Javy Vazquez Will Start on Opening Day

In what is a bit of a surprising announcement, especially considering the season doesn't start for another three weeks, Ozzie Guillen came out on Wednesday and announced that Javier Vazquez would be getting the Opening Day start over Mark Buehrle.

"It's a great honor to pitch Opening Day," he said after Guillen revealed the recent plans.

"If they tell me Opening Day, that's a great honor. If they tell me the second game, that's great. Fifth game, that's great too. I just want to pitch."

I have to admit, I'm a little surprised by this. Mark Buehrle hasn't exactly been getting knocked around this spring, and he's always been the guy who starts on Opening Day, with the exception of last season. Jose Contreras got the honor last year, and got destroyed by the Indians.

I can understand why Guillen would give it to Vazquez, though. Javy has pitched very well so far this spring, so he's earned the right, plus it should be a reward for what he did last season. Vazquez was the best starter the White Sox had last season.

What scares me though, is the other bit of information Ozzie dropped about his starting rotation yesterday. Gavin Floyd is moving from the 5th spot to the 3rd spot in the rotation.

Guillen said Floyd's effort has sold him on moving him up from the fifth spot, with left-hander Danks tentatively scheduled to slide to the fifth spot.

"Gavin Floyd has the stuff to be the No. 2 pitcher," Guillen said. "Hopefully not too far away he can be a No. 1. But he has good enough stuff to be one of those guys."

I wonder if Ozzie and I are watching the same Gavin Floyd.

There are other reasons for the move besides Gavin's performance this spring, with the biggest one being Guillen doesn't want Buehrle and John Danks pitching on consecutive days since they're essentially the same guy.

Still, having Floyd as our third starter doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence in me about this upcoming season.