As the White Sox get ready to start a sweaty 6 game road trip in Kansas City & scorching hot Dallas/Arlington, TX starting tonight, might the first place Sox be on the verge of putting closer Bobby Jenks on the disabled list? For the moment, Bobby has not been placed on the DL, but with 6 games before the All-Star Break, and manager Ozzie Guillen lacking confidence in the left side of Bobby's back during his postgame news conference Sunday, it sounded to me as if Jenks won't be closing any White Sox winners until July 18th vs. the Royals at U.S. Cellular Field at the earliest. As much as the Sox don't want to disable Bobby, should #45 be shut down until after the All-Star Break and take their chances with Matt Thornton, Octavio Dotel or Scott Linebrink closing?

If they are gonna do that then they didn't need to cut Ozuna today.

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Regardless of the outcome of tonight's extra inning game in Kansas City, Bobby has been placed on the 15 day disabled list with the lingering injury to the left side of his upper back, according to ESPNEWS. A subsequent roster move will soon be announced.

Jenks to be placed on disabled list
Back soreness sidelines Sox closer; roster move to follow
By Mark Dent / MLB.com

KANSAS CITY -- The White Sox will place closer Bobby Jenks on the disabled list on Wednesday.
Jenks hasn't pitched since June 29 because of soreness on the left side of his upper back.

"We don't want to take a risk," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We made that decision, and we'll find out after the game [on Wednesday] who is coming up. It's been too many day-by-days."

Guillen said the team wouldn't make a decision on who to bring up until Wednesday.

Jenks hasn't blown a save since early June and had a 1.50 ERA in his last 17 games. He said there have been no major setbacks while he's rested, but the injury continues to nag him.

"I've said it before, there's no reason for me to try and push it," Jenks said. "Where we're sitting right now, if I have to sit the rest of the first half and I'm ready for the second half push, that's more important."

Scott Linebrink earned the save for the White Sox on Sunday. Although reliever Octavio Dotel has been a closer before, Guillen said Chicago could use Linebrink, Matt Thornton or Dotel in the closer role.

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Why didn't they just activate Konerko and DL Jenks? At least you have Ozunu for another week or so before a tough decision has to be made.

As for the decision to DL Jenks, smart move. Why rush him back? Let him get the rest of this week, and then most of last week, and then reevaluate where he is. We're going to need him for the stretch run, get healthy now.

Please never have Linebrink close again.

You are preaching to the choir! Scott Linebrink has been a high wire act as a closer, and enough to make all White Sox fans, players and broadcasters absolutely nervous. I won't be shocked if Matt Thornton or Octavio Dotel close the rest of this trip...

http://dailyherald.com/story/?id=220636&src=162

ARLINGTON, Texas - Throwing on the side before Saturday's game against the Rangers, it didn't take injured White Sox closer Bobby Jenks long before he knew his sore left shoulder was feeling better.

"He threw about five pitches and gave me the thumb's up,'' said Sox pitching coach Don Cooper. "Then he finished his workout and everything went fine. He threw all his pitches and now it's off for the rehab assignment.''

Jenks, on the 15-day disabled list with left scapula bursitis, is scheduled to pitch 1 inning for Class A Winston-Salem on Monday and 1 inning for AA Birmingham on Wednesday.

If he's feeling good, Jenks will come off the DL on Friday, when the White Sox open the second half of the season at home against the Kansas City Royals.

"It felt good,'' Jenks said. "It was a little tight, but there was no pain, nothing sharp, so that was a good thing.''

Jenks last pitched on June 29, against the Cubs. The big right-hander would enjoy shutting it down over the all-star break, but he'll be back on the mound in the minor leagues.

"I've had enough time off already with this break, but it's still nice having those four days off to completely get away from baseball,'' Jenks said. "That part I will miss. But my right side is definitely fresh. My right side feels great.''

Jenks was activated today and Carrasco was sent back to AAA.

Good! Dotel, Thornton and Linebrink seem to be money in the 7th and 8th, but came up broke in the 9th recently.

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It'll be good to see Jenks closing again in the 9th if the White Sox are in a save situation tonight. It was a high wire act seeing Linebrink, Dotel & Thornton struggle while Bobby was DL'd.