Starter gets off to good start in his debut
by Fred Mitchell
Gavin Floyd has a new contract, but he is trying to maintain the same unassuming attitude that helped him win a team-high 17 games for the White Sox last season.
"Your contract (four years, $15.5 million) has nothing to do with how you play," said Floyd, who lost 2-0 Wednesday night against Kansas City. "They are totally unrelated.
"As you play more, you try to keep your same mind-set as in spring training. You try to work on stuff, keep a level head and just try to make pitches to see what happens."
Floyd, who was the first White Sox pitcher to throw seven hitless innings twice in the same season since Ken Brett in 1976, approached his season debut Wednesday night with subdued anticipation.
"I don't think any human being in this scenario would not feel nervous," said Floyd, who was 10-3 at U.S. Cellular Field last season. "At the same time, I feel confident and excited."
He did fine, though he left trailing 2-0 after giving up six hits and two walks while striking out nine in seven innings.
Overheard: Sox left fielder Carlos Quentin rang up MVP-type numbers (.288, 36 homers, 100 RBIs) last season before breaking his right wrist with an act of frustration during an at-bat Sept. 1 in Cleveland.
Quentin missed the playoffs and the Sox fell to Tampa Bay in the first round.
"Obviously it was difficult," said Quentin. "But it was something I put behind me. I was very proud of my team and how they rallied together to make an unbelievable push, an historic push. To make it into the postseason, it was something they deserved."
Word on the street: Brittney Payton, daughter of late Bears Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, has launched her journalism career as a reporter with mouthpiecesports.com. Chicago-based Fletcher Smith, who is the agent for Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, is one of the investors in the Chicago Web site venture. … Chicago sports radio veteran Les Grobstein returns to the airwaves with the "Weekend Sports Report," 7-8 a.m. Saturdays on Next Media's WKRS-AM 1220 in Waukegan. The show will be streamed live on wkrs.com and podcast on YourSportsFan.com. The show is produced by SRN's Steve Leventhal. … Aurora University's James Lancaster has been named the 2008-09 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Co-Coach of the Year. Lancaster will be honored April 25 at the 37th annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner at Illinois State.
Sights seen: In advance of this weekend's Masters, Callaway Golf conducted a national survey. When asked if they would rather play Augusta National or have a date with supermodel and Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl Bar Refaeli, 78 percent chose Augusta. And even in this economy, 60 percent of golfers said they would forfeit a week's pay to have the opportunity to play Augusta National. … Northern Illinois alum Tom O'Neill was one of the officials in the NCAA men's basketball championship game Monday night between Michigan State and North Carolina.
Local attractions: Pat Hughes, veteran WGN-AM 720 Cubs play-by-play man, has produced, written and narrated "Red Barber: Play-by-Play Pioneer." The CD is available through www.baseballvoices.com. … Tribune reporter Melissa Isaacson will sign copies of her new book: "Sweet Lou … Lou Piniella: A Life in Baseball" at 1 p.m. Saturday, at the Book Stall, 811 Elm St., Winnetka.
Source: chicagotribune.com
"Your contract (four years, $15.5 million) has nothing to do with how you play," said Floyd, who lost 2-0 Wednesday night against Kansas City. "They are totally unrelated.
"As you play more, you try to keep your same mind-set as in spring training. You try to work on stuff, keep a level head and just try to make pitches to see what happens."
Floyd, who was the first White Sox pitcher to throw seven hitless innings twice in the same season since Ken Brett in 1976, approached his season debut Wednesday night with subdued anticipation.
"I don't think any human being in this scenario would not feel nervous," said Floyd, who was 10-3 at U.S. Cellular Field last season. "At the same time, I feel confident and excited."
He did fine, though he left trailing 2-0 after giving up six hits and two walks while striking out nine in seven innings.
Overheard: Sox left fielder Carlos Quentin rang up MVP-type numbers (.288, 36 homers, 100 RBIs) last season before breaking his right wrist with an act of frustration during an at-bat Sept. 1 in Cleveland.
Quentin missed the playoffs and the Sox fell to Tampa Bay in the first round.
"Obviously it was difficult," said Quentin. "But it was something I put behind me. I was very proud of my team and how they rallied together to make an unbelievable push, an historic push. To make it into the postseason, it was something they deserved."
Word on the street: Brittney Payton, daughter of late Bears Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, has launched her journalism career as a reporter with mouthpiecesports.com. Chicago-based Fletcher Smith, who is the agent for Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, is one of the investors in the Chicago Web site venture. … Chicago sports radio veteran Les Grobstein returns to the airwaves with the "Weekend Sports Report," 7-8 a.m. Saturdays on Next Media's WKRS-AM 1220 in Waukegan. The show will be streamed live on wkrs.com and podcast on YourSportsFan.com. The show is produced by SRN's Steve Leventhal. … Aurora University's James Lancaster has been named the 2008-09 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Co-Coach of the Year. Lancaster will be honored April 25 at the 37th annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner at Illinois State.
Sights seen: In advance of this weekend's Masters, Callaway Golf conducted a national survey. When asked if they would rather play Augusta National or have a date with supermodel and Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl Bar Refaeli, 78 percent chose Augusta. And even in this economy, 60 percent of golfers said they would forfeit a week's pay to have the opportunity to play Augusta National. … Northern Illinois alum Tom O'Neill was one of the officials in the NCAA men's basketball championship game Monday night between Michigan State and North Carolina.
Local attractions: Pat Hughes, veteran WGN-AM 720 Cubs play-by-play man, has produced, written and narrated "Red Barber: Play-by-Play Pioneer." The CD is available through www.baseballvoices.com. … Tribune reporter Melissa Isaacson will sign copies of her new book: "Sweet Lou … Lou Piniella: A Life in Baseball" at 1 p.m. Saturday, at the Book Stall, 811 Elm St., Winnetka.
Source: chicagotribune.com
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