Jenks leftovers

By Mark Gonzales, 9:27 a.m.

Here are some notes, from the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser, on White Sox closer Bobby Jenks’ perfect one inning Wednesday night against Double-A Montgomery while pitching for Birmingham on a minor league rehabilitation assignment:

Jenks threw nine of his 11 pitches for strikes. His velocity topped out at 94 m.p.h, according to the stadium radar gun.

Esteban Loaiza will start Thursday night for Birmingham in a minor league rehab assignment. Loaiza is recovering from weakness in his right shoulder that is affecting his velocity. Loaiza will oppose David Price, the first overall pick in the 2007 draft.

Jenks is still saving that 99 MPH heater for when he really needs it.

Brewers manager Ned Yost will take home/road splits to a new level at the start of the season’s second half. He plans to make right-handers Dave Bush and Seth McClung his co-fifth starters, with Bush starting home games at Miller Park, while McClung pitches on the road. When one of the co-fifth starters takes the mound, the other will be available to piggyback in long relief. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Yost said. “I’m just trying to give us our best chance to win. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel.”

Bush is 4-2 with a 2.49 ERA in nine home starts this season with 618 OPS allowed. On the road, he is 1-6 with a 6.95 ERA (nine games, eight start) with an 852 OPS allowed. McClung’s splits aren’t quite as divergent, as he’s 1-1 with a 3.28 ERA (11 games, four starts) with a 686 OPS allowed in away games, as opposed to 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA (10 games, six starts) with a 762 OPS allowed in home games.

Yost admits he is uncomfortable with throwing both pitchers off their normal routine of starting every fifth day, “but sometimes you have to try something different to see if it works. We’ll give it a shot.”

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7813

interesting idea.

“D-Backs close to Clark deal”

The Diamondbacks appear to be closing in on a trade with the San Diego Padres that will bring first baseman Tony Clark back to Arizona.

After significant discussions in recent days, a deal could be final as soon as today, according to a major league source, who said the Diamondbacks will give up a minor league prospect in the trade.

It appears Clark has agreed to waive his assignment bonus, the $500,000 clause that otherwise would have kicked in when he was traded. The bonus, which served as a form of no-trade protection, was expected to be a hurdle in the negotiations. The Diamondbacks will be responsible for the remainder of Clark’s $900,000 salary.