John Danks will be pitching Thursday night against his former team in front of several family members and friends.
But that’s about as good as it gets because Brandon McCarthy won’t have the opportunity to oppose the White Sox and Danks because of a right shoulder injury.
“Somewhere down the road I’ll get a chance to face them, but I know Danks gets to face us,” McCarthy said Wednesday night of his former team and the pitcher it traded him to get. “It would be nice to face him. But with the stuff going on, it doesn’t cross my mind.”
The Sox were tied with Texas 4-4 after 9 innings. Designated hitter Jim Thome had reached base in 16 consecutive plate appearances against the Rangers before taking a called third strike to start the eighth. Thome hit two RBI singles and a double in his first three at-bats.
Danks, meanwhile, will try to help the Sox gain an advantage in his first game against his former team since being part of a controversial five-player trade last December. The deal started as a success for the Sox but slowly has become a disappointment for both teams, although the youth and potential of the players involved suggests the trade still could work for both sides.
“Right now, I can’t say who made the best trade because both teams are in last place,” Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “Well, who cares about the trade? McCarthy’s not helping them and Danks is not helping us. But Danks, he never has missed a start.”
There has been little else to get excited about. Although Danks, 22, won the fifth spot in the rotation as a non-roster invitee, he hasn’t won since July 27 and this could be his last start this year as the club seeks to protect his left arm.
Reliever Nick Masset, also obtained in the deal, had a 7.09 ERA in 27 appearances and was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte six weeks ago so he could be converted to a starter. But Masset, 25, was tagged for five runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 5-1 loss to Richmond on Monday and has a 4.46 ERA in 10 games.
Several Sox fans were outraged when general manager Ken Williams moved the 24-year-old, who had helped the Sox hold off Cleveland in September of 2005, for depth.
But McCarthy, 5-8 with a 4.79 ERA in 20 games, has seen his development stunted by injuries ranging from blister problems to a stress fracture in his right shoulder that could sideline him for the remainder of the season.
“These are your freak things,” said McCarthy, who hasn’t pitched since Aug. 10. “I’ll probably get tagged with that oft-injured label, but that doesn’t apply. These are just annoying injures coming up, some that are the sum of others. I think once I get past that and get into the off-season and let my body rest and get back to square one, I’ll be fine. But it has been annoying.”
Neither McCarthy nor Danks said they have felt added pressure to succeed because of the trade, with Danks adding he hopes the experience he has gained will translate to more successful seasons.
Guillen, well aware that Danks’ family will attend Thursday’s game, sent a playful message to the rookie.
“Go out there and make them proud, and make sure they see you more than two innings because they pay a lot of money to watch a game,” he said.
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mgonzales@tribune.com
IN THE WEB EDITION: For Wednesday’s late result, go to chicagotribune.com/sports
UP NEXT: Thursday at Texas, 7:35 p.m., CSN
