Danks is on a roll

by The Cheat on May 16, 2007 3:59 PM CDT in Recaps Comment 44 comments

Just over 3 hours until first pitch of game two today, so I'll be brief.

I get on Ozzie Guillen quite a bit when he makes dumb decisions, but in the first game today he made some great moves.

Pulling Danks with a low pitch count, giving the team flexibility for this weekend when he's due to pitch on short rest
Letting Danks go back out for the 7th with the purpose of pitching to only Johnny Damon, regarless of the result (a 3-pitch strikeout)
Leaving Bobby Jenks in the pen so that he's available for the night-cap
Letting Aardsma and Thorton work more than an inning, facing batters from both sides of the plate

Even though the lineup will be handicapped tonight with Molina hitting 9th, Guillen did his best to give the Sox the best chance to win with a full arsenal of bullpen arms available in the nightcap, while simultaneously allowing himself some wiggle room this weekend thanks to the low pitch count of Danks. None of the local dailies will mention it, but that's how you help manage your team to victories.

As for the kid, Danks: Yes, JRE, he was impressive, particularly in the first three innings when he seemed to have a little extra zip on his fastball. After that, however, the Yanks weren't fooled much by the straight pitch, hitting a number of balls hard for outs. Danks had a bit of trouble getting his fastball over later in the game, but his curveball -- probably the best curve we've seen from him this year -- continued to bail him out.

It says a lot about his future as a big league pitcher that he was able to cruise -- though the Yankees do struggle against LHP, not nearly as much as the ChiSox -- without great control of his fastball and a changeup that was non-existent. Sitting here 10 minutes after the conclusion of the game, I can't think of a single time I saw Danks throw a changeup, which, at times, can be his best pitch.

The kid's got a bright future.

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White Sox Quotes of the Day: Ozzie, Coop

So, who will start Sunday's game? It depends on what happens on today's doubleheader. Masset is an option. As Gio Gonzalez (AA) and Gavin Floyd (AAA). Here's Ozzie:

[Scott Merkin]

"If you're a rookie guy and throwing well, we'll call you up to win one game. The difference is how mentally you're prepared for the game. This is the big leagues and a big difference from facing kids. But you're not going to change your approach."

Coop was willing to hazard an early guess:

"I've got a feeling, if I had to bet right now, it's going to be bringing one of these guys [Danks or Contreras] back earlier."

*****

And it seems the Sox realized yesterday's Rain/Bulls mess:

Fans who sat through Tuesday's almost two-hour rain delay and hold a ticket to that particular contest are getting a special reward from the White Sox. Those individuals not only can attend today's makeup contest, but in addition, fans can exchange their tickets for a complimentary upper-level seat to any of the team's next 13 premier games (based on availability). Those games include Wednesday's night game against the Yankees; Thursday's game against the Yankees at 1:05 p.m. CT; the Yankees series from June 4-7; the Twins series from July 6-8; and the Tigers series from July 23-26. Fans can do the exchange at the U.S. Cellular box office or by mail.

by The Wizard on May 16, 2007 4:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i seem to recall

another young sox pitcher who made his debut at wrigley. wonder how things worked out for him...

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 16, 2007 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

can't remember, can you refresh my memory?

GO SOX!

by rhythm on May 16, 2007 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

brandon mccarthy

5.1 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 6 K. no decision. vizcaino blew the win for him.

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 16, 2007 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

muchos gracias

I remember watching that game and thinking to myself: "damn, that dude is skinny!"

GO SOX!

by rhythm on May 16, 2007 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

B-Mac pitching tonight in Orlando

I love making fun of my new (20 years here) town - last night's Rays/Rangers game drew 8433 fans - not even a sellout in the Disney stadium for the first EVER major league regualr seasn game here. And the Rays are happy with it!

Ron Washington said something like "it was good to hear fans screaming during a Tampa game - usually it's the one guy behind hime plate in Tampa".

B-Mac will have a smaller crowd tonight.

by winningugly on May 16, 2007 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm watching

Padilla, who started, on ESPN right now.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 16, 2007 7:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, B-Mac was the announced

starter according to that bastion of accuracy, the Orlando Sentinel (owned by the Tribune). I am watching the same game, so I stand corrected.

However, it appears B-Mac couldn't have done much worse.

by winningugly on May 16, 2007 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

try reading today's paper

he pitched yesterday.

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 16, 2007 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I truly stand corrected.

My bad - one day runs into the next here in Cent'l FL.

by winningugly on May 16, 2007 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eh?

source on that premier game exchange? I might have to get my ticket stubs back from illinikrush...

--------------------------
http://hiphopnerd.com

by hiphopnerd on May 16, 2007 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I assume the box office

I don't know much here, I just did a copy/paste from whitesox.com

by The Wizard on May 16, 2007 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

1-866-SOX-GAME (769-4263)

by The Wizard on May 16, 2007 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

there's a separate press release on whitesox.com now...

--------------------------
http://hiphopnerd.com

by hiphopnerd on May 16, 2007 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well said

I am in shock. The Sox played a very nice game. Headed out to the 2nd game now. Hope they get it in I heard rain.

by Tdogg on May 16, 2007 4:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What's most impressive about Danks today

is that he only threw 88 pitches against the Yankees. They work a staff harder than any other team in the majors, and you know their game plan coming in had to be to get to our pen early in Game 1.

by ChicagoPete on May 16, 2007 4:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It was also...

good to see a really solid outing by Matt Thornton. He was the closest thing I thought the Sox had to a sure-thing reliever, and his early struggles had be worried.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on May 16, 2007 4:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

baseball player, football player,

state champion, consummate grinder. now you can add coach to erstad's long resume.

link

good to see him giving back.

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 16, 2007 4:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

where is he on the grinder scale now?

110 out of 100?

by The Wizard on May 16, 2007 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

we're going to have to come up

with an erstad only scale.

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 16, 2007 7:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Sunday

I'd personally avoid Danks unless a situation arose where the game extended beyond 9 innings and a pitcher was desperately needed.

Even with his relatively low pitch count earlier, I don't like the idea of three days rest for a young pitcher in a mid-May game.

Have Contreras start.

by TheKMan1 on May 16, 2007 5:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand the aversion

Are there not double headers in the minor leagues?

Obviously, you don't want to pitch Danks on short rest with any regularity. But for one outing, especially after his pitch count was kept down today, I don't see the problem.

I'd certainly be more comfortable with Danks on a pitch count this weekend than Jose Contreras working his way to another DL stint, or any of the minor league replacements.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 16, 2007 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Aren't minor-league...

double-header games only seven innings? That does change how you manage a pitching staff.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on May 16, 2007 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 16, 2007 7:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They also have smaller rosters

and generally don't carry 12 pitchers like the Sox currently have.

If you've got 12 pitchers, you have enough to get through a single double header situation.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 16, 2007 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How were Sweeney's Abs today?

by stanchar on May 16, 2007 6:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Moose

outwitted him

Moose got an generous inside pitch called early, then pounded him inside the rest of the game. Sweeney was forced to protect, hit everything weakly.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 16, 2007 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard ozzie on the postgame saying he leans

toward a callup from the minors

speaking of which, if floyd has blister problems, why not broadway? he started for charlotte tonight

speaking of which, fields just hit a 2-run homer

by The Wizard on May 16, 2007 7:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

no broadway

for the same reason there'd be no danks or jose. we'd want a guy on regular rest; otherwise there's no point in calling someone up. if it isn't floyd or gio it'd be heath.

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 16, 2007 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh yeah

how stupid of me

boy, sometimes my mind stops working...

by The Wizard on May 16, 2007 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

speaking of which

had a dumb promo tonight

by The Wizard on May 16, 2007 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I suspect Haeger

Floyd couldn't handle the pressure of spring training, I can't see them bringing him up for a game vs. Cubs.

by ChicagoPete on May 16, 2007 7:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i doubt it

haeger pitched on the 12th. if you don't pitch him again, that's way too much rest. if you pitch him tomorrow, it's probably too little.

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 16, 2007 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wilbur Wood

never needed any rest.

by ChicagoPete on May 16, 2007 7:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

wilbur wood

also didn't become a starter until he was about 30 and barely pitched until he was 25. we don't know anything about haeger's ability to come back off short rest. now isn't the time to be finding out. abusing young pitchers is something the cubs, not the sox, do.

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 16, 2007 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, the knucksie reference is that

it doesn't take a whle lot out of your arm no matter what age you are. Hoyt Wilhelm pitched until a George Blanda age. Jim Bouton had no arm left at the end of his career, so how did he stay gainfully employed as a MLB pitcher? By throwing knucksie.

Lighten up, lar. It a doubleheader - pace yourself.

by winningugly on May 16, 2007 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You tell him Ugly

Guess what I had for dinner?

by ChicagoPete on May 16, 2007 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Turkish Sandwich?

;)

I hear you, larry - just passing time between rain delays.

by winningugly on May 16, 2007 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

by larry on May 16, 2007 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

someone mentioned this at the gamethread

AJ on Danks:

[Scott Merkin]

"He was throwing a little harder than I remember him throwing. I think he had a little juice today. I don't know what's going on, but he had some blood flowing, some adrenaline going."

by The Wizard on May 16, 2007 8:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs