SSH2005 Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws White Sox set Opening Day roster Rookie left-hander Logan makes team after good spring By Scott Merkin / MLB.com MESA, Ariz. -- Boone Logan came along for the ride to HoHoKam Park on Monday, with pitching coach Don Cooper simply wanting the young left-hander to experience the excitement surrounding a Cubs-White Sox contest. And although Logan did not throw a pitch in what played out as a 4-4 tie, it turned out to be the most memorable trip and moment of his professional career. Following Monday's contest, assistant general manager Rick Hahn and manager Ozzie Guillen informed Logan that he had made the White Sox 25-man roster. It's one of the most improbable Spring Training stories in recent memory, with Logan as barely a blip on the White Sox radar when he entered an intrasquad game on March 5 at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson. Logan struck out both Jim Thome and Rob Mackowiak during 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief and joined the Major League camp later in the week. Almost three weeks to the date, the 21-year-old who has made 55 of his career 59 appearances for Great Falls in the Advanced Rookie Pioneer League, officially joined the White Sox. "Good for him, and congratulations to him," said White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski of Logan's amazing spring effort. "It's a great story. It's a story that people can get inspired from, and I'm happy for the kid. "How many times do you hear a story about a guy, who was not even in big-league camp, and he pitches a couple of times, gets moved over and makes the big-league team on Opening Day? He's done all we've asked of him." Before a single pitch even was thrown on Monday, both Guillen and Cooper were talking about the decision concerning the final roster spot. The unofficial number was down to 27, after right-handed reliever Tim Redding was reassigned on Monday morning. But with Dustin Hermanson a certainty to be placed on the 15-day disabled list, it was a battle between Javier Lopez and Logan. It was experience versus youth. It was a competition between two left-handers who have found success by dropping down on their delivery. It was a very tough decision to be made between two pitchers who basically had done their job all spring. The tiebreaker could have been Logan's homegrown status. The White Sox took a chance on a young prospect, selected in the 20th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, much like the move made by the organization two years ago with another inexperienced left-hander named Neal Cotts. "I liken it to that situation a lot, and I've brought it up more than a few times," said Cooper of the Cotts-Logan comparison. "It seems to have worked, as Cotts is now an established lefty. "We look at the team first, as in who is going to give us the best chance to win. But with all things being equal, I like bringing up our own guys." By looking at Logan's statistics leading into the 2005 season, he would have been a very unlikely candidate to be even in consideration for this sort of promotion. Logan had a combined ERA over 6.00, walking 62 and allowing 150 hits over 131 1/3 innings. But a last-ditch change suggested by Curt Hasler, the Great Falls pitching coach, and Kirk Champion, the White Sox Minor League pitching coordinator, not only helped Logan improve, but basically resurrected his career. Throwing with a three-quarters delivery, instead of from over the top, Logan dropped his ERA to 3.31 and reduced his walk total to a mere four over 35 1/3 innings at Great Falls. Logan not only has moved from the Minor Leagues to big-league camp, but he also has moved from pitching against younger players at the end of Cactus League games to facing veterans in the middle. Going against San Francisco's Steve Finley and Randy Winn or Oakland's Eric Chavez and Mark Ellis has not provided even the smallest of missteps for the Cactus League phenom, who has a 0.87 ERA in seven games. "That's why this kid opened a lot of people's eyes," Guillen said. "In the beginning, he was facing kids. Now, let's put him back facing the starting lineup and nothing changed. He kept doing the same." "The Giants, that was a tough lineup," Logan added. "But I was doing the same thing I've been doing. I didn't change anything. Just throw strikes, hit my spots and stay focused." In breaking the news to Lopez, Guillen told the veteran that he appreciated his effort and the professional way he conducted himself. He quickly added that Lopez would be the first one called if there was a need at the Major League level. During the ensuing conversation with Logan, Guillen pointed out that making the team out of Spring Training doesn't mean he's guaranteed to stick all season. It's easy to make the team, according to Guillen, but tough to stay on it. What can Logan expect as the newest member of the White Sox? According to Pierzynski, participating in the rookie ritual of wearing unpleasant clothing on the road definitely is on the horizon. Otherwise, the first White Sox pitcher to make the jump from Class A to the Majors since Carlos Castillo in 1997 doesn't plan on changing a thing. "Now, the pressure is on," Logan said. "I have to do what I've been doing during Spring Training in the regular season. You still have to throw strikes and make the pitches a little bit better up here." "Hopefully, he doesn't get intimidated, which he hasn't," Pierzynski added. "You just try to make him feel comfortable and give him confidence." It took about three or four minutes before Logan could move from in front of his locker after receiving the good news. He hadn't even begun to think about the Opening Day experience this Sunday or how he was going to tell his family what had happened. A simple two-hour bus ride had become a life-changing moment for the Texas native. "I'll wait a while before I tell [his family]," said Logan with a smile. "I wasn't surprised but I didn't really expect it. I knew I had a pretty good shot at it and I just happened to come through and make the team." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 Welcome to the White Sox, Mr. Logan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSH2005 Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 Welcome to the White Sox, Mr. Logan. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> "Hello to you to, Jordan4life_2006." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iWiN4PreP Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 awsome, awsome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jphat007 Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 I thought Logan had no chance to make it. I need to go look at that long thread about Logan. Great job kid. keep it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSH2005 Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 I thought Logan had no chance to make it. I need to go look at that long thread about Logan. Great job kid. keep it up. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I believe Jeckle2000 said that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 09:20 PM) I believe Jeckle2000 said that. I believe a lot of us said that before he dominated in spring training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSH2005 Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 (edited) I believe a lot of us said that before he dominated in spring training. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yeah, but once Logan started owning guys up to the past couple weeks it sure looked like he was going to win the spot. He started dominated while Javier Lopez got knocked around. I'm pretty sure that Jeckle2000 thought that Lopez would win the spot up until this week. Logan still could get shellacked during the season and the spot could become Lopez's though. Edited March 28, 2006 by SSH2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg775 Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 I'm glad his name is Boone Logan instead of Logan Boone. I'm sick of all the Boones in the bigs. GO SOX! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 QUOTE(greg775 @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 10:25 PM) I'm glad his name is Boone Logan instead of Logan Boone. I'm sick of all the Boones in the bigs. GO SOX! His name really reminds me of the guy from Lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelasDaddy0427 Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 I'm on record as thinking that this is a mistake... But i'd be more then happy to eat major crow on that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSH2005 Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 I'm on record as thinking that this is a mistake... But i'd be more then happy to eat major crow on that... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If he bombs, we will still have Lopez at Charlotte to back Logan up. No biggie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayitaintso Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 QUOTE(SuperSteve @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 10:20 PM) His name really reminds me of the guy from Lost. The skinny white guy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 12:24 AM) The skinny white guy? Uh, he's dead now, but he was on last season. Had a sister on the show. Died cause of Lock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosMediasBlancas Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 Boone Logan is my new favorite baseball name. There are a lot of good nick name possibilities there for him, let's hope he gets a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 12:30 AM) Boone Logan is my new favorite baseball name. There are a lot of good nick name possibilities there for him, let's hope he gets a good one. Coco Crisp and Milton Bradley in the same OF. Doesn't get any better than that to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hi8is Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 04:57 AM) I'm on record as thinking that this is a mistake... But i'd be more then happy to eat major crow on that... how many times has that happend in the past Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosMediasBlancas Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 QUOTE(SuperSteve @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 12:32 AM) Coco Crisp and Milton Bradley in the same OF. Doesn't get any better than that to me. Don't the Scrubs have a coach named Dick Pole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 12:35 AM) Don't the Scrubs have a coach named Dick Pole? Yep...Dick Pole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSH2005 Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 Yep...Dick Pole <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Pure awesomeness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxfest Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 Congrats BL I love guys on any team that bust ass and make it hard to send down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T R U Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 Whats his fastball clocked at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSH2005 Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 Whats his fastball clocked at? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> He usually works at 90-91 MPH but the papers said that he can hit 93 MPH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 So who's going to be the first to join "Logan's Heroes" or "Boone's Farmers"? Congrats to Logan on getting there - now the job is STAYING there, which is even harder to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sox1422 Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 QUOTE(The Critic @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 01:15 PM) So who's going to be the first to join "Logan's Heroes" or "Boone's Farmers"? Congrats to Logan on getting there - now the job is STAYING there, which is even harder to do. You may have something there. Brooks can rope off a section on the right field concourse and call it "Boone's Farm". People can dress up as animals and hang out there. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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