Cotts a year older, hopefully wiser

[CSF]

Sox hope Cotts learned from taking lumps

 

By Bob Foltman

Tribune staff reporter

 

February 23, 2005, 7:53 PM CST

 

 

TUCSON, Ariz. -- One look at the numbers produces a ho-hum shrug.

 

But numbers don't tell the whole story so, in the case of Neal Cotts, the White Sox hope last season was a prelude to bigger and better things.

 

 

"I think he had a good year, although the ERA numbers may not indicate it," Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said of the 25-year-old left-hander, who went 4-4 with a 5.65 ERA.

 

Last season was Cotts' first full one in the big leagues, and he rode the rookie roller coaster.

 

"There were a lot of things I hadn't experienced in the minors," Cotts acknowledged. "I was a little inconsistent. But you learn from going out and not having your best stuff."

 

Cotts was used in a variety of roles, including an emergency start in Minnesota when the Sox were close to holding open tryouts for the fifth starter's spot. There was a stretch midway through the season when Cliff Politte and Damaso Marte weren't available, so Cotts and fellow rookie Jon Adkins were thrown into the fire.

 

"There was no doubt he was challenged," Sox general manager Ken Williams said. "We accelerated his progress at least a couple of years by throwing him in some difficult situations."

 

The Sox believe they will reap the benefits this year.

 

Williams says Cotts looks more comfortable in camp, more like he feels he belongs on a big-league team.

 

"Until a guy starts to feel that this is where he's supposed to be, you're not going to see leaps in his development," Williams said. "Now he's a solid member of the bullpen."

 

Last season Cotts wasn't sure he was going to make the team. If he did, he didn't know if he would be a starter or a reliever. There is comfort in knowing what his role is.

 

"I like having an idea of what's going on," he said. "It makes it a lot easier. At this time last year I wouldn't even be mentioned as a guy who was going to be on the team."

 

Cooper said Cotts has "grown on him" with his professionalism and his work ethic. In the off-season, Cooper had Cotts work on watching the catcher's glove longer. It might seem basic—a pitcher looking at his catcher—but is an important task for someone like Cotts.

 

"To hit the glove, you have to see it, and the longer you see it the better," Cooper said. "When he doesn't see the glove, he closes himself off and it makes his location iffy."

 

Cooper is hoping Cotts can develop a role in the bullpen.

 

Williams said he envisions scenarios where Cotts enters in the sixth and pitches two or three innings. Or if Marte has pitched a couple of days in a row, Cotts can work the eighth to get to Shingo Takatsu.

 

"We have a lot of confidence in him," Williams said. "He just needs to throw strikes."

 

Williams and Cooper envision Cotts making a move into the starting rotation at some point. The current Sox rotation is signed for at least two more years, so there's no rush.

 

Cotts isn't worrying about when he will be a starter—or if.

 

"I would love to be a starter, but I enjoy the bullpen," he said. "If being a starter is where they want me eventually, that would be fine."

 

Cooper believes the course the Sox have charted for Cotts will pay off this season.

 

"I'm interested to watch the growth—it's going to happen," Cooper said. "I want him to take a step forward and to take as big a step as he [can]."

Copyright © 2005, The Chicago Tribune

[WilliamTell]

Well all I can say is go get em. I hope Cotts makes the team.

[qwerty]

Well all I can say is go get em. I hope Cotts makes the team.

 

 

I don't. He needs a full season of triple a to work on some things. I would rather have him help us down the road as a starter than putting up decent numbers at the very best in the bullpen. We already have what i consider our left handed specialist ( vizcaino) what is the point in having a lefty that will not help us?

Edited February 24, 2005 by qwerty

[WilliamTell]

Before you make that judgement let's just see how he does this spring training. Maybe I'll eat my words, idk.

[witesoxfan]

I don't care how Neal does in ST, I want him in AAA starting. I want him to be starting for us in 2006. I don't envision our entire rotation coming back, and I also don't envision us making a huge splurge pitching wise.

 

I personally hope you see Neal start the year in the rotation in 2006, and if he struggles again, I think you see BMac promoted(assuming he again puts up good numbers).

[Gene Honda Civic]

http://thebaseballcube.com/profiles/RY/tbc524.asp

[Jordan4life_2007]

I don't. He needs a full season of triple a to work on some things. I would rather have him help us down the road as a starter than putting up decent numbers at the very best in the bullpen.  We already have what i consider our left handed specialist ( vizcaino) what is the point in having a lefty that will not help us?

 

 

If not Cotts, who would you rather see in his place? I'm assuming you'll say Adkins, but don't you want atleast two left handers in the pen?

[DBAHO]

If not Cotts,  who would you rather see in his place?  I'm assuming you'll say Adkins,  but don't you want atleast two left handers in the pen?

Hopefully one of Arnie Munoz or Kevin Walker steps up like Jon Adkins did in spring training last year.

[qwerty]

If not Cotts,  who would you rather see in his place?  I'm assuming you'll say Adkins,  but don't you want atleast two left handers in the pen?

 

Why does it matter if we have to lefties in the pen? Lefties had a .269 average against cotts and .163 off of vizcaino. When it comes to getting lefties out vizcaino>cotts, probally >>.

[YASNY]

I think we need to keep Cotts up with the team. The only way he'll learn how to get major league hitters out is by facing them. If he's needed as a starter in '06, they can stretch him out in spring training.