Ross

Gload

Gload is now batting .326 and the White Sox are so pleased with him that they are still considering making him their starting first basemen next season and trading Paul Konerko. Why would any team want to trade a player who just hit his 41st home run of the season?

He should be back in the White Sox lineup tonight.

Gload is day-to-day.

We’re not big fans, but it’s Gload, not Geoff Blum, who should be filling in for Paul Konerko at first base for the White Sox right now. He’s batting .366/.419/.644 in 191 AB for Charlotte.

As expected. Howard would likely be playing if the Phillies hadn’t locked up the division, but the focus is getting him healthy in time for the postseason. As of now, he hopes to return to the starting lineup as soon as Thursday. Ross Gload should continue to start at first base during his absence.

Ross Gload started at first on Sunday night and will continue to pick up at-bats until Howard returns. “We’re hoping it’s not a big deal. I don’t know what it was, if I jammed it or what,” the first baseman said. Howard hurt his right big toe in Saturday night’s game after he didn’t start Friday for the fourth time in 10 games because he was nursing bursitis in his left ankle and heel. Howard will get a cortisone injection in his left foot and ankle on Monday. After clinching the division title, the Phillies are in no hurry to push him to return prematurely. “You want to be out there and play but at the same time, now the focus is more on October, being healthy for October,” Howard said.

The hip has bothered Gload all year and he might need surgery over the offseason. He’ll be fine for the NLDS, though. Gload batted .321 (9-for-28) during September and led the majors with 18 pinch-hits this season.

Gload played with a small tear in his hip for the majority of the season. He’ll be examined by orthopedic surgeon Bryan Kelly soon to make sure that surgery will in fact be required. Gload, 35, will be a free agent this offseason.

The contact-hitting first baseman may even make Paul Konerko expendable next season. There is some speculation that the White Sox will trade Konerko to obtain a player to replace either Jose Valentin at short or Magglio Ordonez in right, and then hand the starting first baseman’s job to Gload. If the goal is fourth place, it’s a sound plan.

Gload met with team doctors in New York on October 18 and was advised that arthroscopic surgery was not necessary. Instead, he’ll begin an off-season rehab program. It is not yet clear whether he’ll be ready for spring training.