Let's play a game....like whens the last time he gave up an earned run.......

 

 

 

 

July 10.

Isn't he around 20 straight outings without allowing a run? The one constant criticism I've had of Ozzie is that he doesn't put enough faith in our bullpen. I understand resting your bullpen....but too much rest can be bad also.

Is this a Neal Cotts trivia game?

13 without allowing a run, 22 without allowing an earned run. 3 hits since July 23.

Is this a Neal Cotts trivia game?

 

 

Nah, just a little rubbing it in to people who sais he's never amount to anything....

 

That was way back in the old Soxtalk days.

Neal Cotts has the greatest turnaround from one year to the next of any Sox player in recent memory.

Neal Cotts has the greatest turnaround from one year to the next of any Sox player in recent memory.

From underachieving starter and whipping boy to dominate lefty reliever and go-to guy out of the pen is quite a turnaround. Thank god I've always been on his bandwagon.

From underachieving starter and whipping boy to dominate lefty reliever and go-to guy out of the pen is quite a turnaround. Thank god I've always been on his bandwagon.

 

That wagon had a lot of stretching room before this year....

go-to guy out of the pen

 

I wish Ozzie felt the same way you did.

 

In our worst month of the year, Cotts for some reason throws 8 2/3 innings.

 

Me = :banghead

I wish Ozzie felt the same way you did.

 

In our worst month of the year, Cotts for some reason throws 8 2/3 innings. 

 

Me =      :banghead

Well, whenever one of our pitchers is in serious trouble I usually end up yelling, GET COTTS UP IN THE PEN DAMN IT!!! So I'd call him my go-to guy.

That wagon had a lot of stretching room before this year....

I was aboard, I was aboard when he had an era over 6 or 7 at the beginning of this season and because of that qwerty gets a nice little sig soon.

not to get ahead of ourselves, but when you start looking at post season play and what Cotts can mean in a close game, it's pretty damn scary. Our bullpen is scary good. Angels bullpen is scary bad. As is Boston's and NY's (with the obvious exception of el diablo Rivera. Anytime I see Alan Embree warming up I know Mel Stottlemire has to be thinking "how the hell did it come to this?").

Angels bullpen is scary bad?

"That neal cotts is an attractive young man"

-Hawk during neal's debut in 03.

Angels bullpen is scary bad?

 

Beyond K-Rod, they haven't exactly been "stellar" or "lights out".

"That neal cotts is an attractive young man"

-Hawk during neal's debut in 03.

..and how'd that make you feel?? It's ok snb we're there for you.

Beyond K-Rod, they haven't exactly been "stellar" or "lights out".

 

Yeah Donnelly has really slowed down and so has Shields.

Not to mention the Angels pen has been WAY WAY overused...and they are flat out worn down...outings like todays by Garland have to go a long way towards saving our pen arms, keeping em fresh.

Neal Cotts has the greatest turnaround from one year to the next of any Sox player in recent memory.

I'd think Konerko 2003 and Konerko 2004 would be right there as well.

Not to mention the evolution of Jon Garland. With a little bit of better luck, he would already be at 20 wins by now.

Not to mention the evolution of Jon Garland.  With a little bit of better luck,  he would already be at 20 wins by now.

On topic: Cotts has been flat-out unbelievable this season, and hats off to him!

 

Off topic: With the season the Sox are having, isn't it also hard to believe that there's still a decent chance that they won't even have ONE 20-game winner? Garland made a nice step towards a possible 20 with Sunday's effort, but for a while there it looked like a lock for JG and MB to get 20+ each, and now neither might get there. Just goes to show how long of a grind the regular season is.

Yep that's the Neal we all love (well at least only a HANDFUL at best) did at the start of the season. Always had faith though, and shows why you shouldn't give yourself a heart attack screaming if he doesn't perform straight away........

 

 

(I was always knew he was better than that Kevin Walker though, although some people didn't think so).

That's flat out great. I'll admit though, I still wanted him to start in AAA so he could develop some pitches(which he has) and get some innings to be stretched out as a starter.

I agree with nite, I do want Cotts to be a starter, but he's doing great over the past few months.

 

Props to Cotts for stepping it up bigtime this year (even though I religiously bashed him).

 

From underachieving starter and whipping boy to dominate lefty reliever and go-to guy out of the pen is quite a turnaround. Thank god I've always been on his bandwagon.

 

I don't think "underachieving starter" is a fair label at all. The kid was rookie who had skipped AAA. Pitchers need development time and Neal was getting his feet wet. In reality he is still likely getting his feet wet preparing for a starters role in the future.

Edited September 5, 200520 yr by Rex Hudler