First baseman Frank Thomas was scratched from the lineup Friday night with a painful sprained left knee. It was the first time since September 1991 he had missed a game because of an injury.
Thomas suffered the injury going to his right in the second inning of Thursday night’s game to stop a groundball by Milwaukee’s John Jaha.
“I knew it was hurt,” Thomas said. “I knew I did something that wasn’t natural. My knee just buckled. The dirt gave way. It’s not a very good infield here.”
Thomas had a rubber and elastic brace on the knee, but he was limping in pain.
More Top Picks Braun Series 8 With Powercase
Trainer Herm Schneider said he thought the injury was minor.
“There’s no swelling. There’s no fluid on the knee,” said Schneider.
Thomas has never been on the disabled list. He has missed only eight games since 1990, including Friday night.
– White Sox General Manager Ron Schueler says he is besieged with phone calls from clubs interested in several of his minor-league prospects but hasn’t gotten the one call that would close the deal on the starting pitcher he wants.
The Sox and Cincinnati Reds are believed close to a deal that would bring right-handed pitcher Tim Belcher to Chicago in exchange for two minor-league prospects.
Schueler has consistently refused to discuss specific names, but said Thursday he thought a deal for a pitcher could be made within 48 hours. At the same time in Cincinnati, General Manager Jim Bowden said he expected to trade Belcher before the weekend was over.
“If you’re trying to narrow it down to one name, you’re wrong,” said Schueler. “There are a lot of teams looking now at our top three (minor-league) clubs. We could go in several directions.”
– Schueler was surprised to read reports that his special assistant, Ed Brinkman, was at a game scouting Belcher Thursday night. Brinkman was there, sitting with fellow scouts, but Schueler says Brinkman wasn’t working. “This could be the first time I have to fine a guy for going to a ballgame on his day off,” said Schueler.