Great Article in the Daily Southtown

[Loaiza21]

This had me feelin good, looks like we have a little fire going into camp for once. Maybe we got some chemistry in this team....

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White Sox's Cooper hoping a couple of bright 'spots' emerge

 

 

Sunday, January 18, 2004

 

 

 

 

By Joe Cowley

Staff writer

 

 

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"On paper," the White Sox were supposed to win the American League Central Division in 2002 and 2003.

They fell short both years.

 

"On paper," the Sox are considered one of the biggest disappointments in the major leagues this offseason, as far as player movement is concerned. They've lost key free agents such as ace right-hander Bartolo Colon and All-Stars Robbie Alomar and Carl Everett, without adding any marquee names.

 

Frankly, Sox pitching coach Don Cooper is tired of seeing his team evaluated "on paper."

 

"That's our first goal — to win the division," Cooper said. "The last two years, 'on paper' we were supposed to be good. We were supposed to win the division. Now we're being counted out. Our starting pitching staff is supposed to have taken a big blow with Bartolo leaving, but to be honest with you, I'm not worried about who is not here anymore."

 

Maybe it's because Cooper is an eternal optimist. Or maybe it's as simple as glancing around the rest of the division. As far as 1-through-3 starting pitchers go, the Sox trio of Esteban Loaiza, Mark Buehrle and Jon Garland is as good as any in the Central — on paper.

 

That trio combined for a division-best 47 wins last season — thanks in large part to Loaiza's 21-9 storybook year (Buehrle was 14-14; Garland 12-13). The trio closest to that victory total was Minnesota's Brad Radke (14-10), Johan Santana (12-3) and Kyle Lohse (14-11), who combined for 40 wins.

 

It's the Nos. 4 and 5 pitchers that have the Sox concerned, however. The AL Central could be decided by which team gets the most production from its fourth and fifth starters. And if that is indeed the deciding factor, the Sox could be looking at a third-place finish at best.

 

Minnesota will have Rick Helling (90-78 career record) as its No. 4, while youngsters Grant Balfour and J.D. Durbin will battle for the fifth spot. Kansas City has a stockpile of arms to choose from, with Kevin Appier (8-9 in 2003), Miguel Asencio (2-1), Chris George (9-6), Kyle Snyder (1-6) and Jimmy Gobble (4-5) all in the mix for the final two spots.

 

For now, lefty reliever Scott Schoeneweis is the leading candidate for the No. 4 spot in the Sox rotation. The hope is that the middle reliever can make the adjustment to a starting role, which he had with Anaheim two years ago.

 

As far as the No. 5 spot, it's there for the taking.

 

"I expect a very competitive camp this spring," general manager Ken Williams said. "There are some positions that are up for grabs and we'll find out who wants them. This might be as competitive a spring training as we've had in quite some time."

 

The list of candidates for that final spot in the rotation include recently signed veteran Robert Person, and youngsters Jon Rauch, Felix Diaz, Neal Cotts and Josh Stewart.

 

Person, 34, is an intriguing case. He has pitched in just seven games since July 2002, when he had season-ending shoulder surgery. But he went 15-7 in 2001 with Philadelphia, and has a career record of 51-42 with a 4.64 ERA.

 

He was 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA in seven relief appearances for Boston last season before going on the disabled list with an inflamed right hip.

 

Person agreed to a minor league contract, and would be guaranteed $750,000 if he is added to the Sox's 40-man roster.

 

Former Sox starter Danny Wright also will get a look, but the organization is leaning toward him being a reliever.

 

"I'm not only looking for people to step up, but to step in," Cooper said of his starting staff. "I already told 'Esty' (Loaiza) that this year will be even tougher for him because the bar has been raised and he has to prove to people that he can do it for two straight seasons.

 

"A guy like Garland has to step up. Schoeneweis has to step in. We're a different looking staff in a sense and we can't have any slip-ups. We not only have to be efficient, but we have to be capable of being efficient from start to start."

 

And then there's one other pitcher Cooper is eager to see compete for the fifth spot. Jason Grilli, whom the Sox selected in the recent Rule 5 draft, is a right-hander who could turn some heads once camp begins.

 

The 6-foot-4, 180-pounder went 10-4 with a 3.05 ERA in 19 combined starts last season between Class A Jupiter and Triple A in the Florida Marlins organization.

 

Grilli was originally selected by San Francisco in the first round (4th overall) of the 1997 draft before being traded by the Giants with pitcher Nate Bump to the Marlins in return for pitcher Livian Hernandez on July 24, 1999. He has battled injuries throughout his career, but he assured Cooper in a recent phone conversation that he's healthy and ready to go.

 

"I'm easily psyched up, but this kid had me really pumped up on the phone," Cooper said. "He's a very passionate kid. He said that he's had injury problems in the past, but he feels great now and is ready to contribute. I can't wait to get a look-see at him.

 

"I want him to step up and say, 'Hey, you have to start me.' He just sounds real hungry to me and that's what we need."

 

Cooper thinks hunger might have been lacking the last two years on Sox teams that were more talented — on paper — than the team that will enter camp in Tucson, Ariz., next month.

 

"Maybe being overlooked is what we need now," he said. "I've talked to almost all of our pitchers at some point this offseason, and what I asked them was to come into camp in the best physical shape of their life.

 

"The boys are getting that itch. It's right around the corner and they can feel it. And the good thing is that it wasn't just me calling them, there were guys calling me to talk about things. That makes me even more anxious to get into camp and get this thing started."

[winninguglyin83]

There are many, many guys -- Wright, Schoeneweis, Rauch, Person, Diaz, Cotts, Ginter, Adkins, Stewart, Sanders, Munoz -- with much to prove. Should bring intensity to training camp. Competition is always a good thing.

 

Hopefully it'll be a plus for this season.

[Loaiza21]

I think it will. With that many people competing for one spot, there's gotta be a good vibe go through the camp. I mean there are going to be some great battles I'm looking forward to. I'm kind of pulling for Grilli as our #5. He was the fourth overall pick in 97? That sounds great, he did well last year in the minors too.

[southsider2k5]

I am glad they mentioned Grilli, he has been a forgotten guy for a lot of projections on here. He is a guy with a huge upside, who has had some bad luck, and could be huge to this team, who is really praying to catch lightning in a bottle.

[maggsmaggs]

Grilli might be like a Kerry Wood in his way to the majors. He got there performed well and then got injured. By his numbers, it looks like he has gotten his stuff back. I wouldn't mind him in our 5th spot, giving Diaz and Cotts some time in AAA and Person some long relierf with Danny Wright.

 

Buerhle

Loiaza

Garland

Shoenweis

Grilli

 

Koch

Marte

Politte

Wunsch

Person

Wright

??? Stewart/Cotts/Jackson/Santigo/Darensbourg

[slick03]

good article...this makes me feel a little better about the upcoming season

[Chisoxfn]

good article...this makes me feel a little better about the upcoming season

Agreed. I like hearing from Coop cause he's probably the coach I respect the most on that staff.

[kramer99]

i hope Rauch gets the number 5 spot....i think he deserves it.

 

i think Grilli should be put in the bullpen, and if he does well....they can try him out iin the rotation if shoeny and the number 5 fail.

[mac9001]

How many options do Rauch and Ginter have left?

[winninguglyin83]

Ginter has to be down to his final option. They brought him up in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Rauch might have one left.

 

But I'm not sure.

 

If anybody can get something out of these guys, it's Coop. He's done good work with our pitchers and I'm glad he's around.

[mac9001]

I hope Ginter has a good spring, i've always felt he'll be a damn good reliever if given the chance and i think Rauch might be down to final option too, so he's almost a given to make the team.

[fattyguy78]

I'd still like to Francisco Campos get a chance...we just picked him up in the Rule 5 draft along with Grilli and he is tearing up the Mexican league...but I think he is destined for the minors...

[upnorthsox]

Yes Ginter is make or break, it's doubtful he'd clear waivers.

 

Rauch has one option left(thus the reason we didn't bring him up last September).

[winninguglyin83]

Ginter seems to have decent stuff.

 

his confidence has always seemed to be the problem. Manuel never trusted him. That, the Sox constantly moving him from closer, to set-up to starter to closer to set up.

 

He's a former Number One pick with a good arm. Hope he gets his chance -- and delivers. Hate to see us cut him loose -- and then watch him surface elsewhere and thrive.

[Chisoxfn]

Ginter could be someone that is dealt to sweeten a deal, but personally, I'd like to see the Sox give him a chance and let him get some innings out of the pen. I always have felt he'd make a good reliever if he was given a consistent opportunity.

 

I feel the same way about Willie Harris. Luckily I think Harris will get his chance this season.

[upnorthsox]

Ginter could be someone that is dealt to sweeten a deal, but personally, I'd like to see the Sox give him a chance and let him get some innings out of the pen.  I always have felt he'd make a good reliever if he was given a consistent opportunity.

 

I feel the same way about Willie Harris.  Luckily I think Harris will get his chance this season.

I think the Sox have given Ginter ample opportunity, he just hasn't responded with consistent performance. I would agree he could be a trade sweetener, maybe for our backup at 3rd/1st.

[Chisoxfn]

I think the Sox have given Ginter ample opportunity, he just hasn't responded with consistent performance. I would agree he could be a trade sweetener, maybe for our backup at 3rd/1st.

My belief is a prospect should be given the time to trot out there and pitch and take their licks at least a few times, knowing that htey will be allowed to go right back out there.

 

Minor leaguers have to adjust when they are promoted to a new level (From A to AA, etc) and they still have to adjust when they make the jump to the majors.

 

Now with Ginter, he has been given time in the majors, but I've never seen him consistently used for a few week to a month period where even if he struggles a game or two, they bring him back out and let him make his adjustments and get used to the game at the major league level.

 

I feel less about Ginter in this fashion, cause he does have a little more experience in the majors then Willie Harris, who almost never has been given like 2 consecutive weeks where he's playing essentially everyday getting at bats. I find it very hard to judge a prospect in the majors based on a few at bats every week. To me consistent playing time is sometimes what it takes.

 

Of course we could all argue whether the Sox have had the time or situations to develop guys in this fashion and for the most part they haven't because they've had high expectations. I still look back to two years ago, 2001, when the Sox were raveled by injuries yet Jerry Manuel continued to play veterans like Jose Valentin rather then giving guys like Joe Crede, Aaron Rowand and others extended playing time. That always upset me.

 

My thought is, once your out of competition, then the select players you have that could help the club in the next year or so and that are ready (You don't want to bring up a guy if you don't think the time in the majors would help them) you bring them up and let them take their licks then, plus you can get a little better idea on your prospects as well, but at least they get some of the learning done during a time where your already out of it.

[upnorthsox]

Ginter had 20 appearances 40 IP in 2001 and 33 appearances 54 IP in 2002, that seems to me like plenty of time for a guy not getting it done. Last yr he had only 3.1 IP put he gave up 5 ER in that short time.

[aboz56]

Yawn....Matt Ginter? Come on fellas, this is a sign that we don't have a lot to be excited about going into next season if you're talking about Matt Ginter turning into a decent pitcher. This guy does nothing to excite me, he was a wasted first round pick (and the Sox, like many teams, have had many.) And let's not talk about him not getting a fair chance, I can't remember a time where I actually watched a Sox game and felt comfortable with Ginter in the game. Seems like this guy is always giving up runs or getting hit hard when I've seen him.

[greasywheels121]

Coop's an excellent coach for a staff like this. I'm really glad he's here. I think he might be able to turn this scary situation w/ the staff into something somewhat respectable when it's all said and done.

[greg775]

I love Cooper.

 

Grilli will grill the competition.

[YASNY]

Some thoughts on that article:

 

It's good that Cooper is so high on Grilli. You know the dude has some talent. If he can stay injury free, he might be a helluva pickup.

 

The guy from the Mexican League we picked up in Rule 5 ... name escapes me and I'm too lazy to go find it .... if he's destined for the minors, it's probably with the club we drafted him from, since he'll have to be offered back to that team before we can send him down.

 

The most interesting thing from that article was that it was the first time, other than here in Soxtalk, that I have seen any mention of Josh Stewart by anyone in Sox organization. Apparently he is still an option and hasn't had to retire because of the circulation problem he has/had.