Sox Name Danks Fifth Starter

The most competitive battle of spring training was settled Saturday, when manager Ozzie Guillen named John Danks the fifth starter in the White Sox rotation. Everyone knew Danks had more talent then his competiton, Gavin Floyd and Charlie Haegar, but he surprised the White Sox with his poise and prescense on the mound. With four veterens ahead of him in the rotation and a bullpen that was rebuilt in the offseason, Danks won't be asked to carry a heavy burden this season. Still only 21, Danks is considered the future of the rotation for a team that sold off two starters in the offseason and could see another one, Mark Buerhle, leave at the end of 2007. The only problem anyone has with Danks winning this job is worry that he is being rushed to the big leagues. As the White Sox know as well as anyone, throwing a young pitcher into the big league fire too soon could ruin his entire career. Who could ever forget the trainwrecks in 2004 that were Arnie Munoz, Josh Stewart, and Felix Diaz? Still if Danks was the fifth best starting pitcher in spring training, then you have to give him the job. He earned it. The move also gives the White Sox a second lefty in the rotation, and the team could keep 3 others in the bullpen.