Baseball Guru
03-02-2002, 09:15 AM
March 2, 2002
BY DOUG PADILLA STAFF REPORTER
TUCSON, Ariz.-- Jon Garland went into attack mode Friday, hoping to validate the early spring decision of making him the White Sox' No. 4 starter.
Garland started and pitched two scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Sox' Cactus League debut. He allowed two hits, struck out three and walked one.
"I'm still trying to do the same thing I did in my first spring training,'' Garland said. "I'm attacking like I'm still fighting for a spot. We're all out here fighting for spots. I think I still have to go out there and prove myself.''
Manager Jerry Manuel appreciated the intense attitude. He considers it a sign of maturity in the 22-year-old.
"Historically, he's struggled in the spring,'' Manuel said. "To get ground balls and to throw two scoreless innings is important.''
Whether they are good or bad, Garland believes any innings on the mound will help.
"I need experience,'' said the right-hander, who has made 29 starts for the Sox in the last two seasons. "You have to go through it. You can't just sit back and watch it happen.''
Garland was excited about how he felt after facing hitters on the first day of full-squad workouts. But he tried to downplay it, realizing he has gone through a dead-arm period in every one of his spring trainings since signing his first professional contract in 1997.
"I'm just trying to build up strength right now,'' he said. "I felt real good. I felt comfortable.''
COOKED HAM: Manuel has a hunch the Sox are running into hamstring trouble.
Ray Durham, who was scratched from the lineup Friday, was the latest player to report an injured hamstring. He joins Kelly Wunsch, Frank Thomas and Sandy Alomar Jr. in needing some time off with the leg injury.
Trainer Herm Schneider said Durham has a sore right hamstring. Manuel said Dur-ham could have played Friday, but he elected to rest his starting second baseman.
"It's a growing concern,'' Man-uel said about the leg injuries. "I had a conversation with [director of conditioning Steve Odgers] and wondered if we're doing something or if everybody is having this, because of all the problems we've had in the past [with injuries], we're hesitant to put them out there if they're not 100 percent.''
Manuel wants Odgers to look into the early spring practice of running in the morning and then taking an extended break before continuing afternoon workouts.
"It's been tough to keep them loose,'' said Manuel, who still expects Thomas to return to action Sunday against the Diamondbacks.
Durham is expected to play in today's game against the D-backs.
OUT THERE: Manuel gave some of the blame for Friday's sloppy exhibition opener to traditionally tough conditions at Tucson Electric Park.
In the Diamondbacks' 13-6 victory, the teams combined for 27 hits and four errors, with three committed by the Sox.
"This is a difficult place to evaluate outfielders,'' Manuel said. "There is the light air, and the wind always seems to be blowing out.''
LET'S GO: The Sox have played just one game, but closer Keith Foulke would just as soon break camp now and get on with the season.
"Some of the other stuff in spring training, the day-to-day stuff, I'm not a big fan of some of it,'' Foulke said. "But I have to go out and do it. I might gripe and complain about it every once in a while, but something has to be done, I guess.
"It's just one of those things that after doing it year after year, you realize what you need and what you don't need. We've got a problem, or we've got a routine where we're kind of in overkill.''
NOTES: The Diamondbacks' Curt Schilling doesn't appear to be letting up after earning co-MVP honors at the World Series. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.
*Opening Day starter Mark Buehrle makes his exhibition debut today against Diamondbacks left-hander Brian Anderson (2 p.m., 1000-AM).
BY DOUG PADILLA STAFF REPORTER
TUCSON, Ariz.-- Jon Garland went into attack mode Friday, hoping to validate the early spring decision of making him the White Sox' No. 4 starter.
Garland started and pitched two scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Sox' Cactus League debut. He allowed two hits, struck out three and walked one.
"I'm still trying to do the same thing I did in my first spring training,'' Garland said. "I'm attacking like I'm still fighting for a spot. We're all out here fighting for spots. I think I still have to go out there and prove myself.''
Manager Jerry Manuel appreciated the intense attitude. He considers it a sign of maturity in the 22-year-old.
"Historically, he's struggled in the spring,'' Manuel said. "To get ground balls and to throw two scoreless innings is important.''
Whether they are good or bad, Garland believes any innings on the mound will help.
"I need experience,'' said the right-hander, who has made 29 starts for the Sox in the last two seasons. "You have to go through it. You can't just sit back and watch it happen.''
Garland was excited about how he felt after facing hitters on the first day of full-squad workouts. But he tried to downplay it, realizing he has gone through a dead-arm period in every one of his spring trainings since signing his first professional contract in 1997.
"I'm just trying to build up strength right now,'' he said. "I felt real good. I felt comfortable.''
COOKED HAM: Manuel has a hunch the Sox are running into hamstring trouble.
Ray Durham, who was scratched from the lineup Friday, was the latest player to report an injured hamstring. He joins Kelly Wunsch, Frank Thomas and Sandy Alomar Jr. in needing some time off with the leg injury.
Trainer Herm Schneider said Durham has a sore right hamstring. Manuel said Dur-ham could have played Friday, but he elected to rest his starting second baseman.
"It's a growing concern,'' Man-uel said about the leg injuries. "I had a conversation with [director of conditioning Steve Odgers] and wondered if we're doing something or if everybody is having this, because of all the problems we've had in the past [with injuries], we're hesitant to put them out there if they're not 100 percent.''
Manuel wants Odgers to look into the early spring practice of running in the morning and then taking an extended break before continuing afternoon workouts.
"It's been tough to keep them loose,'' said Manuel, who still expects Thomas to return to action Sunday against the Diamondbacks.
Durham is expected to play in today's game against the D-backs.
OUT THERE: Manuel gave some of the blame for Friday's sloppy exhibition opener to traditionally tough conditions at Tucson Electric Park.
In the Diamondbacks' 13-6 victory, the teams combined for 27 hits and four errors, with three committed by the Sox.
"This is a difficult place to evaluate outfielders,'' Manuel said. "There is the light air, and the wind always seems to be blowing out.''
LET'S GO: The Sox have played just one game, but closer Keith Foulke would just as soon break camp now and get on with the season.
"Some of the other stuff in spring training, the day-to-day stuff, I'm not a big fan of some of it,'' Foulke said. "But I have to go out and do it. I might gripe and complain about it every once in a while, but something has to be done, I guess.
"It's just one of those things that after doing it year after year, you realize what you need and what you don't need. We've got a problem, or we've got a routine where we're kind of in overkill.''
NOTES: The Diamondbacks' Curt Schilling doesn't appear to be letting up after earning co-MVP honors at the World Series. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.
*Opening Day starter Mark Buehrle makes his exhibition debut today against Diamondbacks left-hander Brian Anderson (2 p.m., 1000-AM).