John Danks and Gavin Floyd have a combined 55 major-league starts — well shy of Bartolo Colon’s 306.
But for now the White Sox intend to stick with youth over a 34-year-old former Cy Young Award winner with a history of arm problems.
“I saw firsthand that anyone, anywhere, can take that job,” said Danks, who won the fifth spot from Floyd as a non-roster invitee last spring. “I know nothing has been handed to me. I have to do my job and win that spot.”
Floyd has made a strong impression this spring after pitching well in the final five weeks of 2007 in what amounted to an audition.
“It’s nice to see some of the guys who have worked on some of the things we sent them home to work on,” general manager Ken Williams said Wednesday.
Williams declined to comment on a report the Sox were on the verge of signing Colon, who has made only 28 starts over the last two seasons since winning the 2005 American League Cy Young Award with the Los Angeles Angels.
Manager Ozzie Guillen, who personally scouted Colon in the Dominican Republic last month, shot down the report even though the Sox spoke to Colon’s representatives earlier this month.
“To get the job done, I think we have enough here,” veteran left-hander Mark Buehrle said. “But if [Williams] wants to get somebody else, it’s going to help us out.”
Guillen believes he had enough quality competition in camp.
“We’re not going to bring in guys just to bring in guys,” Guillen said. “If we think we’re going to bring in Colon to make us better, of course we’re going to do it.
“But the competition is already there. And I think we have a lot of good arms here to compete.”
Danks, 22, needs more consistency to provide the rotation with reliable depth. He pitched at least six innings in seven of his first nine starts, only to throw no more than five innings in each of his next six starts.
Danks (6-13, 5.50 earned-run average in 2007) received only 11 runs of support in his final nine starts and didn’t start after Sept. 11, as the White Sox wanted to take a longer look at Floyd.
“I learned from my mistakes for the most part,” Danks said. “I truly believe the only way to improve is to be honest with yourself. I know there were times I [stunk,]. But I’m still capable of getting outs.
“We all can improve from last year, and we all need to improve [against] the AL Central. But I feel I can take the next step and improve.”
Floyd, 25, posted a 3.41 ERA in his last five starts after getting promoted July 24 from Triple-A Charlotte. He allowed two runs in 13 innings in two starts against Detroit last September.
Unless the Sox made a trade, Lance Broadway and Nick Masset are the only in-house candidates to challenge Danks and Floyd, who has impressed Guillen with his sharpness and poise in early bullpen sessions as well as Wednesday’s first batting practice session.
“We haven’t started the games yet,” Guillen warned. “Everyone is healthy. That’s more important. But I think the one who is stepping it up and really looking [good] is Gavin Floyd.”
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mgonzales@tribune.com
