written and it’s kind of like, `What’s the thinking behind that?’ As a rookie you’re not going to say much, not going to worry about it. I think going to the bullpen helped me a lot in attacking hitters, so I’ll go out this year and start how I finished up last year.”
Limo service: Former White Sox general manager Ron Schueler, now an adviser to Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, was spotted sitting in his golf cart outside the Arizona Diamondbacks’ clubhouse Thursday.
Attempting to stop a rumor before it started, Schueler explained he was “chauffeuring” radio analyst Ed Farmer around on his cart and was waiting for him.
Schueler’s contract with the Sox expires after this season, and he has professed a desire to return to the front office somewhere. Having recently bought a home in the Phoenix area, Schueler could be interested in the Arizona job if current GM Joe Garagiola Jr. gets kicked upstairs.
First day: Most of the regulars are expected to start in the Cactus League opener Friday against the Diamondbacks, with Ray Durham batting third in place of Frank Thomas. Manuel said Thomas should be back from his tweaked hamstring and ready to DH Sunday, although Thomas wasn’t so sure he would return that quickly.
Garland will pitch two innings, followed by Gary Glover for two and Matt Ginter, Corwin Malone, Onan Masaoka, Brian West and Thomas Jacquez for one each. Mark Buehrle and Todd Ritchie are to start Saturday’s and Sunday’s games, with Kelly Wunsch slated to make his first appearance Sunday.
