Contreras Might go to DL

[podsednik20]

CHICAGO -- The White Sox would not confirm a Monday report from WSCR 670 AM in Chicago, the team's flagship radio station, stating that Jose Contreras was headed to the 15-day disabled list with hip problems.

A spokesman for the team said that Contreras had been bothered by stiffness in his back over the weekend, but that a final decision regarding the right-hander's status would not be made until Tuesday afternoon. When reached on Monday night, pitching coach Don Cooper already was planning ahead to work through the worst-case scenario involving his ace hurler.

 

Contreras threw his normal sideline on Saturday and reported no problems, according to Cooper. After playing catch prior to Sunday's victory over the Royals, Contreras walked gingerly off the field.

 

"It came completely out of left field," said Cooper of Contreras' injury. "He wasn't feeling so hot. It didn't look like he was moving around all that good.

 

"It would be a minor miracle if he could start on his day, based on how I saw him walking around on Sunday," Cooper added. "I'm still hoping for a miracle, like what happened in Spring Training."

 

Cooper is referring to Contreras' right elbow tenderness suffered during Spring Training, which quickly moved from a huge scare to simply a brief absence from Cactus League action. Contreras, 34, has arguably been one of the best pitchers in baseball since the start of the 2006 season, and certainly has been the most successful hurler since last year's All-Star break.

 

Off to a 5-0 start this season, with a Major League-best 1.41 earned run average in six starts, Contreras has won 13 straight decisions dating back to 2005. This stretch of success serves as the fourth-longest winning streak by a White Sox pitcher since 1970, and the longest active run in the Majors. Contreras is 13-0 with a 1.80 ERA over his last 14 regular-season starts, and 16-1 over his last 18 starts, including the postseason.

 

But even with Cooper holding out hope for Contreras' great recuperative powers to kick in, what if the minor miracle does not take place and Contreras can't make his next start Wednesday against the Angels? The team could skip Contreras in the rotation with Monday's off-day, but it's more likely he would get time to recover on the disabled list.

 

In that case, Cooper said the short-term option would be Charlie Haeger. The knuckleballer has been dazzling International League hitters with Triple-A Charlotte, posting a 3-0 record with a 0.68 ERA over six starts. Haeger has allowed 26 hits and 20 walks in 40 innings, striking out 31.

 

Both A.J. Pierzynski and Chris Widger caught Haeger during Spring Training, so handling the knuckleball would not be a completely new experience for either veteran backstop. If Contreras only were to miss a start or two, then Haeger would be more of a logical replacement with Brandon McCarthy not close to stretched out from the bullpen.

 

McCarthy has worked as long as three innings in relief on two occasions this season, but his last three-inning effort was on April 13 at Detroit. The young right-hander was thought of as a replacement starter, able to move from the bullpen to the starting rotation in the case of this exact sort of problem.

 

He also understands Cooper's line of reasoning to go with Haeger, if the situation dictates.

 

"It doesn't bother me," said McCarthy on Monday night, speaking in the hypothetical, in regard to a possible short-term replacement for Contreras. "If I was in Triple-A and someone else was going up over me, that might be a different story.

 

"I realize I have a role here and a spot on the team. If that's my role for the year, then that's fine. If they need me to go back to starting and that helps the team, then that's what I will do. For the time being, I understand where I'm at.

 

"If it's something long term, I would like to get the shot and get back in there and do it," McCarthy added. "Short-term, [using Haeger] makes perfect sense."

 

Even with Haeger's addition and his ability to almost throw on a daily basis, putting in McCarthy as a short-term solution would weaken the bullpen. McCarthy said he possibly could get five innings out of his arm, but if he more likely lasted three or four, that effort still would leave the bulk of the game's work to the bullpen. Cooper also wants to put McCarthy in a situation to earn a victory as a starter.

 

Of course, these are all contingency plans, and nothing will become official until Tuesday, when the health of Contreras' back and hip is updated. For now, it's a wait-and-see sort of situation for Cooper, McCarthy and the rest of the organization.

 

"His back and hip weren't so good, and it didn't get much better [sunday]," said Cooper, who added that manager Ozzie Guillen stated he was unsure of Contreras' status as of Monday evening, during a phone conversation between the two. "But I'm still going to hold out hope.

 

"I'll be happily surprised if he's fine, but the last thing anyone wants to do is not take care of Jose first," Cooper added.

[Moose]

I say ********. Where's the link?

[podsednik20]

It's on Whitesox.com

[jsinger121]

s*** maybe i should trade him in fantasy

[podsednik20]

Well, we dont necissarily know if he is going on the DL though. Hopefully not.

[jsinger121]

I'm in a keeper league and my AL team sucks so moving Contreras now is my best option to play for the future.

[podsednik20]

But what if he does play? and you trade him.

[jsinger121]

My team sucks as it is and Contreras is not under contract for me next year. I need to get contracts in return for him. He is unlikely to be on my team next year anyways.

[TheRivernator]

seriously, f*** this guy. Contreras is the biggest pussy in the game. He dogged it as a yankee and then comes out as a CY candidate once he leaves. I hope he's out for the season, the prick...

[redsoxrules]

seriously, f*** this guy. Contreras is the biggest pussy in the game. He dogged it as a yankee and then comes out as a CY candidate once he leaves. I hope he's out for the season, the prick...

 

i dont like him either

[jsinger121]

seriously, f*** this guy. Contreras is the biggest pussy in the game. He dogged it as a yankee and then comes out as a CY candidate once he leaves. I hope he's out for the season, the prick...

 

a bitter yankees fan.....some guys flourish in NY some don't.....get over it....not everyone is made for NY and he just was not one of them. He didn't dog nothing

[schillingouttheks]

seriously, f*** this guy. Contreras is the biggest pussy in the game. He dogged it as a yankee and then comes out as a CY candidate once he leaves. I hope he's out for the season, the prick...

You hope he's out for the season? You're such a tool.

[yeszir]

MORE of my fantasy team can go on the DL, great.

 

And Rivernator, I hope Derek Jeter gets hit by a bus.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

John Kruk said Jose Contreras was the best AL pitcher.

 

I wish I could agree with Harold Reynolds that Curt Schilling is the best pitcher in the AL (makes a strong case other than last season).

 

Have these guys seen Johan Santana pitch?? I love how these guys need to go by the season thus far. By the end of the year I wouldn't be suprised at all if Santana wins the Cy Young again. He should have won it last year and if I had to take one pitcher in the league (AL or NL)...it would start with him.

[podsednik20]

CHICAGO -- Prior to tonight's game vs. Los Angeles, the Chicago White Sox placed right-handed pitcher Jose Contreras on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to May 5) with sciatica (irritation of the sciatic nerve). A corresponding move will be made prior to tomorrow night's game.

Contreras, 34, is 5-0 with a 1.41 ERA (7 ER/44.2 IP) in six starts this season. He allowed one run over 7.1 IP in his last start on Thursday vs. Seattle, extending his major-league best winning streak to 13 games. Contreras, who was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for April, has gone 13-0 with a 1.80 ERA (21 ER/105.0 IP) over his last 14 regular-season starts.

 

The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder established career highs in victories (15) starts (32), IP (204.2) and strikeouts (154) in his first full season with the White Sox in 2005. Contreras went 11-2 with a 2.96 ERA (34 ER/103.1 IP) after the All-Star Break, the sixth-most victories by a Sox pitcher in the second half since 1970. He also earned AL Pitcher of the Month honors for September, going 6-0 with a 1.99 ERA (10 ER/45.1 IP).

[redsoxrules]

MORE of my fantasy team can go on the DL, great.

 

And Rivernator, I hope Derek Jeter gets hit by a bus.