The Chicago White Sox pitching staff took one more step toward being a rookie convention before Friday night’s 14-7 win over the Yankees in New York.
For a farm system rated as low as experts have proclaimed, the White Sox sure are getting mileage out of their young arms.
With Brian Bruney being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hip issue, 28-year-old Brian Omorosso joins the Chicago staff. Omogrosso is the seventh rookie arm currently on the White Sox staff.
How is a team with so many inexperienced arms now 3.5 games ahead of Cleveland in the AL Central? Just who is left down in Triple-A Charlotte to pitch for the Knights?
Jose Quintana was not as sharp as he has been in previous starts, but he picked up the win, the fourth in a row for the White Sox. Battling back after giving up four first-inning runs, Quintana logged six innings as Chicago’s bats picked up the slack.
Coming out to pitch the ninth to the heart of the Yankee lineup was Leyson Septimo, who made his major league debut. Septimo struck out Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano to complete a 1-2-3 performance.
Matt Thornton and Jessie Crain are in a decided minority of veteran arms in the bullpen. Skipper Robin Ventura has little choice but to use Omogrosso, Septimo, Hector Santiago, Nate Jones and Addison Reed. Quintana and Dylan Axelrod pitched the first two games in Yankee Stadium.
“Old Man” Jake Peavy is on the mound Saturday afternoon, to be followed by “Greybeard” Gavin Floyd in Sunday’s series finale. Those seem odd monikers for the 31-year-old Peavy and the 29-year-old Floyd, but the way Chicago’s staff is comprised right now, they fit.
Heck, give the 35-year-old Thornton the nickname “Methuselah Matt.” Chicago’s oldest pitcher could find himself alone in the bullpen soon if Crain’s shoulder soreness puts him on the DL.
If that’s the case, an eighth rookie arm could be on his way.
Hey, at least he’ll see some familiar faces when he gets here.
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