White Sox manager Jerry Manuel is expected to announce his rotation Friday, and Dan Wright figures to get in despite a rocky outing Wednesday.
Wright gave up four runs in the first inning and nine runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings in an 11-8 loss to Milwaukee.
“It bothers me giving up runs, no matter where I’m at,” Wright said. “You still have to pitch.”
The Sox’s pitching problems have been evident this spring, while some former Sox pitchers are in the groove:
– Right-hander Tanyon Sturtze, who was traded to Tampa Bay in 2000 for Tony Graffanino, is sporting a 1.13 earned-run average this spring. Already named as the Devil Rays’ Opening Day starter, Sturtze has a consecutive scoreless-innings streak of 14.
– Lefty David Wells, who signed with the Yankees over the winter, threw five scoreless innings against Cincinnati on Tuesday, lowering his ERA to 2.30, 10th in the AL. Wells has lost about 30 pounds and appears to have recovered fully from surgery to repair two herniated discs in his back.
– With five scoreless outings this spring, left-hander Jesus Pena is primed to win a spot on the Brewers’ roster. Pena pitched for the Sox in 2000 but was demoted to the minors a day after admitting he threw at a St. Louis Cardinals batter in retaliation for Magglio Ordonez being hit. The Sox later traded Pena to Boston for minor-league right-hander Mike Rupp. The Brewers signed him as a free agent last winter.
– Left-hander Scott Eyre, now with Toronto, is ninth among AL pitchers with a 2.25 ERA. Eyre was traded for Gary Glover before the 2001 season.
– Right-hander Sean Lowe is the current favorite for the No. 5 spot in Pittsburgh’s rotation, having allowed two earned runs in 10 innings. Kip Wells is also in the rotation.
History lesson: A poor spring training record doesn’t necessarily mean the Sox will have a bad season, but recent Sox history suggests their most successful teams have been ones that posted winning records in the spring.
In 1983, the Sox went 20-7 in spring training and won the West Division title by 20 games with 99 victories. In ’93, they went 20-13 and won the Central Division title by eight games with 94 victories. In ’94 they went 17-16 in spring and were leading the Central in August before the players’ strike led to a cancellation of the rest of the season. In 2000 they went 18-14 in the Cactus League and won the Central by five games with 95 victories.
With a 7-15 record this spring, the Sox are on pace for their worst spring record since 1972, when they finished 9-15 in the Grapefruit League in Sarasota, Fla. But that ’72 team surprised everyone with 87 victories, challenging Oakland in the first year of the Dick Allen era.
In the house: Former Sox leadoff man Tony Phillips visited with manager Jerry Manuel before Wednesday’s game and said he’s contemplating a comeback at the age of 43.
Phillips said he may play in Mexico this summer to get another shot in the majors. He hasn’t played since 2000 with Oakland, when Phillips broke his leg early in the season and eventually went unsigned as a free agent.
SPRING REPORT
White Sox recap
SCORE: Milwaukee 11, White Sox 8.
SPRING RECORD: 7-15.
AT THE PLATE: Paul Konerko went 3-for-4 to raise his average to .500, leading all American League hitters. Joe Crede went 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
ON THE MOUND: Dan Wright allowed nine runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Keith Foulke gave up two runs in 1 1/3 innings, serving up his fourth home run of the spring.
IN THE FIELD: Crede made an error at third.
NEXT UP: The Sox have their first and only off day of the spring on Thursday. They resume play Friday at 2 p.m. against Colorado in Tucson.
