Intersting article on Mike Jackson

[Pale Hose Jon]

February 29, 2004, 10:14 PM CST

 

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Mike Jackson may be at a point in his career where his head is more important than his arm.

"I'm not one of the young kids in here who's going to be blowing up the clock, throwing 95. Those days are over," Jackson said. "But I know what it takes to get hitters out."

Jackson, 39, is hoping to win a spot in the White Sox bullpen as a non-roster invitee. Despite having 960 major-league appearances, 10th all-time, Jackson is fighting for one of the final spots in the bullpen after being out of baseball last season.

Jackson went to the final days of spring training with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being released. The timing made it hard for him to find a spot on another big-league roster, and Jackson felt his minor-league days were long over.

"I had no business in Triple-A," he said. "I just stayed home."

Jackson helped a friend coach a college team and also helped his son's Little League team put up a 30-0 record.

"At least I accomplished something," he joked.

The year off also gave an arm that had thrown 1,141 innings a rest—not a bad thing for someone who missed all of the 2000 season because of shoulder surgery.

"I had an opportunity to rest myself," he said. "My arm feels great. It's just a matter of me going out and taking care of business."

Sox catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. caught Jackson when the two were with the Cleveland Indians from 1997-99. Then, Jackson had one of the most devastating sliders in the game. In those three seasons with the Indians, Jackson had 94 saves.

"Mike wouldn't be here if he couldn't perform," Alomar said. "He's a very proud guy."

Alomar has caught Jackson this spring and said he's throwing the ball well. But though Jackson may not have the same kind of stuff he had in his prime, he has intangibles that may earn him a job.

 

"With his experience and the quality of person that he is—and add the leadership qualities on top of that—he will be a nice addition to our club," Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said.

That doesn't mean Jackson has a job won; he still has to get hitters out when the games begin Thursday. But all things being equal, Jackson's experience and leadership give him an edge.

"He's a leader in the bullpen," Alomar said. "[in Cleveland], he would keep the young guys in the game and make sure they stayed focused."

There are a lot of distractions to deal with when a game is watched from the bullpen. Alomar said the few times he spent a game there with the Indians, he noticed how Jackson talked to the other pitchers about hitters and how they were trying to get them out.

"I take initiative being a leader in the bullpen and help encourage the guys around me to be better," Jackson said. "You're only as good as the guys around you."

Many of the Sox coaches played against Jackson and know what he's capable of—including manager Ozzie Guillen.

"If Mike throws the way he threw against me, he'll make the team," Guillen said. "He's a great leader in the clubhouse and a good guy to have around, but he has to show me he can do the job."

Jackson will get his first chance to do that Monday when he's scheduled to throw an inning in a Sox intrasquad game.

"I have been in every possible situation you can be in in this game, so it's nothing new for me to come into camp and be fighting for a job," Jackson said. "I think everyone knows what Mike Jackson is capable of doing if given the opportunity."

Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune

[SuperSteve]

I hope he comes out firing...could be a huge surprise.

[southsider2k5]

A guy like that could be a great anchor for the pen. Great experience, and hopefully he passes that on to the kids

[witesoxfan]

Look at what he did for Minnesota's pen in 2002. Not only did he put up some solid numbers(2-3 3.27, 1.31 WHIP, 4.75 K/9, 2.23 K/BB), but I assume he was a huge part in helping JC Romero(whose numbers for 2002 are: 9-2 1.89 1.21 WHIP, 8.44 K/9, 2.11 K/BB), LaTroy Hawkins(6-0 2.13, 0.97 WHIP, 7.06 K/9, 4.20 K/BB), and Eddie Guardado(1-3 2.93 45 SVs, 1.05 WHIP, 9.31 K/9, 3.89 K/BB).

 

I can only hope he does the same for some of our guys(and if he can somehow help Koch out, that would be awesome).

 

Then again, those pitcher's successes could also have something to do with Minnesota switching pitching coaches, because I'm sure that 2002 was Rick Anderson's first year as Twins pitching coach.

 

Damn, now I'm off my high horse. Oh well. I still think he could atleast help a little.

[HoosierSox]

Im rooting for him to make the team. Maybe this years version of Flash Gordon.