White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said Saturday he has a good idea whom his five starters will be, though he’s not letting on just yet.
One thing is certain: If Jim Parque doesn’t show vast improvement in his velocity in the next week, he won’t be in the rotation during the first week of the season.
“We’ll let the process tell us when he’s ready,” Manuel said. “I don’t want to put a target date on him.”
After Mark Buehrle and Todd Ritchie, the rotation is full of question marks. Current No. 3 starter Jon Garland has walked 11 batters and allowed 18 hits in 102/3 innings, and the other two spots are up for grabs if Parque isn’t ready.
Gary Glover entered Saturday’s game with an 11.25 earned-run average in his first three outings but held Oakland to two unearned runs on four hits in five innings, lowering the ERA to 6.92. More important, he has walked only two men in 13 innings.
“Coming from a real off-season and not pitching in winter ball, I’m sure they had some concerns about that,” Glover said. “Would I be ready? I got off to a slow start this spring. Last year I was ready to go seven innings from Day 1 of camp, and I think I regressed in spring training as far as innings and pitch counts. The workload wasn’t quite what I was used to. It’s kind of like weight training. You can build it up to a certain level, and then if you cut your work down to a third of that, you’re going to lose some strength.”
Jon Rauch and Glover are the early favorites to grab the two openings. Dan Wright has been impressive at times but has had some control problems, walking seven in 12 2/3 innings.
Manuel said Lorenzo Barcelo stepped up Saturday, allowing three runs in three innings. Parque will pitch in a minor-league game Sunday, and Manuel is considering skipping the Sox-Cubs game in Mesa to evaluate Parque’s progress. Third base coach Wallace Johnson would manage in Manuel’s place.
Flip flop: Rookie Willie Harris, whose teammates call him “Hollywood,” plans to do some back flips at Comiskey Park if he makes the team, emulating former St. Louis shortstop Ozzie Smith. Manuel doesn’t mind Harris’ unusual display of exuberance.
“As long as he can play,” Manuel said. “He better be able to play if he’s going out there flipping in the big leagues. Flipping in the minor leagues is a different thing.”
SPRING REPORT
White Sox recap
SCORE: White Sox 11,
Athletics 5.
SPRING RECORD: 7-11.
AT THE PLATE: Willie Harris had four hits, including a two-run homer, and the Sox pounded out 16 hits against Oakland pitching. The Sox lead the majors with a .358 average, averaging 7.9 runs per game.
ON THE MOUND: Gary Glover was impressive in a five-inning start, allowing four hits and two unearned runs. Lorenzo Barcelo allowed three runs on four hits in three innings.
IN THE FIELD: The Sox committed four errors, adding to their AL lead with 32 errors.
NEXT UP: Vs. Cubs at 2 p.m. Sunday in Mesa. The Sox are 2-0 vs. the Cubs this spring, scoring 28 runs.
