Figuring that Jon Garland on three days of rest is better thanrookie Felix Diaz completely recharged, the White Sox appear set ongoing to a four-man rotation through this weekend.
If the Sox get back to within striking distance of the MinnesotaTwins -- four or fewer games behind, according to manager OzzieGuillen -- they might continue their four-man rotation plan the restof the season.
The Sox seem to be leaning toward starting Garland on Saturday inBoston instead of Diaz, who was recalled Monday and immediatelyroughed up by Cleveland. Diaz gave up seven runs (six earned) on sixhits in 21/3 innings, allowing three home runs.
Garland would face the Red Sox' Curt Schilling (13-6, 3.61 ERA),who just lost his first game at Fenway Park this season with Monday'sdefeat to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Mark Buehrle, who pitches today against the Royals, also wouldmiss a day of rest by starting Sunday in Boston. With a day offMonday, Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras would pitch on their normaldays next week when the Sox host Detroit.
The Sox next would have to make a decision on the rotation Aug.21, when they would either begin a stretch where all four of theirstarters would go on three days of rest, starting with Garcia, or goto a No. 5 starter.
"I've already talked to [pitching coach Don Cooper], and I said Iwanted to," Buehrle said. "They're the ones making the decisions, butCoop came up to all of us and asked us if we'd be available and whatwe thought.
"I think me, [Garland], Contreras and Freddy all said we would goto a four-man if we could."
For each of the four starters, the Sox would eliminate theirbullpen session between starts and keep a tighter watch on pitchcounts.
Another consideration is for Guillen to use a No. 5 starterSaturday, then throw Garcia and Contreras on an unwanted extra day ofrest.
The last time Garcia threw with six days rest was real tough andhe told me he doesn't like to have another day off," Guillen said."That's why we're trying to figure out how we'll get those guys backon track where they can pitch in the time they are supposed topitch."
CREDE RETURNS: Joe Crede was back in the lineup Tuesday afterthree days on the bench, although he was batting ninth. Guillen isdoing what he can to bring his third baseman along, but he is runningout of patience.
"I don't know about losing his starting job for the rest of theyear, but right now he's not doing what we think he can do," Guillensaid. "I want to win. And I'm going to try to win with the best manin the lineup.
One bad game [is fine], but in the next you have to come back andstep up and he's not doing it right now."
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