Levine: White Sox Hide Starting Pitchers When Necessary
(CBS) -- Do the White Sox hide their starting pitchers, or is it about working with less stress in side sessions and B games?
The reality is probably somewhere in the middle.
Back in the early 2000s, when Kenny Williams took over as general manager, Chicago began putting its starters in B games and simulated practice sessions. The purpose was to stop other teams from having current scouting reports on the pitching staff. The practice was intensified against American League teams and, in particular, the Kansas City Royals.
This type of training is hardly scientific. The coaching staff and management believe less stressful games for the starters in a more controlled setting is preferable. The feeling is in early spring, pitchers are less likely to get hurt in these meaningless games with nothing on the line.
This week, the White Sox shifted right-hander Jeff Samardzija to a B game start. They were considering moving Jose Quintana out of a start on Friday.
"Jeff might be pitching in a B game just to get his work in," manager Robin Ventura said. "Sometimes you can get a little more work in those than in an A game. We are just moving people around. (Samardzija) will be throwing though."
The protection mode may be more intense for the White Sox this season. Chicago starts the new baseball campaign with the American League champion Royals in Kansas City on April 6. Samardzija and Quintana are expected to pitch the first two games of the season.
"There is some of that thinking," Ventura admitted. "We think you can get a little more out of guys. You can control what they are doing. You can have him skip having to wait for the other team to hit. You just roll it over and have an extended inning just to get the pitch count up. Sometimes those B games help."
Ventura wouldn't say if Quintana would pitch in the regular scheduled game Friday against Colorado or not.
"It's still up in the air," he said.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
