--RHP Scott Linebrink threw yet another bullpen session before Wednesday's series finale with Baltimore, which was his fifth side session off the mound since being placed on the disabled list with right shoulder soreness retroactive to July 23. Linebrink threw close to 30 pitches and threw in a couple of changeups along the way. The plan is to have him throw again Friday in Boston. If all goes well, a simulated game could be next on the agenda for the setup man, coming either Sunday or Monday in Cleveland.
--RHP Javier Vazquez seems to be back on track, especially coming off a tough loss to Tampa Bay in which he had a perfect game going after retiring the first 17 hitters he faced, until the bottom fell out and he ended up with the loss. But pitching coach Don Cooper commented that Vazquez is pitching the best he has all season the last two weeks, and the White Sox are glad to have him on the mound for the first game of a weekend series at Fenway Park. Vazquez has not faced the Red Sox this year, and he is 2-5 with a 4.61 ERA lifetime against them. --Manager Ozzie Guillen knows that his bullpen has come under heat the last month or so, basically since RHP Scott Linebrink first started having trouble with his right shoulder and pitchers had to be thrust into different roles. But the fifth-year skipper feels that the group is well rested for the final month's playoff push, especially with Lance Broadway pitching in with four relief innings in Wednesday's loss. Now, if he can only get Linebrink back and return the unit to some normalcy. "I believe in God," Guillen said. "God gave me a lot of great things. If God hears me, can he say Linebrink get healthy. God, can you please get him healthy for a month." When Linebrink returns, Guillen will put him in the eighth-inning role, with RHP Octavio Dotel returning to the seventh-inning duties.
--OF Carlos Quentin enjoyed his 26th birthday Thursday, and the hope is he was able to get some serious rest. Manager Ozzie Guillen sat him Wednesday knowing that Thursday would also give the American League's leading home run hitter a day off. Expect him back in left field Friday against the Red Sox.
--The White Sox are counting on a Red Sox team being mentally tired when they meet this weekend, especially with Boston coming off an always emotional three-game series at Yankee Stadium. "I don't think they will be the same, mentally tough-wise, after playing New York and then come to play us," Guillen said. "I know a little bit. They are going to be down. No way they are going to max out (after) you play in Yankee Stadium."
BY THE NUMBERS: 7.15 -- Through Aug. 24, the ERA for White Sox relievers in the eighth inning since Scott Linebrink left that role with an injured shoulder in late June. Linebrink was dominant in the eighth-inning role with a 0.67 ERA in 29 appearances.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "JD is the most consistent player in the five years I've been here. He puts up numbers, is the MVP of the World Series, and no one knows about it. I love him. He's the most consistent player I've ever had." -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen on the importance of Jermaine Dye to the lineup.
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