Reliever Tom Gordon believes he could be back on the mound for the Cubs in 7-to-10 days. But manager Don Baylor and pitching coach Larry Rothschild say it will take longer for Gordon to be ready to face big-league hitters.
“He still has some hurdles,” Rothschild said. “It’s nice to see how hard he has worked, but . . . he needs 10-12 innings.”
Baylor said his goal is to have Gordon return before the All-Star break, which begins July 8.
Gordon, who will begin a rehabilitation stint Saturday in Mesa, Ariz., appears to have recovered fully from tearing a muscle near his right shoulder in spring training.
“Now it’s just getting to game situations,” he said.
Gordon threw in a simulated game on Wednesday in Houston. He faced Roosevelt Brown and Augie Ojeda.
“There were a couple of balls that I thought were hit right at me, but they were hit the other way,” Gordon said. “I have to get a feel for all that. But my tempo and slide-step were good.”
After pitching in two more simulated games in Arizona, Gordon is to pitch for Triple-A Iowa beginning next week.
“He needs to face hitters,” Baylor said. “He was out here [Wednesday] when it was 95 degrees and with the roof open. He was gassed.”
Changing plans: The White Sox made a grand entrance to Wrigley Field last year, taking batting practice at Comiskey Park and arriving by bus in their uniforms an hour before the start.
But it was only because manager Jerry Manuel wanted a full workout on the first day back after the All-Star break, and it won’t be repeated on Friday.
“We tried to explain that to everybody,” Manuel said. “But they jumped on us for coming in on a bus looking like a high school team. Then we got beat up. Then we took the next two. Then they kept quiet.”
Manuel said none of last year’s controversies should carry over. Time to start some new controversies.
“It’s magnified, the whole city is watching, so everyone is trying to critique everything that goes on,” Manuel said. “Which is all right.”
Climbing the charts: Sammy Sosa has homered in four of his last six games to boost his major-league leading total to 24.
With 474 homers, Sosa is one shy of tying Stan Musial and Willie Stargell for 19th on the all-time list.
Although Sosa still ranks third in the National League with 50 bases on balls, he hasn’t drawn a walk since Saturday, a span of 18 plate appearances.
Lineup watch: Frank Thomas isn’t convinced the Sox offense has gotten back on track, despite two double-digit games in the last four.
“We still have a long way to go,” Thomas said. “Too many things are going on–a lot of changes and everything else, throwing off our consistency.”
Does Thomas want Manuel to use a set lineup?
“Not just a set lineup,” he said. “When we had a consistent lineup, things were rolling. Now we’re doing this, this and that, night in and night out, it throws you off, gets you in disarray.
“It’s good sometimes, but on a night-to-night basis, it’s tough.”
Thomas, who will sit on Friday, has been back hitting third after being used fifth.
“I really don’t think Magglio [Ordonez] wanted [to bat third],” Thomas said. “He wasn’t ready for it yet. It’s different. You feel like all the focus is on you in the No. 3 hole. I’m just used to it. Now I’ve fought my way out of it. I told him if he’s more comfortable in the No. 4 hole, keep it that way. I was just trying to help him out because he was hitting so well.”
Sox survivor: Carey Schueler, daughter of former Sox general manager Ron Schueler, made the final cut of contestants for the next edition of the reality show “Survivor.” Carey, an Orland Park native who was once drafted by the Sox, will test her survival skills in a remote part of Thailand.
