Don't count Benintendi out of Opening Day spot yet
This browser does not support the video element.
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Don¡¯t rule out Andrew Benintendi from being part of the White Sox Opening Day lineup on March 27 vs. the Angels at Rate Field.
The left fielder suffered a non-displaced fracture below his right pinky knuckle after being hit by a pitch on Feb. 27 and was projected to be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks. On Monday, he faced pitching in BP after hitting four or five days in a row. He hopes to get into a Cactus League game against the Brewers on Wednesday.
¡°I feel a lot better than I anticipated," Benintendi said. "Things kind of progressed better than we thought. The hand, the bone itself is healed. At this point, it¡¯s just pain tolerance. It probably won¡¯t feel 100 percent until the 4-6 weeks, whatever it is. The swing right now, not so much of an issue at all.¡±
¡°He¡¯s responding well to the treatment,¡± manager Will Venable said. ¡°He¡¯s healing up nicely, and so we will just continue to push him responsibly, but feeling good and going to expose him to some game action.¡±
Benintendi is scheduled to start as a designated hitter on Wednesday, a lineup spot where he could break camp if he's healthy. The White Sox certainly won¡¯t push Benintendi beyond his limits, wanting the veteran healthy for the whole summer and not just Opening Day. But now there is reason for Opening Day optimism regarding the left-handed hitter.
¡°Definitely don¡¯t want to miss Opening Day and things like that. You want to be in this clubhouse with these guys playing. If it takes a little pain swinging a bat to do it, so be it,¡± Benintendi said. ¡°Any Opening Day is exciting. A start of a new chapter. Everybody is excited to get out here and play meaningful games.¡±
BURKE, FOR OPENERS
Pitching coach Ethan Katz spoke of the Angels¡¯ right-handed-heavy lineup in his explanation for Sean Burke being tabbed as the White Sox Opening Day starter.
This browser does not support the video element.
¡°He struck out 39 percent of right-handers last year,¡± Katz said. ¡°Obviously, I don¡¯t expect that to continue, but it puts us in a good spot, and he can maybe neutralize right-handed hitters. It¡¯s a small sample size, but we¡¯re trying to get off to a good note and maximize every matchup possible.
¡°We¡¯ve hit him with a lot of different things, but going back to last year, he has handled every situation. He faced some tough teams, tough environments and handled it with flying colors. We don¡¯t expect anything different on Opening Day.¡±
According to Katz, the White Sox continue talking about everything from the final bullpen makeup to where a fifth starter would be needed with four scheduled off-days mixed into the first 18 games of the regular season. Katz has been impressed by the overall work of his rotation in Arizona.
This browser does not support the video element.
¡°I¡¯m excited,¡± Katz said. ¡°We¡¯re going to be really surprising to most people in the industry how good they¡¯re going to be. But I¡¯m really excited about our rotation.¡±
CANNON PROCESS
The Spring Training results have not been good for Jonathan Cannon, who has allowed 13 runs on 22 hits over 11 1/3 innings covering four starts. But Cannon was bothered more about his mound process while giving up three runs over 3 1/3 innings during a 3-0 loss to the Giants Monday at Camelback Ranch.
This browser does not support the video element.
¡°I fell behind a lot of guys, walked a bunch of guys, walked guys in scoring position,¡± Cannon said. ¡°Just not recipes for success, and that's the kind of stuff I look to improve on moving forward.
¡°I¡¯m going to give up hits, that's part of it. I've got to be better about putting guys away with two strikes, just some process things. Are you getting ahead of guys? Are you putting guys away with two strikes? How is your stuff moving? Those are the things you can control, the things you can improve on."
THIRD TO FIRST
After two bullpen sessions, right-hander Drew Thorpe will pitch in a Minor League game on Thursday. He has responded well in working his way back from elbow soreness as an offshoot to season-ending surgery last Sept. 7 to shave down a bone spur in his right elbow.
Infielder Brooks Baldwin played in both right field and center field during Monday¡¯s game against the Giants, making a running catch in center to open the eighth.