Sox pitchers put trust in Cooper

[greasywheels121]

Cooper certainly deserves some dap for what's gone on.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines

 

Sox pitchers put trust in Cooper

By Mark Gonzales

Tribune staff reporter

 

As a 20-year-old, Dave Righetti had difficulty communicating with teammate Don Cooper as they were coming up in the New York Yankees' organization.

 

"I couldn't understand him because he had that Queens accent," the current San Francisco Giants' pitching coach recalled. "But he was someone who always was talking about the game."

 

Twenty-six years later, several members of the White Sox pitching staff credit Cooper's teaching ability with vaulting the Sox to the top of the American League Central and the upper echelon of major-league staffs.

 

"The biggest thing is he's not forcing things on you," said Jon Garland, who has experienced a breakout year with 13 victories and a spot on the AL All-Star team. "We're making his life a little easier. If we weren't doing well, people would want to know why and start throwing names out there."

 

Cooper, 49, is in his third full season as the Sox pitching coach after succeeding Nardi Contreras in 2002. He's trying to impart all the knowledge he has garnered in 10 pro seasons as a pitcher, including a 1-6 record in 44 major-league games, and as a Sox minor-league pitching coach for most of 15 seasons.

 

He has earned the trust of a staff representing five nations and at least that many pitching styles.

 

"We have good communication," Freddy Garcia said. "If he wants to talk, he usually waits until after the game or the next day. He knows I'm focused during games. He lets everyone do their thing."

 

Much of Cooper's work is similar to a teacher handling a group of students. Staff ace Mark Buehrle said Cooper is usually at the ballpark at 1 p.m. for a 7:05 game, poring over scouting reports and videotapes and reviewing them with catchers A.J. Pierzynski and Chris Widger.

 

"If the teacher tells you Monday that there's a test Thursday on chapters 1, 2 and 3, you really study," Cooper said. "You get that book and get into chapters 1, 2 and 3. Give me the pencil. I'm going to ace the test.

 

"The game here is the test. The day before that test, it's preparation. The game takes care of itself as you prepare."

 

Cooper pitched at New York Tech and was a 17th-round pick of the Yankees, coming through the system with Righetti, who went on to play 16 major-league seasons and collect 252 saves.

 

"I was too young to sense he was going to be a future pitching coach," Righetti said, "but he loved the game. I'm very happy for him."

 

Cooper is determined not to let his pupils make the mistakes he believes limited his career.

 

"It seems I didn't [prepare enough] because my career never got going," Cooper said. "[Part of teaching is] seeing other people successful in how they approach things and their routine.

 

"Good players control routine. The routine doesn't control them. They're able to tweak it."

 

Cooper remained confident in the Sox pitchers even after they compiled a 5.59 ERA in the thin air of Arizona during spring training.

 

"I'll never put any credence into spring training other than getting them ready," Cooper said. "This is preparation. If you're not throwing strikes, then … but I wasn't putting credence in anything else.

 

"Look at this spring. Wow, this is a complete turnaround. That's what I learned from that, and it reinforces what I believe in—mental and physical preparation."

 

For all the attention Garland and Buehrle have received for their All-Star first halves, Cooper has been just as effective with Cliff Politte, who has gone from middling middle reliever to elite late-inning specialist, and former closer Shingo Takatsu, who has lowered his ERA from 6.91 to 4.94 in the last month.

 

"It's patience, belief and being in their corner," Cooper said. "That will never change. I don't care if you're the hottest guy on the team, or the coldest. We'll still be working.

 

"What I appreciate from players is to be the same guy every day. If a coach changes or anyone changes, you don't know what to expect."

 

Ozzie Guillen was impressed with Cooper's knowledge as a former minor-league instructor and had no qualms about retaining him as his pitching coach when Guillen was named manager before the 2004 season.

 

"[Cooper] is the worst dresser, worst eater, worst talker, but he's pretty clear," Guillen said. "He has an open mind. He always has put the team in front of himself. He doesn't care about losing his job. He's like me. We work for the team and this is the way we're going to do it."

[Sonik22]

Its good to hear this stuff straight from the players, but we've known about coop all year because of his high praise from hawk and Dj. A very feel good article, great job coop.

[YASNY]

Its good to hear this stuff straight from the players, but we've known about coop all year because of his high praise from hawk and Dj.  A very feel good article, great job coop.

 

Eh, this past off season people were wanting to dump Cooper.

[GoodAsGould]

Eh, this past off season people were wanting to dump Cooper.

 

Yeah but overall Cooper hasnt been 2 bad, the guy who gets all the hate is walker.

[VAfan]

Cooper has been fabulous. Look at Neil Cotts and Cliff Politte, for example. But some of the credit also goes to the pitchers. Mark Buehrle, for setting an example for Jon Garland to follow, and to Jon Garland for waking up and following his example. And some of the credit must also go to AJ Pierzynski, who calls for pitches inside, and his tough, no nonsense style.

[Soxbadger]

Yeah Walker gets no love this year, but Cooper got no love last year.

 

Its cyclical, and people just need some one to blame. I mean imagine blaming the players instead of the coaches. Its not like either Cooper or Walker play the game.

 

SB

[ceffa2000]

AJ never gets enough love. He has been huge with the success of a lot of our pitchers this year.

[Balta1701]

Walker is starting to get more love from me...

 

Dye came out of his slump

 

Konerko came out of his slump

 

Crede came out of his slump

 

Uribe...well...hopefully someday...

 

My test for Walker is keeping these guys hitting above the .270 mark for the rest of the year and avoiding another prolongued slump from those 3.

 

Also...we need to get Arow's head back in the game. And Pierzynski also, although I like how A.J. has looked at the plate recently, and he's had terrible luck all year.