HEADLINES OF MARCH 28, 2015

Former team, four homers don't faze Samardzija

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | March 27, 2015

MESA, Ariz. -- Friday's contest against the Cubs was going to have a different feel for Jeff Samardzija,

simply because it was played at Sloan Park as part of the Cactus League schedule.

But what was looked at as just another preparatory day by the White Sox Opening Day starter did have a slightly different feel for the 30-year-old who spent parts of seven seasons on the North Side.

"It was fun to pitch against them, a little weird," said Samardzija, who allowed six runs over his six

innings, covering 92 pitches, while striking out nine and not issuing a walk. "Definitely a little weird for

sure, but I felt good out there. As the game went on, I felt a lot better than the first inning. I got the ball down in the zone."

Samardzija gave up homers to Jorge Soler in the first, Starlin Castro in the fourth and Chris

Coghlan and Anthony Castro in the fifth. That gives the opposition seven homers over the last 10 1/3

innings against the right-hander, and eight given up overall.

There doesn't seem to be much worry from Samardzija on the long ball connection in the Arizona climate, although he termed Friday as a game he has to go back and look at the film.

"The majority of pitches were good pitches and located where you want them," Samardzija said. "But I

think you can see in a big league game, when you make mistakes, big league hitters jump on them.

"Again, we're out there getting our work in. We've got 92 pitches, pitched through the sixth, and I feel

good and ready to go."

Since Samardzija will be making his Opening Day start on normal four days' rest, he intends to keep his

pitch count up in his next start Wednesday, although he said the White Sox will play it by ear on that particular day. He won't get to see the Cubs again until the July 10-12 series at Wrigley Field, where he

might not get the fairly warm reception he did Friday.

"But I didn't leave voluntarily, so I think they took it easy on me a little bit," Samardzija said. "It will

probably be a little different during the season.

"It's a little weird. It's Spring Training too, right? So it's a little different feeling. Everyone's got a smile on their face and you're trying to get your work in. I wish those guys the best, and they look like they'll be

all right."

'Athletic' Sale makes progress during simulated game

White Sox ace mixes in pitches, shows off glove with quick-reaction play

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | April 27, 2015

MESA, Ariz. -- The highlight of Chris Sale's five-inning, 75-pitch simulated game Friday at Camelback Ranch came near the end of the session.

Carlos Sanchez ripped a liner back to the mound, and Sale caught the shot backhanded before firing the ball to a vacant first base as if to double off the runner. Sale quickly asked, or more so pleaded, with

the group of assembled media that the play was caught in picture or on video, but there was nothing.

"You guys didn't get it on video?" said a smiling Sale after his simulated game. "I'm a little upset."

There wasn't much else that upset the White Sox ace in testing the avulsion fracture sustained in his right foot during a home accident on Feb. 27. Sale threw to five hitters, mixed in all his pitches and even let it go a bit at the end. He expects to start testing lateral movement Monday, in terms of covering bases

and fielding his position, which could be the last challenge for his comeback to Major League action on April 12 in Chicago.

"I feel great, really," Sale said. "Today was a big confidence booster being able to go out there five different times and really do everything I've always done. I can pitch in a game right now. I just can't

cut.

"It's not like I'm a running back or anything, but I'd still like to be able to field my position and cover all the areas. You want to get as much work as you can within those 75 pitches, and today we did that. We

mixed in all the pitches, front-door, back-door breaking balls, fastballs to both sides, changeups. We just

did situational stuff, stretch, windup, everything. It was a good day."

When asked if a Minor League game was next on April 1, Sale smiled and said that the wrong person was being asked. White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said that one of Sale's two upcoming appearances will

be in real-time action, with an increase in innings and pitches.

"I want him to face real hitters in a game," Cooper said. "It won't be in an 'A' game, because he's still kind of rehabbing. But we're going to give it more and more realness to it."

"Again, we'll see how he is later today and tomorrow and kind of make a schedule up and see how he progresses from there," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "There's quite a few ways he can go

with this."

Progress made by Sale means that the White Sox won't need a fifth starter before he arrives, with an off-day following Opening Day in Kansas City. Without any setbacks, the Shark Cage and the Sale K Zone will

be on display in the final two days of that first abbreviated homestand.

Nothing would do more to please Sale, who seemed to have fun with Friday's pitching, even if his great catch lives on as nothing more than a talked-about memory.

"That was probably the most athletic I've ever been on the baseball field. But that's not hard to beat, my next best," Sale said. "It was nice to see how [hitters] react to it, get their feedback and watch them put

swings on it, too."

"We're not going to push the foot," Cooper said. "I've asked three or four times how he's feeling with it

and he feels great, which is music to the pitching coach's ears. Then we're eventually going to get the movement back. Then we have the innings, the pitches and the moving around, and we have it all."

White Sox want Rodon to be 'complete product' in debut

Talented lefty likely to earn roster spot only when he's ready to stay for good

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | March 27, 2015

MESA, Ariz. -- The prevailing school of thought concerning Carlos Rodon and breaking camp with the

White Sox is that once he arrives in the Major Leagues, he's there to stay.

Comments from manager Robin Ventura on Friday concerning the talented 22-year-old southpaw did nothing to change that point of view.

"Everybody has different opinions on him, but you don't want to put him in there with one pitch or two pitches," Ventura said of the No. 3 pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. "You want him to be armed

with the things that make him successful, and you don't want him to come up here and be a flash in the pan and he's got to go down and work on stuff.

"He needs to be a complete product when he comes out of here. On the other hand, you do see the talent that's there and what's inside. You saw it the other night. There's still time to go in this camp, and

we'll see where that ends up."

That "other night" was Rodon's nine-strikeout performance in Surprise on Wednesday against the Royals, featuring most of their regulars. His effort earned post-start comparisons to a young Steve Carlton from

one MLB.com scout and to Madison Bumgarner from the Royals' Eric Hosmer in another interview.

There's certainly nothing like being equated to a Hall of Famer and the author of one of the greatest

postseason performances in the game's history before even throwing a Major League pitch. Rodon has been working on his changeup and fastball location during Spring Training, with the change standing out

as his third pitch.

Rodon certainly could survive with two pitches in the bullpen, not to mention a big league confidence and bravado, quite possibly turning a solid relief crew into an elite force. But Ventura doesn't want Rodon

overly reliant on the slider, a point Rodon made after SoxFest when discussing the changeup.

"You see a lot of injuries if that's the only thing he's throwing at guys," Ventura said. "You want him to be able to go in there and have more than just that. The changeup is getting much better every time he goes. The last thing you want is him going out there and counting on one pitch."

Two blasts not enough to support Shark vs. Cubs

Flowers, Melky go deep; Samardzija K's nine, allows four homers

By Scott Merkin and Carrie Muskat / MLB.com | March 27, 2015

MESA, Ariz. -- Jeff Samardzija got a rude welcome by his former teammates on Friday.

Jorge Soler and Chris Coghlan each belted two-run homers, and Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro added solo shots to power the Cubs to a 6-3 victory over the White Sox and their former

teammate at Sloan Park. Samardzija, who struck out nine, was the Cubs' Opening Day starter last year,

and he will begin this season for the White Sox.

Tyler Flowers hit a two-run homer for the White Sox off Cubs starter Jason Hammel, who scattered six hits over six innings, and Melky Cabrera added a solo shot in the ninth.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Soler power: Most of the attention this spring has focused on Kris Bryant's home runs, but Cubs right fielder Soler is flexing his power, too. His two-run shot in the first inning was his third spring home run.

Soler has reached safely in 12 of his 14 games, and he ranks second on the team with nine RBIs. Not digging the long ball: Samardzija is getting his work in and building up arm strength during each

Cactus League outing. But the White Sox Opening Day starter is also having a little trouble keeping the

ball in the ballpark. With homers from Soler, Rizzo, Coghlan and Castro on Friday, Samardzija has yielded seven over his last two starts and eight overall this spring.

Stating his case: Little doubt has been left as to who will take the last position-player spot on the White Sox roster. That job belongs to J.B. Shuck, who added a double, single and a stolen base to his Cactus

League resume on Friday. Penmanship: The Cubs have some decisions to make regarding the bullpen, but one pitcher who has

solidified a spot is Pedro Strop. The right-hander fanned two on Friday and has struck out 13 over

seven innings this spring, walking two. Strop could sub as a closer if Hector Rondon needs a breather.

QUOTABLE "This truly is a rivalry. I've been in places where they try to manufacture rivalries, and you can't

manufacture a rivalry -- it either is or is not, and this one is." -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon on the Cubs

and White Sox. The two teams will meet again in Interleague series on July 10-12 and Aug. 14-16.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Now batting: Friday was the fourth spring game in which Maddon has inserted the pitcher in the eighth

spot in the lineup rather than ninth, and the second time for Hammel. The last Cubs pitcher to bat eighth in a regular-season game was Samardzija on Sept. 8, 2012, under manager Dale Sveum.

Welcome: Friday's game at Sloan Park drew a sold-out crowd of 15,342, a Spring Training single-game

record. The previous mark was 15,331, set March 6 against the Reds at Sloan Park.

WHAT'S NEXT Cubs up next: The Cubs will play two on Saturday with split-squad games against the Rockies and the

Reds. Jake Arrieta will start at Sloan Park in Mesa against the Rockies in a Gameday Audio broadcast,

while Gonzalez Germen gets the assignment in Goodyear against the Reds, whose starter is listed as closer Aroldis Chapman. That could be interesting. Both games start at 3:05 p.m. CT.

White Sox up next: Jose Quintana gets the call for the White Sox on Saturday at Camelback Ranch

against the A's, with a 3:05 p.m. CT first pitch scheduled on MLB.TV. Quintana, who will be followed

by Zach Putnam, has a 3.45 ERA in five spring starts.

White Sox make waiver claim on righty Drabek

Jones placed on 60-day DL, scheduled to throw bullpen session Wednesday

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | March 27, 2015

MESA, Ariz. -- The White Sox claimed right-handed pitcher Kyle Drabek off waivers from the Blue Jays

on Friday and placed right-hander Nate Jones on the 60-day disabled list. The Jones move opened up a spot for Drabek, with the 40-man roster sitting once again at 40.

Drabek, 27, spent most of the 2014 season with Triple-A Buffalo in the Toronto organization, going 7-7 with a 4.18 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 32 appearances (13 starts). He also made two appearances with Toronto after being recalled on Aug. 16, working three scoreless innings.

Over 39 Major League games (30 starts), Drabek is 8-15 with a 5.27 ERA and 118 strikeouts over parts of five Major League seasons from 2010-14. The best season for the son of former White Sox hurler Doug

Drabek came with Double-A New Hampshire in 2010, when he was named Eastern League Pitcher of the

Year after going 14-9 with a 2.94 ERA and 132 strikeouts over 27 starts.

There's a chance the White Sox could need three spots on the 40-man roster if players such as Micah Johnson, Geovany Soto and/or Matt Albers andCarlos Rodon break camp with the team. With just one

week remaining in Spring Training, it will be interesting to see the immediate fit for Drabek, who was

traded from the Phillies to the Blue Jays as part of a December 2009 deal involving Roy Halladay.

• Jones still might be a ways off from helping the White Sox at the Major League level, but the hard-throwing right-hander certainly is getting quality rehab work done during Spring Training. Jones will

throw off a mound on Wednesday during a bullpen session, which is a significant step, even if the catcher will be standing up during the session.

"You see him throwing long toss and things like that, and you are pretty excited about his health and where he's at," Ventura said of Jones, who underwent a microdiscectomy on May 5 last year and Tommy

John surgery on July 29. "It would be a big boost for us to get somebody like him at some point this year. That's just good news for us that he's able to be where he's at and be as healthy and optimistic as

he is."

"There is nobody on this side of the complex that can do what he's doing long toss, and I will venture to say on the other side of the complex," said White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper. "He's throwing the ball

very, very well. His rehab is coming along well. We're getting in a lot of work as far as working on his

direction and things like that through the long toss, and he's getting ready to transition to the mound."

• David Robertson, who has been hampered by soreness near his right forearm, is back on the schedule to pitch Sunday against Cleveland in Goodyear. Jake Petricka had the same sort of soreness,

and he will resume throwing on Saturday.

Petricka had a MRI on the problematic area, but he reported that everything came back clean.

"Just early on in spring, I maybe got after it a little too much," Petricka said. "Got a little excited and just put a little too much stress on the arm to start with. I was still able to throw but it just wasn't getting any better. So I decided to take it easy right now instead of become something in season.

"It's spring, so why push it? I've had little bouts of it before, and I always throw through it. This year, with the excitement of everything, I maybe kept on it too much in spring and it just didn't want to go

away on its own. So we gave it a little extra rest."

• Chuck Liddell, a legendary competitor in the UFC and friend of Brad Penny, took part in the White Sox Friday morning workout, including batting practice.

Avisail Garcia wants to make up for lost time with White Sox By Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune

GLENDALE, Ariz. — When Avisail Garcia considered before a workout at Camelback Ranch this week the

additions the White Sox made this winter, he offered his prediction that the team would make the playoffs.

Then the Sox right fielder quickly modified the statement.

"If everybody stays healthy," he said.

If anyone knows how quickly a freak injury can derail plans, it's Garcia, whose expected breakout season

was lost because of a torn labrum and avulsion fracture in his left shoulder he suffered making a diving catch just 10 days into the 2014 season.

Nearing a year since the injury, he's done talking about it and ready for a chance to prove himself anew.

"That's the past," Garcia, 23, said. "I only focus on the future. … The bad things you have to throw away, like last year."

Sox hitting coach Todd Steverson said most people probably think Garcia has been in the majors a long time. In reality, he has played in just 141 major-league games over parts of the last three years,

including 72 with the Tigers and Sox in 2013, his longest season.

In that context, Garcia, a career .272 hitter with 14 homers and 63 RBIs, still needs to be given time to grow.

"People think, 'Gosh he has been there a long time. When's he going to take off?'" Steverson said. "Well, he hasn't gotten the amount of reps that most people would get at this point of their big-league career as

an everyday player. … He's a hell of a complement to the lineup if he can show what he's capable of doing."

Garcia was extremely happy to come in this spring about 15 pounds lighter — the product of a healthier diet, he said — and believes he has seen the results already in Cactus League games. He thinks he is

faster in the field and on the bases, and he experiences less soreness in his legs because they are bearing less weight.

Steverson is more concerned about whether Garcia is mentally fit to put into action some of the hitting strategies they have discussed. He called Garcia's time off last year a "semi-blessing" because it allowed

Garcia the opportunity to watch other hitters from the bench and examine them with Steverson.

"It's one thing to talk about it," Steverson said. "The ability to apply it or be ready to apply it is another.

You can't just agree to something and decide to blow it off, and then you might find that you missed your opportunity. … He has done a good job of coming out and focusing on having better at-bats."

Garcia spent time in the Venezuelan Winter League in the offseason and said it helped prepare him for 2015. He has gone 15-for-48 with two doubles, a home run, five RBIs, three walks and seven strikeouts

over 16 games this spring.

"Knowing what the pitcher is going to do to me, know the situations, know who's hitting behind me and

don't swing at bad pitches," Garcia said of his goals. "I'm trying to work my count (and) swing at good pitches."

Sox manager Robin Ventura said he understands Garcia's learning will be ongoing as he makes his way

through his first full major-league season.

"He has cut down on his strikeouts and shortened up with two strikes," Ventura said. "He is making adjustments. That's going to be it for a while because he is young. He's a big, powerful kid who wants to

hit it a long way, but he is going to have to shorten it up and put it in play every once in a while."

Garcia is expected to hit behind Jose Abreu and Adam LaRoche in the Sox lineup, and playing alongside some of the bigger names could help ease the pressure if he does go through ups and downs this season. Garcia, however, said he doesn't feel any pressure — only excitement over what he thinks such a

lineup can do.

"We have everything," Garcia said. "We have power. We have guys who can hit .300. We have guys who can drive runs in. … If we stay healthy, it's going to be an exciting year."

Smooth sailing for Chris Sale but rough seas for Jeff Samardzija By Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune

MESA, Ariz. — Chris Sale's joy at facing hitters again Friday was evident from the smiles and laughs emanating from the mound during his 75-pitch simulated game at Camelback Ranch.

The White Sox left-hander afterward exchanged handshakes and hugs with each of the teammates who

faced him in what he called "a big confidence booster" during his recovery from his fractured right foot and sprained ankle.

A few hours later across the Phoenix valley, the Sox's other top pitcher wasn't having quite as good of a time on the mound while facing his former team.Jeff Samardzija gave up four home runs — and six

earned runs — in the Sox's 6-3 loss to the Cubs at Sloan Park.

The upside, of course, is that there is time for recovery on both fronts before games actually matter.

Samardzija wasn't too upset after his six-inning outing, saying "the majority of pitches were good pitches

and located where you want them." He gave up seven hits, but had nine strikeouts with no walks and said he takes good and bad spring outings with a grain of salt given he isn't able to get into his regular

pregame routine.

"We're seeing a little feast or famine out of the Cubbies this year," Samardzija said with a smile. "They

don't get cheated. It was fun to pitch against them, definitely a little weird for sure, but I felt good out there. As the game went on, I felt a lot better than the first inning. … When you're swinging that hard, if

it's up in the zone, they're going to get it."

While Samardzija has one more spring start before opening day, Sale remains on target to make a return

April 11 or 12. Sale threw five sets of 15 pitches, mixing in his whole repertoire and even throwing some with maximum effort.

"I don't want to baby this thing along, and first time I try to have a max effort is in a game and you run into problems there," Sale said. "You try to build up, put as much stress on it here as I can so when the

season comes I can handle it."

Sale said the next step will be to work on his side-to-side movement and cutting, likely on Monday,

though he did make a behind-the-back grab of a line drive he joked was "the most athletic I've ever been on the baseball field."

Pitching coach Don Cooper said he thinks Sale is ready to pitch in a game now and said they could use him in a minor-league game as one of his next two outings.

While the Sox watch Sale's progress, they also must make a decision on where left-hander Carlos Rodon should start the season. Rodon has a 3.65 ERA with three walks and 19 strikeouts over 12-1/3 innings this spring. After recording nine strikeouts in four innings against the Royals on Wednesday, he said he

felt "close" to being major-league ready.

But the Sox, who would see a service-time benefit if he should pitch briefly in the minors this year, often have pointed to his lack of professional experience as one reason to start him at Triple-A Charlotte. Sox manager Robin Ventura hinted Friday that time in the minors would help him better develop his

changeup, which has been a focus this spring.

"You don't want to put him in there with one pitch or two pitches," Ventura said. "You want him to be armed with the things that make him successful. You don't want him to be a flash in the pan and have to go down and work on stuff. He needs to be a complete product (up) here.

"(But) you do see the talent and what's inside. … There's still time to go in camp and we'll see where that ends up."

Sale said he thinks Rodon is going to make it a hard decision.

"If he keeps doing that, it would be pretty hard to deny him," Sale said. "He's a big, strong kid, throws hard, great arm."

Friday's recap: Cubs 6, White Sox 3 By Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune

The summary

Against the team that traded him away last summer, White Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija gave up six

earned runs on four homers Friday in a 6-3 loss to the Cubs at Sloan Park. Samardzija pitched six innings, allowing seven hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.

At the plate

Tyler Flowers hit a two-run homer in the fifth for the Sox's only runs against Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel. Melky Cabrera added a homer in the ninth.

On the mound

Zach Duke and Javy Guerra each pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Guerra has a 2.16 ERA this spring.

Key number

8. Home runs Samardzija has allowed this spring, including seven in his last two games.

Roster moves

The Sox claimed right-hander Kyle Drabek off waivers from the Blue Jays and placed injured right-hander Nate Jones on the 60-day disabled list. Drabek, a 2006 first-round draft pick, is 8-15 with a 5.27

ERA in 39 games — 30 starts — over parts of five major-league seasons.

The quote

"Obviously, you hear it, but you try not to respond to it. But I didn't leave voluntarily, so I think they took it easy on me a little bit. It will probably be a little different during the season." — Samardzija on facing the Cubs fan base.

Up next

Vs. Athletics, 3:05 p.m. Saturday at Camelback Ranch. LH Scott Kazmir vs. LH Jose Quintana.

Chris Sale's simulated game 'a big confidence booster' By Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Chris Sale’s joy at facing hitters again Friday was evident from his frequent smiles while on the mound and his handshakes and hugs for each of the White Sox players that faced him at Camelback Ranch.

In another step back from a fractured foot and sprained ankle, Sale threw a simulated game, with five sets of 15 pitches, an outing he called “a big confidence booster” one month after his injury. The Sox left-

hander said he mixed in all of his pitches and even threw some with maximum effort.

“I want to see how it feels when I’m max effort,” Sale said. “I don’t want to baby this thing along and

first time I try to have a max effort is in a game and you run into problems there. You try to build up, put as much stress on it here as I can so when the season comes I can handle it.”

Sale said the next step will be to work on his side-to-side movement and cutting on Monday, though he did make a behind-the-back grab of a line drive he joked was “the most athletic I’ve ever been on the

baseball field.”

Pitching coach Don Cooper said he thinks Sale is ready to pitch in a game now and said they likely will use him in a minor-league game before he rejoins the Sox. He thinks a target return date of April 11 or

12 remains feasible.

Sox manager Robin Ventura said Sale’s arm strength looked good and said watching his first outing facing hitters was less stressful than it might have been if he were coming back from an arm ailment.

“The good thing is we are not sitting there thinking every pitch he’s going to blow out his arm,” Ventura

said. “It wasn’t his elbow or shoulder or anything. It’s not those normal things where you sit there and worry about every single pitch.”

Samardzija gives up 4 homers in White Sox loss to Cubs

Posted: 03/27/2015, 05:39pm | Daryl Van Schouwen

MESA, Ariz. — Jeff Samardzija was good at times and bad at others — four times to be precise — in his

second-to-last tuneup before his Opening Day start for the White Sox.

The Sox right-hander struck out nine and allowed no walks. But his homer total for the spring climbed to

eight after Jorge Soler, Chris Coghlan, Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo all took him deep. He gave up six

runs on seven hits over six innings in a 92-pitch workday.

Here’s what he had to say after his outing against his former team:

“I think we’re seeing a little feast or famine out of the Cubbies this year,” said Samardzija, who was drafted by the Cubs and with them his entire career until they traded him to Oakland last season. “They

don’t get cheated. It was fun to pitch against them, a little weird.”

Samardzija had allowed seven homers in his last two games. The Brewers got him for three long balls,

which he downplayed afterward.

“But I felt good out there, and as the game went on, I felt a lot better than the first inning,” he said Friday. “I got the ball down in the zone. When the ball is flying out of the park, a lot of times that’s what

it is. When you’re swinging that hard, if it’s up in the zone, they’re going to get it.”

Tyler Flowers hit his second homer of the spring against Jason Hammel and Melky Cabrera connected in

the ninth inning against Hector Rondon for his first Cactus League homer.

Hammel gave up two runs over six innings.

Samardzija downplayed the significance of Cactus League games. But it’s getting closer to the opener, so

he knows he it’s time to turn it up a notch.

“I think it’s a game you have to look at on film. The majority of pitches were good pitches and located

where you want them,” he said. “But I think you can see in a big-league game, when you make mistakes, big-league hitters jump on them. But again, we’re out there getting our work in. We’ve got 92 pitches,

pitched through the sixth, and I feel good and ready to go.

“I thought early I was cutting myself off a little early and the ball was running. Again, I chalk that up to spring training. You’re not in your pregame routine. I like to get a good hour, hour and a half in before

the game starts, but we’re down here in the dungeon, so it’s kind of just go out and throw. Again, you have to take everything with a grain of salt, good or bad. When it’s that good, there are still things to get

better, and when it’s not that good, it’s usually not that bad. I’m happy with how the game went on. I

pitched deep in the game, and we’ll learn from it.”

Ventura says Carlos Rodon 'needs to be complete product' when he breaks in with White Sox Posted: 03/27/2015, 01:37pm | Daryl Van Schouwen

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Despite his impressive showing with 19 strikeouts in 12 innings, Carlos Rodon is more

than likely headed to the minor leagues to start the season.

Indications have been that way from the get-go for the No. 3 overall pick out of North Carolina State

whom the Sox view as a front of the rotation starter for years to come. Manager Robin Ventura gave

perhaps his strongest hint that Rodon, who struck out nine Kansas City Royals in four innings in his last

start Wednesday night (with no walks), needs to have more in his arsenal than his top-notch slider.

“The last thing you want to do — and everyone has different opinions on it — but you don’t want to just

put him in there with one pitch or two pitches,” Ventura said Friday morning before the Sox left for Mesa to play the Cubs. “You want him to be armed with the things that make him successful, you don’t want

him to come here and be a flash in the pan and then he has to go down and work on stuff. He needs to

be a complete product when he comes out there.

“On the other hand you see the talent and what’s inside. You saw it the other night, but there is still time

to go in this camp and we’ll see where that ends up.”

There are those who would like to see Rodon start out of the bullpen as Chris Sale did when he first

came up. In that scenario, Rodon, could be effective with the slider and fastball. His changeup remains a work in progress.

“Yeah but you’re also looking at a guy who pitched with the one pitch,” Ventura said. “You do see a lot of

injuries if that’s the only thing he’s throwing at guys. You don’t want him to be able to go in there and have just that.

“The changeup is getting much better every time he goes out but the last thing you want is him going out and counting on one pitch.”

Service time issues are also at play for Rodon. If he doesn’t play a full season in the majors, the Sox will

get an extra year of player control out of him. With less than 25 innings of minor-league experience, their case for sending him to AAA to start the season carries more weight than the Cubs’ case with Kris Bryant

(nine homers in spring training), who has had plenty of minor league time.

The Sox prefer to keep Rodon in the big leagues once he gets there, rather than start him out with the

big club and send him down. Rodon has a 3.65 ERA with 19 strikeouts and three walks over 12 1/3 innings in Cactus League play.

Rodon says he “is close” to being ready but has said the right things all along, that he’s good with

whatever decision the Sox make and that he wants to do what is best for the organization.

Chris Sale's max-effort sim game 'big confidence booster' Posted: 03/27/2015, 01:15pm | Daryl Van Schouwen

GLENDALE, Ariz. –Chris Sale threw a 75-pitch simulated game, throwing free and easy and at max effort

in his final set on Friday morning.

All signs continue to point to an April 11 or 12 return for the White Sox ace, who is recovering from an

avulsion fracture in his right (landing) foot.

“Yeah I wanted to see how it feels when I’m max effort,” Sale said. “Don’t want to baby this thing along

and first time I try to have a max effort is in a game and you run into problems there. You try to build

up, put as much stress on it here as I can so when the season comes I can handle it.”

Sale, who threw five sets of 15 pitches, sitting down between sets, will throw in a game next time out,

probably a minor league contest in five days.

“I feel great, really,” he said. “Today was a big confidence booster being able to go out there five

different times and really do everything I’ve always done.”

The only hurdle for Sale to clear is lateral movement. He did bounce around the mound though, making a

behind-the-back catch of a liner, a play he called “the sickest thing I’ve ever done.”

“I’m ready to go, really,” he said. “I just have to get some side to side movement. I can run straight, I

can pitch. But cuts and balance and things like that are still to come.”

Said pitching coach Don Cooper:

“Right now it looks like he would be on time to make that [April 11 or 12] start if we have no setbacks.

His rehab with [trainer] Herm [Schneider] has been going good. He even made a PFP play there at the end and moved his feet well so that’s encouraging.

“And we may ask him to move around and pick up a bunt, cover first base and stuff like that, but not too much. The main thing is the innings and the pitches.”

NOTE: Cooper talked about closer David Robertson and reliever Jake Petricka, who are dealing with sore

arms in the elbow area. Petricka said he had an MRI that was clean.

“Hermie tells me Robbie is going to be fine and Petricka will play catch tomorrow,” Cooper said. “I’m

always concerned but I never worry because I guarantee you we’re going to have 12 guys getting on the plane. And we’re going to be ready to do battle come April 6 [Opening Day].”

Cubs-Sox spring game just an appetizer for main event March, 27, 2015

By Jesse Rogers, ESPNChicago.com

MESA, Ariz. – Two good friends faced off in a rivalry that might return to prominence this year as the Chicago Cubs beat the White Sox 6-3 in a meaningless spring game on Friday.

Next time they face each other, regular-season wins will be on the line.

“I think we’re seeing a little feast or famine out of the Cubbies this year,” former Cubs and current White

Sox starter Jeff Samardzija said after giving up four home runs and striking out nine. “They don’t get cheated. It was fun to pitch against them, a little weird. Definitely a little weird for sure, but I felt good

out there, and as the game went on, I felt a lot better than the first inning. I got the ball down in the

zone. When the ball is flying out of the park, a lot of times that’s what it is. When you’re swinging that hard, if it’s up in the zone, they’re going to get it.”

Jorge Soler, Starlin Castro, Chris Coghlan and Anthony Rizzo all took their former teammate deep while

golfing buddy Jason Hammel beat him on the mound and at the plate with a second-inning single.

Hammel gave up two runs in six innings.

“If you go back and watch the video, it’s not very pretty,” Hammel said of his hit. “It took me 3 seconds to get out of the box. I didn’t blast it, but I got a knock. It’s fun going up against old comrades.”

Samardzija added: “Hammel is a good hitter; he just doesn’t like to hit.”

The relationship between Samardzija and his former team will be a nice storyline to follow when the

teams face off later this summer. Samardzija was even asked about the Kris Bryant situation. The Cubs probably won’t start the season with the player who leads all spring hitters in home runs.

“It’s a tough call for them, but if you want to win and compete, you have to have your best guys out

there, period,” Samardzija said. “But it’s not my call to make.”

Speaking of winning, here’s a question worthy of debate: Who will have more victories this year, the Cubs or Sox? Ask 10 Chicagoans – with no rooting interest if you can find them – and there’s a good

chance five will say the Cubs and five will say the Sox after both teams had busy and productive

offseasons. The emotion of the city series is definitely something new Cubs manager Joe Maddon is going to embrace.

“I like the rivalry component,” Maddon said before the game. “It makes for a great barroom discussion,

which I’m really into. I love all that stuff. I’m really excited to be a part of it.”

Maddon was asked if he was aware of the intensity of the rivalry between the two fan bases. He

experienced it, to an extent, as a coach with the Angels for many years when they played the Dodgers. “The fan base in Chicago is probably more charged about it than in Southern California,” Maddon said.

“All this stuff is really neat. … I’m a baseball freak. I know the rivalry of those two franchises.”

Maddon said he spent time at a Southside Chicago bar last season while managing the Tampa Bay Rays.

He knows where the allegiances of that area reside.

“They pretty much told me how they feel about the Cubs,” Maddon said with a laugh.

As for Hammel and Samardzija, both said it was weird being teammates on different teams (the Cubs and A's) last season than opponents in the same city this year.

“You want to laugh, but you still have to do your job,” Hammel said.

And Hammel didn’t disagree with Samardzija’s assessment of the Cubs. Home runs and strikeouts are kind of their thing these days.

“We have a little bit of veteran leadership where maybe they can teach a different approach, but you also have young guys who are anxious to get up there and swing the bat,” Hammel said. “And that’s why they

do put up those crazy numbers on both sides, the swings and misses and the homers.

“It could very well be feast or famine.”

Samardzija has seen first-hand as an employee and now as an opponent the kind of talent the Cubs have

coming. Just because he wears a rival’s uniform now, it hasn’t changed his opinion.

“They’re a young team and young teams are aggressive,” he said. “If they can rein it back a little and then add that to the natural talent to swing, you’re going to see some great things. It’s about talking the

next step. They have the talent. We’ve always known that.”

Samardzija saw that talent in the form of fly balls leaving the park all over the place on Friday. What will

come this summer? With just a week left this spring, we’re getting closer to finding some answers.

Jeff Samardzija not fazed by gopher balls

March, 27, 2015

By Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com

MESA, Ariz. -- Jeff Samardzija likes to say that spring training statistics do not go on the back of your baseball card, and it is a good thing.

The new Chicago White Sox starter went up against his old teammates Friday and gave up four home runs to the Chicago Cubs in his second-to-last outing before games get underway for real.

All was not bad, though, as he reached 92 pitches and struck out nine without a walk over six innings. The Cubs won the game 6-3.

"It was fun to pitch against them, but a little weird for sure," Samardzija said of facing his former team. "Yeah, it felt good out there. As the game went on, I felt a lot better than the first inning. I have to keep

the ball down in the zone. When the ball is flying out of the park, a lot of times that's what it is. When you're swinging that hard and it's up in the zone, they're going to get it."

It was Samardzija's first start since learning he will be the team's Opening Day starter on April 6 at

Kansas City. White Sox manager Robin Ventura has no doubt Samardzija will be ready to deliver a solid

outing.

"He's up for any challenge that's like Opening Day," Ventura said. "He's enjoyable to tell something like [he's starting on Opening Day] just because of his personality and the way he goes about it. You know

he's looking forward to that. The other guys feel that, too. They feed off of it."

After Friday, Samardzija has given up seven home runs over his past two outings and eight overall this

spring. He gave up three home runs last weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers.

When the lights go on for real, the White Sox are confident Samardzija will turn into the pitcher who delivered a scoreless outing in each of his past two Opening Day starts with the Cubs. Last season at

Pittsburgh he gave up no runs over eight innings in the opener, and two years ago, also at Pittsburgh, he

went seven scoreless.

"I think it's a game you have to look at on film," Samardzija said of his recent spring outing against the Cubs. "The majority of pitches were good pitches and located where you want them. But I think you can

see in a big league game, when you make mistakes, big league hitters jump on them. But again, we're

out there getting our work in. We've got 92 pitches, pitched through the sixth, and I feel good and ready to go."

It's an important season for the right-hander, who is heading for the free-agent market after the season

ends. A strong season would set up the Notre Dame product for a major payday.

The goal for his final spring start Wednesday should look similar to Friday's. He figures to push past the

90-pitch mark once again. Typically starters will back off a bit during their last spring start, but because the starting schedule tightened after Chris Sale went down with an injury, Samardzija's pitch count in his

next outing will be similar to what he expects to make at Kansas City for the opener.

"We're ready for the real thing," Samardzija said. "Spring training is about getting your body ready,

getting ready to go. We're ready to get this show on the road and put our lineup out there and our team. "Spring training is tough to build that camaraderie when some guys are playing, some guys aren't

playing. I think we're ready to get that lineup out there and get this thing rolling."

Carlos Rodon likely to open season in minors

March, 27, 2015

By Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com

MESA, Ariz. -- The strongest sign that Chicago White Sox top prospect Carlos Rodon will open the season in the minor leagues came Friday from manager Robin Ventura.

“Everybody has different opinions on him, but you don’t want to put him in there with one pitch or two pitches,” Ventura said Friday. “You want him to be armed with the things that make him successful and

you don’t want him to come up here and be a flash in the pan and he’s got to go down and work on stuff. He needs to be a complete product when he comes out of here.”

That added pitch Ventura wants to see Rodon master is a changeup. It has improved as camp has gone on, according to the reports, but it still remains a work in progress.

It didn’t exactly matter that Rodon had just two pitches when he started Wednesday against the Kansas

City Royals. In an early-evening start, the left-hander struck out nine batters, dominating his scoreless outing with a fastball that set up his slider.

“You do see the talent that’s there and what’s inside,” Ventura said. “You saw it in the other night. There’s still time to go in this camp and we’ll see where that ends up.”

Rodon is expected to be in the starting rotation at Triple-A Charlotte and will be a phone call away if the

White Sox need starting help. There was talk about him possibly pitching out of the bullpen, but the

White Sox appear to be willing to wait before making that move.

“The changeup is getting much better every time he goes out there, Ventura said. “The last thing you want is him going out there and counting on one pitch.”

Cubs flex power muscles in win over White Sox

Associated Press

MESA, Ariz. -- Facing his former team, Jeff Samardzija gave up two-run homers to Jorge Solerand Chris Coghlan and solo shots to Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo as the White Sox lost 6-3 to the crosstown-

rival Chicago Cubs on Friday.

"I think we'll see a little feast or famine out of the Cubbies this year, huh?" said Samardzija, who was the

opening-day starter for the Cubs the past two seasons. "They don't get cheated."

"It was fun to pitch against them," Samardzija added. "A little weird. Definitely a little weird, for sure. "I wish those guys the best. They look like they'll be all right."

Samardzija was pleased to throw 92 pitches and get through six innings. He had his pitches working well enough to get nine strikeouts, but left a few up in the strike zone.

Tyler Flowers hit a mammoth solo homer to center field for the White Sox. Melky Cabrera also connected.

STARTING TIME

White Sox: Samardzija struck out nine and did not walk a batter. But he gave up six runs and seven hits.

"When they're swinging that hard and it's up in the zone, they're going to get it," he said.

Cubs: Starter Jason Hammel pitched six innings, allowing two runs and six hits. "It starts with the fastball," Hammel said. "I'm commanding the fastball, and I was kind of struggling there in the first

couple innings moving it around. With the dry air, I had a tough time gripping the ball. Finally figured it

out."

Hammel also said he is developing a "nice rapport" with new catcher Miguel Montero. "I'm very excited about that."

TRAINER'S ROOM

White Sox: Chris Sale, the White Sox's No. 1 starter, threw a 75-pitch batting practice session in Glendale

and reported no problems. Out with a foot injury, he won't be ready for opening day. Instead, he will throw a bullpen/batting practice session on Monday and follow with game-like outings on April 1 and April

6.

SOX CLAIM DRABEK

The White Sox claimed pitcher Kyle Drabek off waivers from Toronto. Drabek spent most of 2014 at Triple-A Buffalo. He made two appearances with Toronto, working three scoreless innings. Over parts of

five seasons with the Blue Jays (2010-14), Drabek went 8-15 with a 5.27 ERA.

RIVALRY TIME Joe Maddon talked about rivalries Friday, both with the White Sox and within the NL Central. As for the

Cubs vs. White Sox: "It truly is a rivalry. I've been in places where they try to manufacture rivalries. You

can't manufacture rivalries. It either is or it is not."

"I like the rivalry component. It makes for great barroom discussion. I love all that stuff. I'm really excited about being part of it."

UP NEXT White Sox: Jose Quintana will start Saturday at home vs. Oakland.

Cubs: In split-squad games Saturday, Jake Arrieta will start at home vs. Colorado, while Gonzalez German will take the mound at Cincinnati.

White Sox claim right-hander Kyle Drabek

March, 27, 2015 By Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com

MESA, Ariz. -- With health questions surrounding their pitching staff, the Chicago White Soxclaimed right-

hander Kyle Drabek off waivers Friday from the Toronto Blue Jays.

To make room on the 40-man roster, Nate Jones was moved to the 60-day disabled list.

The 27-year old started 13 games at Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays' organization last season, but spent most of his time in the bullpen, including two relief appearances at the major league level.

He is 8-15 with a 5.27 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 39 games (30 starts) over parts of five major league

seasons. The White Sox not only are expected to have staff ace Chris Sale miss one start at the outset, right-

handers Jake Petricka and David Robertson both are working their way through arm soreness.

Robertson threw a bullpen session Thursday and said he is improved. He is looking to make back-to-back appearances in game settings (major or minor league) before camp breaks next week.

Petricka's injury was a concern enough for him to get an MRI, which came back clean. He is scheduled to resume throwing Saturday.

Both pitchers are confident they will be available on Opening Day, but the addition of Drabek is an

insurance policy in case they are not.

Drabek, the son of former major league pitcher Doug Drabek, was a first-round draft pick (18th overall)

by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006.

Despite his placement on the 60-day DL, Jones has been making progress in his recovery from Tommy John surgery last year. He is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session Wednesday in White Sox camp,

but isn't expected back on the active roster until July.

Chris Sale moves closer to roster return

March, 27, 2015

By Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com

MESA, Ariz. -- The exclamation point on Chris Sale's 75-pitch simulated game Friday was a behind-the-back catch of a comebacker that seemed to lift the pitcher's spirits more than anything else he did on a

significant rehab day.

"That was the sickest thing I've ever done," the Chicago White Sox pitcher said when walking off the field

following his outing.

The left-hander is in the midst of his recovery from a fractured bone in his right foot, an injury that

happened four weeks ago at his Arizona residence.

His outing Friday, keeps him on track for a potential season debut on April 12, although he would actually be eligible to pitch for the first time on April 11 if he starts the season on the disabled list.

"You want to get as much work as you can within those 75 pitches and I think today we did that," Sale

said. "We mixed in all the pitches, frontdoor, backdoor breaking balls, fastballs to both sides, changeups.

We just did situational stuff, stretch, windup, everything. It was a good day."

The outing was essentially a make-believe five-inning game. Sale threw 15 pitches, rested on the bench for three minutes, threw 15 more and rested again until he hit his intended pitch count. It was the first

time he faced hitters, a group which included Carlos Sanchez and some minor leaguers.

"He turned it up a little more and that was the theme for today," pitching coach Don Cooper said. "We

didn't want him coming out of his shoes the first time he faced hitters and he controlled himself very well and we got exactly what we were looking to get, which was five innings, 75 pitches. We mixed in all of

his pitches and he threw strikes with all of them."

The schedule ahead gets tight. Sale will have two more bullpen sessions and two more game-like

appearances, although Cooper has no intention of putting Sale in a Cactus League game. The White Sox's Arizona schedule comes to a close April 2.

"I want to face real hitters in a game," Cooper said. "It won't be in an A game because he's still kind of

rehabbing. But we're going to give it more and more realness to it."

That would suggest a minor league game on April 1 and a game in extended spring training on April 6. It

lines up Sale to face the Minnesota Twins at home on April 12.

Before that happens, Sale also has to test his foot by running at full speed and then doing drills with

lateral movement like fielding bunts and covering first base.

"I can pitch in a game right now, I just can't cut," Sale said. "It's not like I'm a running back or anything but I'd still like to be able to field my position and cover all the areas."

No April Fools: Nate Jones to throw on Wednesday

March 27, 2015, 5:00 pm

By: Dan Hayes, CSNChicago.com

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Nate Jones said it would be a cruel April Fools' Day joke if it doesn’t happen.

But the White Sox reliever -- who was been transferred to the 60-day disabled list on Friday -- is set to

throw off a mound in a bullpen session on Wednesday. Jones, who is recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery last July, is ready to take the next step in his rehab after completing the arduous long toss

process. Pitching coach Don Cooper said Jones has been impressive in his long toss sessions.

“He’s throwing the ball very, very well, his rehab is coming along well, we’re getting in a lot of work as far as working on his direction and things like that through the long toss and he’s getting ready to

transition to the mound,” Cooper said.

Jones and the White Sox have established sometime around the All-Star break as when the right-hander

may return to the majors. He hasn’t pitched much since the 2013 season as a back injury limited him to two games in April and he injured his elbow while rehabbing, having Tommy John surgery on July 29.

The White Sox would have no trouble finding a spot in the bullpen for Jones, who has a 3.55 career ERA in 137 games and 154 strikeouts in 149 2/3 innings.

“You are pretty excited about his health and where he’s at,” manager Robin Ventura said. “It would be a

big boost for us to get somebody like him at some point this year. That’s just good news for us that he’s able to be where he’s at and be as healthy and optimistic as he is.”

Jeff Samardzija gives up four homers in loss to Cubs March 27, 2015, 6:30 pm

By: Dan Hayes, CSNChicago.com

MESA, Ariz. -- Jeff Samardzija is willing to acknowledge he made four mistakes among his 92 pitches. In what he described as a “weird” start against his old club, the White Sox pitcher gave up four home

runs in a 6-3 loss to the Cubs at Sloan Park. Samardzija has allowed seven homers over his past two starts but feels pretty good about the work he’s put in, including throwing 92 pitches over six innings.

Samardzija’s strange line included seven hits but also nine strikeouts and no walks.

“The majority of pitches were good pitches and located where you want them,” Samardzija said. “But I

think you can see in a big league game, when you make mistakes, big league hitters jump on them. But again, we’re out there getting our work in. We’ve got 92 pitches, pitched through the sixth, and I feel

good and ready to go.”

If you’re hitting the panic button, don’t.

An American League scout’s report on Samardzija’s start Friday suggests there’s nothing wrong with his

pitches, that he merely needs to fine tune.

“Stuff looks good actually,” he said. “Heavy sinker, good cutter. Just the ball right down the middle on all

three homers. Stuff looks fine.”

Samardzija and pitching coach Don Cooper worked on several adjustments in between starts and the right-hander said he got more comfortable with the changes as the game wore on. He knows he can

improve but still has one more start between now and Opening Day.

“Me and Coop will get together on the film and get ready for our next side and next start,” Samardzija

said. “You have to take everything with a grain of salt, good or bad. When it’s that good, there are still things to get better, and when it’s not that good, it’s usually not that bad. I’m happy with how the game

went on. I pitched deep in the game, and we’ll learn from it.”

Notes

- Jacob Petricka’s MRI was clean and the right-hander said he’ll resume throwing on Saturday. Similar to closer David Robertson, the reliever has dealt with forearm soreness. Petricka hasn’t pitched since

Monday.

“Just put a little too much stress on the arm to start with,” Petricka said. “I was still able to throw but it wasn’t getting any better so we decided to kind of take it easy right now instead of let it become

something in season.”

- Aside from standing room only tickets, the White Sox have announced a sellout for their April 10 home

opener.

- Former-Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell took batting practice

on Friday. Liddell is friends with pitcher Brad Penny and also knows manager Robin Ventura.

- Outfielder JB Shuck stole his fifth base of the spring and had two hits. Outfielder Melky Cabrera hit a solo homer, his first of the spring, and finished 3-for-4. Catcher Tyler Flowers hit a long two-run homer to

dead center, 20 feet up the berm past the 410-foot sign.

- Relievers Zach Duke and Javy Guerra each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

- The White Sox claimed right-handed pitcher Kyle Drabek off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. To

make room on the 40-man roster, Nate Jones was placed on the 60-day disabled list.

White Sox Ventura: Carlos Rodon needs to be 'complete product'

March 27, 2015, 6:15 pm By: Dan Hayes, CSNChicago.com

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Carlos Rodon may require a little more polish.

Perhaps hinting at a move in the near future that sends him to minor league camp, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Friday he wants the organization’s prized prospect to be comfortable throwing his

changeup in order to be more well-rounded.

Ventura can see the talent possessed by Rodon, the third overall pick last June, who struck out nine batters in four innings on Wednesday. But he doesn’t want Rodon to rely solely on his fastball and slider.

While he isn’t saying one way or the other whether Rodon would break camp with the White Sox, it’s

possible the club thinks the left-hander needs a bit more seasoning in the minors.

“Everybody has different opinions on him,” Ventura said. But you don’t want to put him in there with one pitch or two pitches. You want him to be armed with the things that make him successful and you

don’t want him to come up here and be a flash in the pan and he’s got to go down and work on stuff. He

needs to be a complete product when he comes out of here.”

Rodon thinks he’s pretty close to ready for the majors but isn’t making demands he be included on the Opening Day roster. He has 24 2/3 innings under his belt and has made improvement of the changeup a

focus since he signed his pro contract last July.

On Wednesday, Rodon threw 34 fastballs and 28 sliders among his 66 pitches and four changeups. He’s

happy with the changeups he threw but the White Sox want to see him comfortable with throwing more. Still, that slider-fastball combo is nasty.

Even Ventura acknowledges the arsenal Rodon works with is through the roof.

“On the other hand, you do see the talent that’s there and what’s inside,” Ventura said. “You saw it in the other night. There’s still time to go in this camp and we’ll see where that ends up.”

White Sox: Chris Sale's session a 'confidence booster'

March 27, 2015, 4:00 pm By: Dan Hayes, CSNChicago.com

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- He won’t test his mobility until Monday but Chris Sale delivered a Matrix-esque type move to snag a comebacker on Friday morning.

The left-hander -- who is four weeks removed from a broken bone in his right foot -- fielded a grounder

behind his back and threw to first base near the end of a 75-pitch simulated game. While he’s not all the

way back -- “he wasn’t airing it out,” pitching coach Don Cooper said -- all signs are positive in Sale’s rehab. Sale smiled and laughed during his game and even joked that no cameras were there to catch his

“most athletic” play of all time.

“You guys didn’t get it on video,” Sale said. “I’m a little upset.”

Sale is already at the point where he’d feel comfortable pitching in a game. He could pitch in a minor

league game on Wednesday, though the decision hasn’t been made.

He, Cooper and Robin Ventura all think it’s plausible that Sale returns to the mound for the White Sox on or around April 12.

The sticking point is Sale’s mobility, as he still hasn’t tried to run on his foot. “He’s got to be able to move around on the field and cover base and things like that,” Ventura said. “He’s

got a little ways to go, but arm strength looks pretty good. Even for him, it was fun for him to get out there.”

Ventura attributed the good feeling in camp among the front office and coaching staff to Sale’s progress. He looks to take the next step(s) when he begins to run on Monday.

But the White Sox plan to stay methodical in their approach.

“We’re not going to push the foot,” Cooper said. “He’s feeling great with it. I’ve asked three of four times

how he’s feeling with it and he feels great, which is music to the pitching coach’s ears. Then we’re

eventually going to get the movement back. Then we have the innings, the pitches and the moving around and we have it all.”

Well all except for footage of Sale’s dazzling behind-the-back stop. Sale hoped it could help him earn a

top-10 highlight on SportsCenter. Instead he has to settle for knowing he made the play.

“Today was a big confidence booster being able to go out there five different times and really do

everything I’ve always done,” Sale said. “I’m still following what they’ve got for me, but I would think sometime next week with how it’s feeling.

“That was probably the most athletic I’ve ever been on the baseball field. But that’s not hard to beat.”

White Sox Conor Gillaspie: Plantar fasciitis isn't an issue March 26, 2015, 6:00 pm

By: Dan Hayes, CSNChicago.com

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Conor Gillaspie has had plantar fasciitis since this winter, and it has actually improved

during spring training.

The White Sox third baseman believes his sore feet will only continue to get better as he’s forced to spend less time on them, which happens more and more closer to the start of the season. Gillaspie said

his feet haven’t affected him this spring and he’s ready for the season to start, though he admits he could have a flare up at any time.

“It’s not a big issue,” Gillaspie said. “I suppose if it felt the way it did this winter I’d be in trouble. But (trainer Herm Schneider) and I and the training staff have worked pretty hard on it pretty much before

and after the day, and that seems to be helping.”

White Sox manager Robin Ventura noted Gillaspie’s feet bothered him earlier in camp, that he looked

tentative. The third baseman appeared so during an intrasquad game earlier this month when he looked to be in discomfort legging out a pair of triples. But time has only helped, Gillaspie said.

“As far as affecting me playing, it doesn’t,” Gillaspie said. “It did a little bit when I first got here, but it’s

gone away. Credit to Herm for working hard with me every day on that.

“It was pretty sore this winter. I had some problems with it this winter. But it’s really not a big issue now.

It could flare up, but we’ve got it pretty well under control.”

— Jacob Petricka is also experiencing a little soreness, Ventura said. Petricka last pitched on Monday. “We have a few guys that are doing that right now,” Ventura said. “When they are ready to go, they are

ready to go. I don’t think it’s anything that’s going to make them miss the start of the season.”

— Zach Putnam struck out two in a scoreless inning. Daniel Webb also struck out two but allowed two

runs, two hits and walked one in an inning. Eric Surkamp also pitched a scoreless inning as did Jairo Asencio.

— Starting pitcher Brad Penny allowed six earned runs and eight hits with three walks in four innings. He struck out two.

— Jose Abreu went 3-for-3 against Clayton Kershaw to raise his batting average to .488.

— Alexei Ramirez singled in a run and walked in four trips. He’s hitting .372.