When Scott Linebrink finally puts that toe on the rubber and throws that first pitch that actually counts, then manager Ozzie Guillen will believe that the right-handed reliever is back. Until then, in Guillen's mind it will still be only talk.
"Linebrink sounds good every day, but I'm not counting on him until I see him on the mound in a real game," Guillen insisted on Monday. He might get that chance on Wednesday.
In a flurry of roster moves before the start of the Cleveland series, the one that could impact the club the most was the news that Linebrink was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list after spending close to five weeks trying to recover from what was called inflammation in the posterior of his right shoulder.
He threw a simulated game Monday afternoon, facing Brian Anderson and Jerry Owens, and if he passes inspection this afternoon, could pitch Wednesday if need be.
"Seeing hitters for the first time, I always get a little bit of extra adrenaline going out there," Linebrink said of the outing. "A couple were not where we wanted to be, but overall, command was decent. I had a lot of people out there watching, and they liked what they saw coming out of my hand."
They would like it a lot more if they see it on Wednesday, especially for a bullpen that was at one time the best in the American League, only to fall on hard times the last 43 games with a 5.60 ERA -- about the time that Linebrink first started breaking down.
As far as what type of role Linebrink will have, Guillen expected nothing less of returning to his job as the eighth-inning setup man, working as the bridge to get the ball to closer Bobby Jenks.
"When he's ready, he's in," Guillen added. "I think (pitching coach Don) Cooper's kind of worried about he didn't pitch for two months or whatever, but as soon as he's ready, we're going to give him the ball and see how he reacts."
INDIANS 5, WHITE SOX 0: With five hits on the night and two coming in the first two at-bats for the Sox, there was very little offense to talk about. The Sox had their best chance in that opening stanza and let Cliff Lee get off the hook. With Orlando Cabrera and A.J. Pierzynski on first and second with no outs in that opening inning, Carlos Quentin struck out and then Jermaine Dye hit into an unassisted double play on a sharp liner to second base. Lee then retired 21 straight en route to becoming the league's first 20-game winner.
As far as Sox starter Clayton Richard, he was behind hitters throughout most of his four innings pitched, and the Tribe made him pay for four runs (three earned) in that time.
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