Chris Sale feels great on key day
BY DARYL VAN SCHOUWEN dvanschouwen@suntimes.com June 29, 2012 10:56PM
Alexei Ramirez scores on a hit by Gordon Beckham in the second inning Friday. | Bill Kostroun~AP
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Sox at Yankees
The facts: 12:05 p.m., CSN,
670-AM, 97.5-FM.
The starters: Jake Peavy (6-4, 2.84 ERA) vs. Hideki Kuroda
(7-7, 3.40).
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Updated: August 1, 2012 6:16AM
NEW YORK — For all the hand-wringing over Chris Sale’s elbow in early May, there seems little to worry about now.
The second day after a start is usually the one when Sale feels the most normal soreness, but he felt great Friday and continues to make each start without a hitch.
“I feel great,’’ Sale said. “Today was shocking because usually Day 2 is the worst day. But the body feels good, arm feels great. So far so good.
“With the way [director of conditioning Allen Thomas] has me going in the weight room and the training room … and the extra days’ rest helps. I keep going day by day and see where it takes us.’’
Sale’s pitching (9-2, 2.24 ERA) likely will take him to the All-Star Game and might force the Sox to alter their plan for him to pitch Tuesday against the Texas Rangers and next Sunday — the last game before the All-Star break — against the Toronto Blue Jays.
A new rule allows pitchers who pitch that Sunday to petition to pitch in the All-Star Game and set the pitch count.
“I’ve got to talk with these guys and figure out what their plan is, and if they’d rather me have a rest, then I’d take the rest,” said Sale, who doesn’t want the rotation to be adjusted for him. “It’d be nice if I do get selected. If I do have the opportunity to pitch, that’d be awesome. But I don’t want to deviate from what we have got going on here.”
That, Sale said, would be too selfish of him.
Robin Ventura doesn’t necessarily agree.
“It’s a big thing for him,” he said. “It’s important and it’s fun, too, for him to actually make the All-Star team and play in it. We’ll kind of weigh how he’s feeling and how it’s going for him.’’
Bruney goes on DL
Rookie pitchers now have the majority of seats on the White Sox’ pitching staff with the call-up of right-hander Brian Omogrosso from Class AAA Charlotte. Right-hander Brian Bruney went on the disabled list with inflammation in his left hip.
On Thursday, lefty Leyson Septimo stepped up from Charlotte after Will Ohman was designated for assignment. Omogrosso is the seventh rookie on the staff and fifth reliever.
“Oh, yeah, it’s a pretty young bullpen, that’s for sure,’’ said Omogrosso, 27, who has no major-league experience. “It’s exciting to see the young guys here. We’ve got a first-place ballclub. It’s promising, that’s for sure.’’
The 6-4, 230-pound Omogrosso hits the upper 90s on the speed gun. He was 0-1 with two saves, a 4.09 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 33 innings. In his last nine appearances, his ERA is 1.42.
Crain unavailable
If right-hander Jesse Crain goes on the DL, the rookie train might keep running. Crain has stiffness in the back of his right shoulder and likely won’t pitch this weekend. Dr. David Altcheck, who examined him Thursday in New York, said an MRI exam isn’t necessary, “which is a good sign,’’ Crain said.
“But the real telling will be in a couple days when I throw again and see if it’s gotten better.”
