John Danks: Bionic Man? Also, Hudson/Velo Rant!

John Danks won his third straight start Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but there was also a major scare.

Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew lined a double straight off of Danks’ dome in the fourth inning. Danks jumped up smiling, somehow, and stayed in the game for three more innings, taking yet another step on his long road back to a record he won’t be embarrassed to have on his baseball card.

Paul Konerko and Alex Rios homered and the White Sox won 6-2. Danks has allowed five runs over his last three starts and has gone seven innings or beyond each time. While we wait for Rios and Adam Dunn to come around, it’s nice to see Danks back on the fast track to the Cy Young I may or may not have predicted he’d win this year (oops).

It was a great bounceback win from the embarrassment of being dominated by former prospect Daniel Hudson against Edwin “Velo” Jackson, who he was traded for, but Hudson had a few chances with the White Sox last season and didn’t appear to be ready to fill in for Jake Peavy in a pennant race. Jackson came in and gave the team everything it needed, going 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA down the stretch, so there is no reason both teams can’t be happy with the deal.

Hudson just gets bragging rights.

There’s no telling if he would be performing this way for the White Sox. Edwin Jackson struggled under whatever pitching instruction he was under in Arizona and not even a week with White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper, who couldn’t seem to help Hudson, did a complete 180.

Hudson allowed 11 runs in 15 2/3 innings in his three starts with the White Sox. The American League is much different than the National League, too, but I don’t want to take anything away from what Hudson has done. He’s turned into the pitcher the White Sox thought he would be, but it came down to having to make a baseball decision and I’m sure Arizona is thrilled.

Phil Humber looks to continue his breakout year (I think we can officially call it that now) in the rubber game of the series Sunday at Arizona, then the Sox come back to host the Chicago Cubbies, who have been playing a murderous schedule of late, albeit successful. They took three of four from first place Milwaukee and have split a pair with the Yankees.

Not to mention having just played at Cincinnati, St. Louis and Philadelphia…but that was very unsuccessful.

I’ll be out at the games Tuesday and Wednesday so be sure to follow me on Twitter for all the Sox and Cubs updates you could ask for…and then some.