September 14, 200421 yr Bajenaru not making much of first chance By John Weyler Special to the Tribune September 13, 2004, 10:09 PM CDT Pitching coach Don Cooper was the White Sox's minor-league pitching coordinator when he first watched newcomer Jeff Bajenaru. He says it was no fluke the 26-year-old right-hander saved 22 games between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte this year. Unlike most minor-league closers, Bajenaru has a variety of pitches. He throws a fastball, slider, curveball and changeup, making it difficult for hitters to wait on certain pitches. Opponents batted .161 against him this year in the minors. "He's come out of nowhere in this organization," Cooper said. "He had been hurt, so this is really the first chance he had for a full season, and he's made the most out of it." While Shingo Takatsu and Damaso Marte are seemingly established in late-inning roles for 2005, Bajenaru could stake his claim to a spot by pitching well the rest of the season. He hasn't done himself many favors thus far, however. Bajenaru gave up three runs in his major-league debut Sept. 4 against Seattle, worked a scoreless inning against Texas Tuesday and suffered his first major-league loss Friday night against the Angels, giving up a hit in two-thirds of an inning. On Sunday, he yielded two singles, a walk and a bases-loaded triple in the seventh, all before he got an out. He settled down and struck out pinch-hitters Dallas McPherson and Josh Paul, and got Casey Kotchman on a looper to second. He's now given up eight runs on nine hits in three innings. "I'd much rather judge a guy during the season than in Tucson, [Ariz.]," Cooper said. "Tucson's conditions are brutal. Breaking balls don't break, fly balls fly, ground balls bounce off the concrete infield. It's not a place where I feel comfortable making decisions."
September 14, 200421 yr That's not a bad article-- It's a fair article... I think he should compete for a job in ST next season, but everything he does here in chicago is an extended audition for next season... I think he's a little screwed up on his pitch selection. He pounded the zone with FB's in his first outing, got hit a little bit, but not hard. He changed his approach and started throwing more breaking stuff. He just needs to stick with what got it done in the minors. It will work.
September 15, 200421 yr Baj has had some bad luck up here, he's let up some runs but he hasn't been hit hard at all. I'm very impressed with him, I love the fact that he's always ahead of the hitters.
September 15, 200421 yr I am sure Baj will get a very serious look in ST. Hopefully he will make the team.
September 15, 200421 yr Author That's not a bad article-- It's a fair article... Oh its definately fair. Jeff hasn't done much in the 3 chances he has gotten so far. Doesn't mean that I have to like it
September 15, 200421 yr Author Oh its definately fair. Jeff hasn't done much in the 3 chances he has gotten so far. Doesn't mean that I have to like it Make that 4 chances... it looks like he pitched out of trouble again last night. Good to see he got out of it with no runs allowed though
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