Ordonez bothered by sore hands
By Scot Gregor Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted on June 16, 2002
The White Sox have enough question marks when all of their players are healthy.
Following another discouraging loss to the Cubs, manager Jerry Manuel said right fielder Magglio Ordonez is "very questionable'' for today's series finale at Wrigley Field.
Sore hands have bothered Ordonez since spring training, and the condition has apparently flared up again.
Ordonez declined to answer questions about his health status.
Center fielder Kenny Lofton, who sat out Saturday with a strained right hamstring, is also "very questionable'' for today.
That likely means Aaron Rowand gets another start in center with Jeff Liefer taking over for Ordonez in right field.
"We have to put some guys out there that hopefully will give us a shot,'' Manuel said. "Everybody's going to get an opportunity to play. If you don't produce, somebody else will get a chance.''
Turning to Thomas: After being held out of the starting lineup Friday and Saturday and striking out in both pinch-hitting appearances, Frank Thomas is scheduled to replace Paul Konerko at first base today.
Konerko, who hit 2 homers and had 4 RBI in the series opener, was 0-for-4 while making a costly error Saturday.
"It's no big deal,'' Konerko said. "I'll be ready to go as a pinch hitter. I was happy to get these two games in. In the past, when Frank was healthy, it was a given. I wouldn't play.''
Out of change: Mark Buehrle failed to join Boston's Derek Lowe as the American League's only 10-game winners after pitching 5? innings Saturday and allowing 6 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits and 4 walks (1 intentional).
Buehrle breezed through the first 4 innings, allowing only 1 hit, but an inability to throw his best pitch proved costly.
"My changeup wasn't working,'' Buehrle said. "I just couldn't find it today and everything off it. I need that changeup to be successful.''
Trying to get by with his fastball, curve and cutter, Buehrle started to tire in the fifth inning and threw 114 pitches before being pulled.
"I felt good,'' Buehrle said. "But with everything being up, I guess that shows I was tired.''
Still struggling: Keith Foulke is in a new role, but the early results have been the same - not good.
Since being replaced as the Sox' closer by Antonio Osuna, Foulke has pitched 2 innings of middle relief and given up 2 runs on 4 hits.
"We've got to figure something out,'' said manager Jerry Manuel. "We have to keep him pitching and hope everything gets straightened out so we can use him in a more positive way.
"You just don't give up on a guy that's closed that many games for you.''
Foulke (0-4, 5.20 ERA) is healthy, but the velocity has dropped on his fastball. That, in turn, has reduced the effectiveness of Foulke's changeup.
By pitching for longer stretches, like Friday's 2-inning effort against the Cubs, Foulke is hoping to build up arm strength.
By Scot Gregor Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted on June 16, 2002
The White Sox have enough question marks when all of their players are healthy.
Following another discouraging loss to the Cubs, manager Jerry Manuel said right fielder Magglio Ordonez is "very questionable'' for today's series finale at Wrigley Field.
Sore hands have bothered Ordonez since spring training, and the condition has apparently flared up again.
Ordonez declined to answer questions about his health status.
Center fielder Kenny Lofton, who sat out Saturday with a strained right hamstring, is also "very questionable'' for today.
That likely means Aaron Rowand gets another start in center with Jeff Liefer taking over for Ordonez in right field.
"We have to put some guys out there that hopefully will give us a shot,'' Manuel said. "Everybody's going to get an opportunity to play. If you don't produce, somebody else will get a chance.''
Turning to Thomas: After being held out of the starting lineup Friday and Saturday and striking out in both pinch-hitting appearances, Frank Thomas is scheduled to replace Paul Konerko at first base today.
Konerko, who hit 2 homers and had 4 RBI in the series opener, was 0-for-4 while making a costly error Saturday.
"It's no big deal,'' Konerko said. "I'll be ready to go as a pinch hitter. I was happy to get these two games in. In the past, when Frank was healthy, it was a given. I wouldn't play.''
Out of change: Mark Buehrle failed to join Boston's Derek Lowe as the American League's only 10-game winners after pitching 5? innings Saturday and allowing 6 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits and 4 walks (1 intentional).
Buehrle breezed through the first 4 innings, allowing only 1 hit, but an inability to throw his best pitch proved costly.
"My changeup wasn't working,'' Buehrle said. "I just couldn't find it today and everything off it. I need that changeup to be successful.''
Trying to get by with his fastball, curve and cutter, Buehrle started to tire in the fifth inning and threw 114 pitches before being pulled.
"I felt good,'' Buehrle said. "But with everything being up, I guess that shows I was tired.''
Still struggling: Keith Foulke is in a new role, but the early results have been the same - not good.
Since being replaced as the Sox' closer by Antonio Osuna, Foulke has pitched 2 innings of middle relief and given up 2 runs on 4 hits.
"We've got to figure something out,'' said manager Jerry Manuel. "We have to keep him pitching and hope everything gets straightened out so we can use him in a more positive way.
"You just don't give up on a guy that's closed that many games for you.''
Foulke (0-4, 5.20 ERA) is healthy, but the velocity has dropped on his fastball. That, in turn, has reduced the effectiveness of Foulke's changeup.
By pitching for longer stretches, like Friday's 2-inning effort against the Cubs, Foulke is hoping to build up arm strength.
