Report: Contreras to the DL, Haeger decision to be made Tuesday

by The Cheat on May 8, 2006 5:34 PM CDT in News Comment 34 comments

I've been seeing reports on the internet today that Jose Contreras has some sort of injury, but have seen/heard no confirmation from solid sources. That all changed a minute ago when Bruce Levine from ESPN 1000 reported that Jose complained about some hip pain following a side session this weekend.

The White Sox have sent him for an MRI, and even though no results have been announced, they're making arrangements to have his rotation spot filled. There was some confusion as to whether the issue is a hip, back, or both, but it sounds like he is indeed headed to the DL for a bit.

Charlie Haeger, for those who don't know, is a young knuckleballer who actually retired from baseball after he was unsuccessful as a "normal" pitcher. In his year away from the game, he developed his knuckleball, and the White Sox welcomed him back to their organization. Since then, he's steadily risen through the system to the point where, other than Brandon McCarthy, he's the prospect who is currently closest to major league ready.

Haeger was given a number of starts, with ominous results, in spring training while Freddy Garcia and Javier Vazquez were playing in the WBC. Once Haeger left the thin air of Arizona, however, he has pitched very well, including a game against a major league line-up. He's been nothing short of amazing this season in Charlote, leading the International League in IP and ERA.

My understanding as to why the White Sox are choosing to go with Haeger over McCarthy is that Brandon threw on back-to-back days for the first time in his career this weekend. McCarthy is not stretched out, nor would he have the required rest to get ready for a spot in the rotation.

Update [2006-5-8 21:22:51 by The Cheat]: Dave Van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune tracked down the first quotes from White Sox staff.

"We will decide [Tuesday] after talking to Jose," general manager Kenny Williams said. "We have people on alert in the event he can't go. Its nothing considered serious and Jose feels a lot better [Monday]."

"We'll be discussing both Haeger and McCarthy options [Tuesday] when Ozzie [Guillen], [pitching coach Don Cooper] and Contreras get in," Williams said. "A lot will depend on what Jose says. [Monday] he said there is no need for a DL stint."

This sounds a whole lot like Buehrle's broken foot last spring training and Jose's bone spur this spring. A couple of days rest may be all that is necessary. Only time will tell.

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oh...oh...oh...

oh shit...thats all I can say.

I'm hoping its nothing too serious that a little time away can't heal, but this could hurt like hell.

AIM: BrentBrookhouse

by Brent Brookhouse on May 8, 2006 5:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

shit

by larry on May 8, 2006 5:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

dammit

our best guy

hepefully jose comes back ok

HEY THIS IS JI
JIM THOME

by The Wizard on May 8, 2006 5:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

mark, time to get serious!

no more dinking around

now, we need you...

HEY THIS IS JI
JIM THOME

by The Wizard on May 8, 2006 6:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

before I get too worried

I want to see the report. That's not to say I'm not worried. I think we have options and depth to get around this. Remember way back when when BMac went to the pen. He's there as insurance. If Charlie Knuckleball fails we have a back stop.

Comonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn You White Sox!

by zokmaad on May 8, 2006 6:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

just think

If Haegar turns out to do well in a couple spot starts this year, it would be awesome to have 7 good starters. Most teams are hardpressed to find a 5th start, when we sit over here all nice with 7 starters.

Ross.....Gload....Sucks.

by SouthSideStunna on May 8, 2006 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm not so sure

i think most of us liked having BMac there as an option; however, i'm thinking about what this will do to our already not so great bullpen. take BMac out of there and our weakest point only gets weaker.

by larry on May 8, 2006 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

its not all bad

If Haeger fails then Logan has to go. If he succeeds the Sox knuckleball tradition is revived. I'm a big Wilbur Wood fan. Maybe we get Ed Hermann to come out of retirement to catch.

Ozzie may have play the starting lineup more to give extra offensive cushion. The pen has to suck it up. Lets hope Thorton does not read this blog and can pull some weight.

Comonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn You White Sox!

by zokmaad on May 8, 2006 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm curious

have either AJ or Widge caught a knuckler before? what's the over/under on number of passed balls for wednesday's game?

by larry on May 8, 2006 6:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Doubtful... unless in the minors at some point.

I am guessing he will be brought up as soon as possible so that he can get some work in with widger/pierzynski.

by QWERTwithaY on May 8, 2006 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

AJ caught him in Atlanta

5 innings, and only 1 passed ball. He also caught a shorter session, with another passed ball.

So AJ's seen him at least twice. He hasn't been spectacular, but he hasn't been as bad as Charlotte's back up catcher, who had 5 passed balls in Haegers last start.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 8, 2006 6:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

that's good. i couldn't remember who had caught him in the spring and i can't think of any other time those guys would have caught a knuckler during their careers - not too many knucklers left.

the weather doesn't look to be all that favorable for a knuckler on wednesday - i'm pretty sure the warmer the better is the general rule for knucklers. it'll probably be 60 and dropping to 55 or so on wednesday. would like to see that a bit warmer but i suppose it's not unfavorable, either.

by larry on May 8, 2006 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

wind

The temp is not as important as the lack of wind. The more it blows the more the ball moves. If its calm he's a dead duck. 5 pass balls is a good sign. His ball must really dance.

Comonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn You White Sox!

by zokmaad on May 8, 2006 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If they can't catch knucklers...

we could always fly in Doug Mirabelli on game day and rush him to the stadium with a police escort.

-Jeeves Chi-Sox Blog

by jeeves on May 8, 2006 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks for the opening

This is from a how to site -
http://www.oddball-mall.com/knuckleball/k101.htm

From those who've lived to tell about catching them, the process is essentially this:

Stand a little wider than normal, and be ready to sway left and right to try to put your body somewhat centered on the ball.
Use a softball catcher's mitt if legal, unless you want to bay big bucks for a custom k-ball mitt.
Catch with the mitt a little close, definitely NOT straight forward at arm's length. You may want to lunge at this very slow pitch. Don't. Let it come to you. Arm bent back about halfway may work. Follow the ball in with your eyes and stab sideways for it.
The reason for #3, besides having better leverage and balance to go left-right, is to also tilt the mitt more upwards, to try to catch the ball as it comes down on a fairly steep angle. Due to the angles involved, you may want to shift a bit towards your throwing side which would put you a bit off-center, but your forearm will be more inline with the center of the plate, making it easier to bend your wrist in a variety of directions.

Got all that A.J.?

Comonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn You White Sox!

by zokmaad on May 8, 2006 7:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow

I read this thread on soxtalk but ignored it since I thought it was just a false rumor.

I'm still in a shake of shock and I won't believe any of this until I see an official report. A possible positive is that if the Contreras injury is a 15 day dl thing, and Haeger pitches well...it turns a relatively unknown prospect a year ago into a valuable trade chip.

AIM: shaftr01

XBL: TheMattressMan

by shaftr on May 8, 2006 6:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

retroactive to may 4

http://www.futuresox.com/frontpage/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=281

HEY THIS IS JI
JIM THOME

by The Wizard on May 8, 2006 6:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Why?

Why couldn't it have been Garland that got hurt? Or Matt Thornton?

I think I'd much prefer this to be a hip injury like Cheat said. The link provided by thewizardsofoz says it's a back injury. If it is a back injury, I'm praying it's not a Dustin Hermanson like situation.

-Jeeves Chi-Sox Blog

by jeeves on May 8, 2006 7:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I wondered about those

3BB he gave up in his last start. didn't want to say anything for fear of a jinx, but something about those walks just didn't sit right. i wonder whether he already felt the twinge then.

AIM: ozspengler

by spengler on May 8, 2006 7:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

There is a reason for his walks

He was sick on that day.

by Gregory Pratt on May 8, 2006 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tribune

they're reporting the decision will be made tuesday on whether to send him to the DL.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-060508soxcontreras,1,6839151.sto ry?coll=cs-home-headlines

by larry on May 8, 2006 8:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

whitesox.com

CHICAGO -- The White Sox would not confirm a Monday report from WSCR 670 AM in Chicago, the team's flagship radio station, stating that Jose Contreras was headed to the 15-day disabled list with hip problems.

A spokesman for the team said that Contreras had been bothered by stiffness in his back over the weekend, but that a final decision regarding the right-hander's status would not be made until Tuesday afternoon.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060508&content_id=1444108&vkey=news_cws &fext=.jsp&c_id=cws

Comonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn You White Sox!

by zokmaad on May 8, 2006 8:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

with the off day

we can probably afford to let jose miss a start without making any roster moves. the starters will just have to pitch on regular rest; i imagine coop and ozzie have been preparing the guys for this possibility.

by larry on May 8, 2006 9:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea, i am content

With Jose missing one start. I mean, it was going to be tough game for Contreras vs. the Angels anyway. I am pretty amped to see Heagar pitch though, he is tearing up AAA, i want to his his knuckle ball.

Ross.....Gload....Sucks.

by SouthSideStunna on May 8, 2006 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huh???

it was going to be tough game for Contreras vs. the Angels anyway

Why would it have been a tough game for Contreras? That team doesn't take walks, and is 12th in the AL in runs scored.

But, I digress, and agree with you about seeing Haeger -- I think there's a large contingent of baseball (regardless of whether or not their Sox-affiliated) fans who want to see him.

by CWSKeith on May 8, 2006 10:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well i say that because

The Angels are a tough opponent. Dispite what the stats show, they can put some runs up, with their lineup, I doubt it would have been a walk in the park for Contreras.

Ross.....Gload....Sucks.

by SouthSideStunna on May 9, 2006 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tracey

Just would like to add that he has really great stuff if you've never had the chance to see him this year. I've watched him several times on MiLB tv and it is major league caliber. Too bad his control is piss poor. But yeah, more K's than innings pitched and 9 hits in 24 innings is nice. It's too bad Cooper can't work with him right now because I'd take his stuff over any in the minors easily. It seems he will go a couple innings where his pitches land over the backstop, straight into the ground, in the opposite batter's box, then he will rattle off three or four innings without giving up a walk. Can't figure him out.

Also, Haeger's 7 unearned runs are not like other pitcher's unearned runs where they come at the fault of a surrounding defense. Most of Haeger's unearneds come at a fault to him with wild pitches which keeps his ERA so hot. But I am really excited to watch him pitch and I hope he dominates.

AIM: i2ockbotm

by 3E8 on May 8, 2006 11:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Knuckleballs

He's a knuckleballer. "No control" is the point.

by Gregory Pratt on May 9, 2006 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Read the title again, slowly.

Tracey is the one with no control.

AIM: i2ockbotm

by 3E8 on May 10, 2006 1:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No faith??

Hey Zokmaad, weren't you complaining about the lack of faith by our SSS fans?
Well, let's not all get our panties in a bunch. The reason KW dealt for Javy is just in case something like this happened. We have B-Mac and Haeger ready to go, and if I remember correctly, B-Mac filled in on the spot last year and did quite well. The brass planned for just this scenario, so now we get to see how intuitive KW and the front office were.
I have faith in B-Mac!

Free Ross Gload!

by james@lifeinthecell on May 9, 2006 6:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

was I?

I complain so much I lose track :-)

I'm absolutely heartened by the response - but you have to admit the initial posts were pretty gloomy. But that's ok. No one wants to see the Count on the DL.

I especially like the upside view of what it means if Haeger is succesful. Think about Halo fans watch their team get shut down by a AAA call up. The extra options for KW to deal. 7 good starters! A knuckle baller returns to the Sox.

But do me a favor and keep the faith up even if Haeger gets shelled Wednesday. I maintain this is part of the season and a champion overcomes adversity.

Comonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn You White Sox!

by zokmaad on May 9, 2006 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Surprise

Haeger does poorly. Gets tarred, feathered and covered with post it notes saying 'go back to AAA you don't deserve to be on this team'. I think I even saw an 'I told you so'.

So unexpected.

Comonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn You White Sox!

by zokmaad on May 10, 2006 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs