April 10, 200719 yr link Buehrle cleared for start; Hall improving By Mark Gonzales Tribune staff reporter April 9, 2007 OAKLAND -- Pitcher Mark Buehrle and catcher Toby Hall have made steady progress in their recoveries from injuries. Buehrle will start Wednesday for the White Sox but will be on a close watch, manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I worry about him getting tight," Guillen said of Buehrle, who was struck above the left elbow Thursday on a line drive by the Indians' Ryan Garko. Buehrle said he still felt some soreness Sunday while gripping a curveball because of the torque "but other than that it felt good. I'm treating it as another start." Hall, meanwhile, made 15 short throws with a 4-pound ball in his most extensive workout since tearing his right labrum March 25 while diving for a grounder at first base. It marked the first time Hall performed exercises while raising his arm above his shoulder. He said his shoulder has responded well, be he's feeling restless. He won't start throwing a baseball until next week, contrary to what he originally thought. "I want to go catch in the bullpen," he said. "I want to go hit. Use both hands. But I've got to ride it out." Japanese pride Second baseman Tadahito Iguchi fully understands the hype surrounding Wednesday's matchup between the Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki and Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matzusaka. "You're looking at the best hitter and best pitcher from Japan facing each other, and Japanese fans haven't been able to watch that since [ichiro] took off for the major leagues. People have been waiting for this," Iguchi said through interpreter David Yamamoto. The hype, however, dwarfs the coverage surrounding Hideo Nomo's major-league debut for the Dodgers, in which Japanese reporters filled the Candlestick Park football press box. "That was a big deal," Iguchi said. Rule 5 reasoning A's left-handed reliever Jay Marshall hasn't allowed a run in three appearances after being drafted as a Rule 5 pick from the Sox. Marshall fully understood the Sox's decision not to protect him on the 40-man roster despite a 2.50 ERA in 220 innings over four minor-league seasons. "Every team has their plans," Marshall said. "I wasn't doing as well as the numbers say. They had an idea of what they're doing." Marshall praised minor-league coaches Kirk Champion and Curt Hassler for converting him to a sidearm motion. Copyright © 2007, The Chicago Tribune
April 10, 200719 yr Good for Mark. I will confess, I was kind of looking forward to Massett pitching again, but I guess I will settle for MB
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