White Sox’ Opening Day starter Shane Smith is progressing on schedule after being shut down

White Sox' Opening Day starter Shane Smith is progressing on schedule after being shut down

The righty was expected to be part of the team's upswing, but demotion and injury have played havoc with his season.

White Sox’ Opening Day starter Shane Smith is progressing on schedule after being shut down

It’s probably a bad analogy, Shane Smith said by phone from Charlotte, which is only 100 or so minutes by air from Chicago but might as well be on the other side of the moon in his current state of not being able to pitch. Smith was trying to describe what it has been like to be away all these weeks from the White Sox, recovering from biceps tendinitis, while they have blossomed in his absence. “It’s kind of like with an ex-girlfriend,’’ he said…