A big day Wednesday for the White Sox:
They are scheduled to play their first intrasquad game of the spring.
And Carlton Fisk is expected in camp-finally.
Fisk stayed home two weeks ago when catchers and pitchers reported to spring training voluntarily. He was upset about the contract the Sox offered him for his 22nd big-league season.
The contract dispute was settled last week, but Fisk has refused to report to camp. He was within his rights under the major league agreement to do so. But Wednesday is the first day that teams can order players to report.
Fisk’s agent, Jack Sands, said Fisk would report Wednesday, but Sox manager Gene Lamont still was uncertain.
“I haven’t heard a thing,” said Lamont. “I don’t know that he will be here tomorrow.”
– Ins and outs: Several of the Sox regulars and some of the walking wounded will miss Wednesday’s intrasquad game. But most of them will play Thursday when the Sox open their Grapefruit League exhibition schedule against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Among those who will sit out Wednesday but play Thursday are shortstop Ozzie Guillen, catcher Ron Karkovice and outfielders George Bell, Lance Johnson, Tim Raines and Ellis Burks.
Third baseman Robin Ventura and first baseman Frank Thomas are scheduled for both days.
– Flu season: Johnson missed Tuesday’s workout with the flu.
– Wounded wing: Pitcher Ramon Garcia, considered a solid contender for a starting spot, is having elbow problems. Garcia, who was 4-4 with the Sox in 1991, was examined at a local hospital on Monday but was throwing again Tuesday.
“All the X-rays and muscle scans came back negative,” said trainer Herm Schneider. “It looks like inflammation. We’re going to give him some medication to ease the inflammation and let him throw. We’ve got to give him every chance to earn a living.”
Garcia had a stress fracture in his right elbow in 1991. “This isn’t like it was then,” said Garcia, who pitched a career-high 170 innings for Triple-A Vancouver last season and threw another 60 innings during winter ball this year. “It hurts a lot right now.”
– Single-game tickets (no including the Windy City Classic against the Cubs) go on sale March 6 at both Comiskey Park TicketMaster Ticket Centers. A few Opening Day seats also will be available.
Starting March 6, the Comiskey Park box office will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weedends.