The Chicago media is reporting that the White Sox have agreed to pay John Danks $65 million over the next five years.That’s a lot of money for a pitcher who was 8-12 last year, has a losing career record and an ERA over 4.00. But it’s also the going rate for pitchers who have averaged 12 wins and 195 innings pitched the last four years, especially left-handed, 26-year-old pitchers. So I sort of like the White Sox signing Danks to that extension.

But not if that means, as the Chicago Tribune reported, that it is then likely that the White Sox will trade Gavin Floyd. Gavin Floyd has also averaged 12 wins and 195 innings pitched the last four years and has a similar WHIP (1.326 hits and walks allowed per inning to 1.304 for Danks) and strikeout totals to Danks. He is two years older, at age 28, right-handed to Danks’ left-handed and has a career ERA almost half a run higher at 4.50. In other words, he’s not quite as good as Danks. But he only costs about half as much ($7 million next year, with a team option for $9.5 million in 2013).

I’m all for trading Floyd if you can get more for him, but my hunch is the White Sox could have gotten more for trading Danks, if nothing else because Danks is left-handed.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chicago White Sox’s Mark Buehrle pitches against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, in Cleveland.

Worse, the White Sox let their best pitcher walk. Mark Buehrle has won at least 10 games and pitched at least 200 innings for 11 seasons in a row. He’s still relatively young at age 32, four years older than Floyd and six older than Danks. Not a single one of these three pitchers has improved in the last three years, which is a big reason why the White Sox have made the playoffs only once since winning the 2005 World Serie. But while Floyd and Danks have actually gotten a little worse, Buehrle has held steady. Last year he had his lowest ERA (3.59) since that 2005 World Series year. Mark Buerhle’s ERA for the last five years is the exact same as his career ERA (3.83). He also signed for less overall money than Danks: four years, $58 million.

The percentage move for the White Sox, who do need to rebuild a little and cut salary from an aging and bloated $130 million payroll, would have been to keep their most reliable left-handed pitcher and trade their left-hander with the most trade value. John Danks is a tantalizing prospect. He always seems like he could be so much more than he is. That’s why the White Sox wanted to keep him. But it’s also why others would have wanted him.

If the Sox were going to completely rebuild, I say move all three. But if they are going to do it only halfway, they should have kept their best pitcher (Buehrle) and their cheapest of their three mainstays (Floyd) and shopped their biggest trade chip (Danks).

What they did do is OK. Not good. Not bad. OK. Sort of like how the White Sox have played for the last six years now.

By SportsDirect

POSTED: 7:31 am MST December 22, 2011

The loss drops Chicago into third place in the AL Central, 6½ games behind Detroit. Chicago has five games remaining against the Tigers this season, including the final two of this series.

“We’re almost out of games,” said White Sox starter John Danks, who struggled badly on the mound. “We have to win a lot more than we lost from here on out. We’re going to have to win out against the Tigers, and we’re still going to need some help.”

The White Sox had won five of six, but didn’t score off Verlander until the eighth inning.

“They definitely had everything rolling tonight, and they had their big gun out there,” Chicago’s Juan Pierre said. “He pretty much went through us any way he wanted.”

Verlander (21-5) improved to 19-2 since May 1, allowing one run on seven hits in 7 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out six in Jim Leyland’s 500th win as Tigers manager.

“I didn’t change my game plan when we were leading 3-0 early, but once it got to be 8-0, I started throwing first-pitch fastballs,” he said. “I figured if they were hacking, I could get some quick outs. It hurt me a little in the eighth, but you certainly can’t complain about a game like this.”

On a 95-degree day, Danks (6-10) never came close to matching Verlander, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks in 4 2-3 innings.

“Danks wasn’t around the plate, and he was facing a pretty good hitting club that is swinging the bats well,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

After Verlander needed just six pitches in the top of the first, Detroit staked him to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Jackson led off with a single, took second on Magglio Ordonez’s groundout and scored on Delmon Young’s triple. Young came home on Miguel Cabrera’s RBI single, and Cabrera then stunned the sold-out crowd of 42,352 by stealing second base.

That put him in position to score on Alex Avila’s single.

“That was all Miggy’s doing — don’t give me any credit for that one,” Leyland said. “He saw that Danks wasn’t paying attention and he got the base. That’s a huge play, because it gets us a run.”

Against Verlander, Guillen knew the game was almost over after one inning.

“When it is 3-0 in the first inning against that guy, you’ve got a pretty rough slope to climb,” he said.

The score remained 3-0 until the bottom of the fifth, with the White Sox only putting one runner in scoring position.

Brandon Inge led off Detroit’s fifth with a single, and scored on Jackson’s ninth homer of the season.

A single and two walks loaded the bases with two out, and Guillen pulled Danks in favor of Josh Kinney. The move didn’t pay off, as Peralta lined a bases-clearing double to give the Tigers their eight-run lead.

Tyler Flowers broke up Verlander’s shutout with a 425-foot homer on the first pitch of the eighth, and Chicago loaded the bases with one out before Joaquin Benoit came out of the bullpen. Paul Konerko flew out to left, and A.J. Pierzynski lined out to Cabrera at first.

NOTES: Tigers reliever Alberto Alburquerque is expected to throw an inning for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday before rejoining Detroit. Alburquerque has been sidelined with a concussion since being hit with a liner in batting practice on August 12. … Chicago’s Eduardo Escobar made his major-league debut, replacing Alexei Ramirez at shortstop in the seventh inning. Shane Lindsay, the first Australian to play for the White Sox, started his career by pitching the eighth. … Verlander has thrown at least six innings and 100 pitches in all 30 starts this season. … The teams play again Saturday afternoon, with Detroit’s Brad Penny (9-10) against Chicago’s Gavin Floyd (12-10).

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

CHICAGO (CBS) — Sweep or else?

Whatever hopes the Chicago White Sox have of making a playoff run essentially come down this weekend’s series against the Central Division leading Detroit Tigers.

The South Siders are 51/2 games back and probably need to take all three games–or at minimum two of three–from the Tigers, starting tonight in Detroit.

“It’s definitely not a ‘have to’ — it’s, ‘We need to,’” White Sox closer Sergio Santos told MLB.COM. “I think we need to win two out of three there.”

“Obviously, two out of three is going to help,” White Sox starter Jake Peavy said. “At some point in time, in these next three or when the Tigers come here, we have to beat them three games to have a chance to climb back in it.”

And that won’t be easy. The Sox face Justin Verlander (20-5), who has lost just once since the All-Star Break–tonight at Comerica Park. Lose tonight, and the games Saturday and Sunday are must wins for Ozzie Guillen’s crew.

“I’m not going to go out there saying, ‘Wow, we’re going to sweep them,’” Guillen told MLB. “They’re setting it up with the best pitcher they have. Hopefully, we don’t get swept in Detroit. If we don’t get swept in Detroit, we’re still hanging in there.”

John Danks (6-9) takes the mound tonight at 6:05 p.m. Saturday’s matchup: Gavin Floyd (12-10) vs. Brad Penny (9-10). Sunday’s matchup: Mark Buehrle (11-6) vs. Max Scherzer (13-8).

CHICAGO (AP) — The Seattle Mariners continue to search for offense and keep coming up empty.

Paul Konerko homered and John Danks pitched into the eighth inning for his first victory of the season, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.

The Mariners are tied for last in the American League, scoring fewer than four runs per game.

“It’s getting real old waiting until late in the game to make things happen,” said Brendan Ryan. “I don’t know what the answer is to that, I can only speak for myself. We just can’t wait until late to create.”

Seattle wasted another quality start by rookie Michael Pineda (6-3), who allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out three and walked two.

“Michael pitched a great game again,” Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. “He gave us every opportunity to win the ballgame, we just couldn’t get anything going offensively.”

Pineda has pitched seven innings and allowed two runs or fewer in four of his five last starts.

“You almost come to expect outings like that from him,” Ryan said. “He’s been outstanding and it’s even more disappointing to not give him some help. When you throw as well as he did, you deserve the ‘W’. You deserve some help.”

Seattle had its chances in the low-scoring game. Ryan hit a line drive into the right-center field gap in the second inning with a runner on first, but a stellar diving catch by Brent Lillibridge robbed the Mariners of their first run.

“(The White Sox) did a good job defensively,” Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. “We had some good passes at the ball, hit some balls hard and don’t have anything to show for it.”

Ryan singled in the eighth to knock Danks out of the game, but when reliever Jesse Crain’s offering to Justin Smoak bounced away from catcher A.J. Pierzynski, Ryan was gunned down trying to advance to second.

“I want him to be aggressive in that situation. I want him to have that type of mentality,” Wedge said. “More times than not, you’re going to make that,”

Ryan credited Crain’s pickoff move as a potential reason why he didn’t make it to second.

“I shortened up a little bit. Film warned me, but that’s one of the quicker ones,” he said. “Give some credit to A.J. for making the play. I don’t regret taking a chance there. I should have been there.”

The White Sox beat the Mariners for the ninth straight time at U.S. Cellular Field and are 13-1 at home against Seattle dating to August 18, 2008. The White Sox also matched a club record for the most consecutive home wins against the Mariners.

In his 12th start of the season, Danks (1-8) did not resemble the pitcher that lost his first eight decisions. The left-hander pitched 7 1-3 innings and only allowed one unearned run on seven hits. He struck out six and walked one.

Pierzynski also added an RBI single in the eighth off Mariners reliever David Pauley.

Chicago closer Sergio Santos pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save in 12 opportunities.

Greg Halman was 3 for 3 for the Mariners and is 7 for 8 since getting called up on Sunday.

The White Sox have won five of its last seven overall.

Konerko hit a leadoff shot off Pineda in the fourth inning. The ball just cleared the left-field wall for his 13th of season.

After getting knocked down by a 95 mph fastball from Pineda, Gordon Beckham came back with an RBI single to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead in the seventh.

Seattle finally got on the board against Danks in the eighth. Halman led off with an infield single and advanced to second after first baseman Adam Dunn couldn’t glove a pickoff attempt by Danks. After advancing to third on Ichiro Suzuki’s groundout, Halman scored on Brendan Ryan’s single.

Danks rebounded from his worst performance of the season. In his last start May 29 at Toronto, Danks gave up nine runs and nine hits — including three homers — over four innings in a 13-4 loss. He became the first White Sox pitcher since Eddie Smith in 1942 to start 0-8.

Dunn struck out in the eighth with the bases loaded, going 0 for 4, dropping his average to .176.

NOTES: The MRI on RHP Jake Peavy showed a mild right groin strain. He will be evaluated on a daily basis. … The White Sox hired Robin Ventura as special adviser to player development director Buddy Bell. … The last time the White Sox won nine straight at home against the Mariners was May 10, 1994, to May 12, 1995. … The Mariners selected University of Virginia LHP Danny Hultzen with the second overall pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Hultzen was the Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher of the year the last two seasons. … The White Sox selected switch-hitting outfielder Keenyn Walker with their first pick, 47th overall. Walker hit .402 with four home runs and 50 RBIs for Central Arizona.

 

John Danks was getting sick of seeing a big zero in the win column next to his name.
Paul Konerko homered and Danks pitched into the eighth inning for his first victory of the season, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
The White Sox beat the Mariners for the ninth straight time at U.S. Cellular Field and are 13-1 at home against Seattle dating to August 18, 2008. The White Sox also matched a club record for the most consecutive home wins against the Mariners.
In his 12th start of the season, Danks (1-8) did not resemble the pitcher that lost his first eight decisions. The left-hander pitched 7 1-3 innings and only allowed one unearned run on seven hits. He struck out six and walked one.
“I would be lying to you if I said it hadn’t been tough. I’ve been doing a lot of beating myself up, not doubting myself, but at the same time, kind of wondering when is it going to turn around,” said Danks. “I would be lying if I said I didn’t see 0-8 on the scoreboard every time I go out there or on the TV, but it is nice to get the first one out of the way but there is a lot of ground to make up.”
White Sox reliever Jesse Crain struck out Justin Smoak and catcher A.J. Pierzynski threw out Brendan Ryan attempting to steal second in the eighth.
Pierzynski also added an RBI single in the eighth off Mariners reliever David Pauley.
Chicago closer Sergio Santos pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save in 12 opportunities.
Seattle rookie starter Michael Pineda (6-3) was the hard luck loser. Pineda has pitched seven innings and allowed two runs or fewer in four of his five last starts. He allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out three and walked two.
Greg Halman was 3 for 3 for the Mariners and is 7 for 8 since getting called up on Sunday.
Ryan wasn’t going to give all the praise to Danks for the Mariners’ lack of offense.
“I think he felt his changeup and started using that. Kept us off balance throwing the cutter in there. We still have to create and make something happen. You tip your hat, but at the same time, we’ve gotta look at ourselves,” Ryan said. “It’s getting real old waiting until late in the game to make things happen. I don’t know what the answer is to that, I can only speak for myself. We just can’t wait until late to create.”
The White Sox have won five of its last seven overall.
Konerko hit a leadoff shot off Pineda in the fourth inning. The ball just cleared the left-field wall for his 13th of season.
After getting knocked down by a 95 mph fastball from Pineda, Gordon Beckham came back with an RBI single to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead in the seventh.
“He (Pineda) was real good. Left a couple of breaking balls up but he really had to work that last inning. He was one pitch away from getting out of it but that kid put up a good at-bat against him,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said.
Seattle finally got on the board against Danks in the eighth. Halman led off with an infield single and advanced to second after first baseman Adam Dunn couldn’t glove a pickoff attempt by Danks. After advancing to third on Ichiro Suzuki’s groundout, Halman scored on Brendan Ryan’s single.
The White Sox missed a scoring chance in the first on a baserunning gaffe. With one out and Juan Pierre on first, Carlos Quentin drove the ball to the left-center wall. Halman nearly made a running catch into the wall, but the ball popped out of his glove.
Pierre was unclear if Halman made the catch and was about to retreat to first, until he looked behind him and saw Quentin a few feet behind him at second. After retreating back to second, Pierre was forced to go to third with Quentin closing in and Pierre was easily thrown out at third by Smoak’s relay.
Brent Lillibridge saved a run in the third inning by making a diving catch on Ryan’s ball. Halman, who was running with two outs would’ve easily scored from first.
Danks rebounded from his worst performance of the season. In his last start May 29 at Toronto, Danks gave up nine runs and nine hits — including three homers — over four innings in a 13-4 loss. He became the first White Sox pitcher since Eddie Smith in 1942 to start 0-8.
Pierzynski said the difference with Danks on Monday night was his changeup.
“He finally found his slider and he finally found his changeup. I think this will be a good start for things to come,” Pierzynski said.
Dunn struck out in the eighth with the bases loaded, going 0 for 4, dropping his average to .176.

John Danks was getting sick of seeing a big zero in the win column next to his name.
Paul Konerko homered and Danks pitched into the eighth inning for his first victory of the season, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
The White Sox beat the Mariners for the ninth straight time at U.S. Cellular Field and are 13-1 at home against Seattle dating to August 18, 2008. The White Sox also matched a club record for the most consecutive home wins against the Mariners.
In his 12th start of the season, Danks (1-8) did not resemble the pitcher that lost his first eight decisions. The left-hander pitched 7 1-3 innings and only allowed one unearned run on seven hits. He struck out six and walked one.
“I would be lying to you if I said it hadn’t been tough. I’ve been doing a lot of beating myself up, not doubting myself, but at the same time, kind of wondering when is it going to turn around,” said Danks. “I would be lying if I said I didn’t see 0-8 on the scoreboard every time I go out there or on the TV, but it is nice to get the first one out of the way but there is a lot of ground to make up.”
White Sox reliever Jesse Crain struck out Justin Smoak and catcher A.J. Pierzynski threw out Brendan Ryan attempting to steal second in the eighth.
Pierzynski also added an RBI single in the eighth off Mariners reliever David Pauley.
Chicago closer Sergio Santos pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save in 12 opportunities.
Seattle rookie starter Michael Pineda (6-3) was the hard luck loser. Pineda has pitched seven innings and allowed two runs or fewer in four of his five last starts. He allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out three and walked two.
Greg Halman was 3 for 3 for the Mariners and is 7 for 8 since getting called up on Sunday.
Ryan wasn’t going to give all the praise to Danks for the Mariners’ lack of offense.
“I think he felt his changeup and started using that. Kept us off balance throwing the cutter in there. We still have to create and make something happen. You tip your hat, but at the same time, we’ve gotta look at ourselves,” Ryan said. “It’s getting real old waiting until late in the game to make things happen. I don’t know what the answer is to that, I can only speak for myself. We just can’t wait until late to create.”
The White Sox have won five of its last seven overall.
Konerko hit a leadoff shot off Pineda in the fourth inning. The ball just cleared the left-field wall for his 13th of season.
After getting knocked down by a 95 mph fastball from Pineda, Gordon Beckham came back with an RBI single to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead in the seventh.
“He (Pineda) was real good. Left a couple of breaking balls up but he really had to work that last inning. He was one pitch away from getting out of it but that kid put up a good at-bat against him,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said.
Seattle finally got on the board against Danks in the eighth. Halman led off with an infield single and advanced to second after first baseman Adam Dunn couldn’t glove a pickoff attempt by Danks. After advancing to third on Ichiro Suzuki’s groundout, Halman scored on Brendan Ryan’s single.
The White Sox missed a scoring chance in the first on a baserunning gaffe. With one out and Juan Pierre on first, Carlos Quentin drove the ball to the left-center wall. Halman nearly made a running catch into the wall, but the ball popped out of his glove.
Pierre was unclear if Halman made the catch and was about to retreat to first, until he looked behind him and saw Quentin a few feet behind him at second. After retreating back to second, Pierre was forced to go to third with Quentin closing in and Pierre was easily thrown out at third by Smoak’s relay.
Brent Lillibridge saved a run in the third inning by making a diving catch on Ryan’s ball. Halman, who was running with two outs would’ve easily scored from first.
Danks rebounded from his worst performance of the season. In his last start May 29 at Toronto, Danks gave up nine runs and nine hits — including three homers — over four innings in a 13-4 loss. He became the first White Sox pitcher since Eddie Smith in 1942 to start 0-8.
Pierzynski said the difference with Danks on Monday night was his changeup.
“He finally found his slider and he finally found his changeup. I think this will be a good start for things to come,” Pierzynski said.
Dunn struck out in the eighth with the bases loaded, going 0 for 4, dropping his average to .176.

Written by

The Sports Network

TORONTO (AP) — Aaron Hill hit his first career grand slam, Corey Patterson added a two-run shot and the Toronto Blue Jays routed the Chicago White Sox 13-4 on Sunday.

Patterson went 4 for 5 with three RBIs and has nine hits in his past two games.

Edwin Encarnacion also went deep as Toronto pounded out a season-high 18 hits.

The Blue Jays have won 22 of their past 27 meetings with the White Sox, including 15 of 18 at home. Chicago has not won the season series since 2006.

Ramon Castro hit a two-run homer and Carlos Quentin added a solo home run for the White Sox, who have lost three straight and six of 10 overall.

Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero (5-4) won for the third time in four starts, allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings. He walked two, struck out five and lowered his ERA to 2.88.

Casey Janssen worked a scoreless eighth inning and Shawn Camp surrendered Castro’s second homer in the ninth.

White Sox left-hander John Danks (0-8) allowed a season-high nine runs and nine hits in four innings, the shortest of his 11 outings this season. He became the first White Sox pitcher since Eddie Smith in 1942 to start the season 0-8; Smith lost his first 10 decisions that year.

Danks won his final two starts in 2010, ending his season with a home victory over Boston.

Trailing 1-0 on Quentin’s 13th homer in the top of the first, the Blue Jays exploded for six runs off Danks in the bottom half, matching their biggest inning of the season.

Jose Bautista hit an RBI single and Hill and Encarnacion added back-to-back homers, ending lengthy droughts. Hill’s homer was his first since Sept. 29 against New York. Encarnacion last homered at Minnesota on Oct. 3, the final day of the 2010 season.

Encarnacion was later shown on TV posing in the dugout with Romero’s bat, the same one he used to homer. He switched back to his own bat later in the game.

Paul Konerko had an RBI single in the third and Danks kept the Blue Jays off the board in the second and third, but left after giving up three more runs in the fourth. Yunel Escobar hit an RBI single and Patterson followed with a two-run shot to right, his fourth of the season and second in as many days. Patterson hit a walkoff homer in Saturday’s 14-inning win.

With Danks out, the White Sox turned to right-hander Lucas Harrell, promoted from Triple-A before the game. He gave up three runs in the fifth and another in the sixth.

Jayson Nix hit a two-run double and Patterson had an RBI single in the fifth, and Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia made it 13-2 with an RBI single in the sixth.

Batting sixth, slumping White Sox slugger Adam Dunn went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a walk, dropping his average to .181.