March 04--White Sox left-hander John Danks wasn't happy about giving up three runs in two innings to the Dodgers in the Cactus League opener Thursday, but he also isn't going to give too much weight to results more than one month before the season starts.
"I definitely was not as nearly sharp as I would like to be, but (nobody) is at this point," Danks said. "I'm on pace for where I need to be."
Danks allowed four hits with one walk, one strikeout and one home run in a 6-1 Sox loss.
"There were probably some jitters going into it of opening spring off," Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "He made some mistakes and paid for them. We had some guys go out and pitch well, and we had some who would like to have it over again."
New option: The Sox are testing out Jerry Sands to fill one of the final bench spots, and he had a good showing in his first game with the Sox.
Substituting for Melky Cabrera, Sands had an outfield assist from left field, made a leaping catch at the fence and doubled. Sands, a offseason claim from the Indians, has been a corner outfielder, first baseman and designated hitter in 132 games over four major-league seasons.
"It's nice to see him swinging the bat against a righty, because he's known mostly for doing it against lefties," Ventura said of the right-handed hitter. "So he came in here right out of the gate, made a nice play in the outfield, swung the bat pretty good. He has some versatility."
Open opportunity: As Adam Eaton sits out of playing in the field while strengthening his shoulder early in spring training, other outfielders will receive more playing time.
Fifth-ranked prospect Jacob May started in center field Thursday, and J.B. Shuck is slated to start Friday, Ventura said. Adam Engel, the Sox's Arizona Fall League MVP, also could be in that mix.
Eaton was the designated hitter Thursday, and Ventura said he has been able to get enough at-bats in the cage and the intrasquad games so far.
Extra innings: The Sox will wear their 1976 throwback uniforms for their game against the Tigers on July 23. The collared, pullover jerseys will be worn untucked. The uniforms are famous because they were worn with shorts for three games in 1976, but the Sox will wear them with pants this summer. ... The Sox signed right-handed reliever Kameron Loe to a minor-league deal and sent him to minor-league camp. Loe is a nine-year major-league veteran who last pitched in the majors in 2013.
