July 24, 2008
Masset always ready on moment's notice
Gets spot start Wednesday to give Danks a breather
Nick Masset prevented the White Sox from getting swept in a three-game series at Wrigley Field last May, and he'll try to stop the Sox's pitching staff from getting taxed.
Masset was named to start Wednesday's game at Minnesota despite his current role as a long reliever. Manager Ozzie Guillen selected Masset to avoid the temptation to bring back 23-year-old left-hander John Danks on short rest.
"I can't take any chances," said Guillen, citing Danks' youth as a reason. "We can't take that risk. If this game was in September, or we were in the pennant race late in the season, we'd think about it. Right now it's too early to make those crazy decisions."
Masset has shown the ability to adapt well on short notice. He pitched 41/3 innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts on Opening Day after Mark Buehrle was knocked out in the second inning.
Despite a miserable 2007 season that saw him optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on July 16, Masset limited the Cubs to two runs on three hits in 52/3 innings to win his only major-league start on May 20.
"I'll be prepared to go five or six innings," Masset said. "For me, it doesn't matter if they tell me a day or four days [in advance]. It really doesn't change my outlook and what I do to prepare for that day."
Adjusting the rotation has become a way of life for Sox pitching coach Don Cooper, who has maneuvered the starters to compensate for two rainouts, favorable matchups and ensuring the strength of Buehrle.
"We have a plan, but we're flexible in that plan if something comes our way, then we have to make an alteration," Cooper said. "But nothing can come our way that we haven't been through already. We'll make the right choices."
Buehrle will open the Toronto series Friday, followed by Danks.
Extra innings
Left fielder Carlos Quentin extended his hitting streak to eight consecutive games with a single in the second. ...Paul Konerko's RBI single in the seventh raised his career batting average to .556 (5-for-9) with a home run against Baltimore reliever Chad Bradford.
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