Contreras has strong outing Saturday in AAA

[SSH2005]

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws

Sox hurlers send mixed messages

Contreras has strong outing Saturday in Triple-A

 

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

 

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Saturday's report card for the talent-laden White Sox pitching staff reads something like the following:

 

One piece of exciting news. One piece of encouraging news. And one piece of expected news, although that bit of information was somewhat muddled.

 

The exciting news came from Jose Contreras, who threw 78 pitches over four innings during a Triple-A game against Colorado at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson. Contreras, who was scratched from his last scheduled start on March 15 with soreness in his pitching arm, threw all of his pitches and even dropped down to his three-quarters delivery on a number of occasions.

 

Bobby Jenks provided the encouraging news, starting against the Rockies' Double-A team and working three innings. Jenks checked in on the radar gun between 93 and 95 mph, but also walked just one hitter during his 47-pitch outing.

 

It was Dustin Hermanson's balky back, an ongoing saga that has unfortunately carried over from the second half of 2005, which provided the confusing bit of news. According to athletic trainer Herm Schneider on Saturday morning, Hermanson already had gone through his back work in Phoenix, after pitching one inning Friday against Seattle, and was scheduled to pitch again Sunday against the Royals at Tucson Electric Park.

 

A different message was emanating from Scottsdale, where the White Sox were completing their three-game road trip in the Phoenix area against the Giants. Manager Ozzie Guillen said that he had spoken that morning to Hermanson, who "didn't feel good," and it was time to go to "Plan B," with a couple of pitchers fighting for one open spot. The precarious nature of Hermanson's back simply would cause too many day-to-day issues for the pitching staff, in Guillen's estimation.

 

Pitching coach Don Cooper agreed with Schneider's assessment early Saturday and still has Hermanson scheduled to pitch. But after watching Contreras and Jenks throw, Cooper also readily admitted that it's unlikely the right-hander will end up anywhere but on the disabled list to start the 2006 season. The decision was much more definitive from Scottsdale after the Giants' 19-7 victory.

 

"[Hermanson] doesn't have enough time to start the season," said White Sox general manager Ken Williams.

 

"It's weird, because he told me something here and then I hear something else," added Guillen, who said the final decision will be made Sunday in regard to Hermanson. "Hermy has to give me two innings, back to back, and see how he feels. But right now, it's too late to do that."

 

While Hermanson's health issue appears to be settled with a trip to the disabled list, Contreras certainly looks on track to make his first regular-season start on April 5 against the Indians in Chicago. Contreras still has another side session and a start in Thursday's Cactus League final to get through, and Guillen even mentioned that Contreras could be pushed back to the rotation's fifth slot to buy him more recovery time.

 

But judging by the smile on his face after Saturday's effort, Contreras' doubts have vanished with his pain. The big right-hander originally was scheduled to throw five innings and possibly drop down on his delivery during that final inning. Contreras didn't make it to the fifth, but he didn't need that extra inning to accomplish his goals.

 

He worked from the side for four or five pitches in the second inning, an angle that helped harness his control last season. Contreras struck out five Saturday, with four coming in the final two innings.

 

"I'm really excited. I feel so good," said Contreras through translator Roberto Espinoza, the Bristol pitching coach. "A few days ago, I was still kind of scared because my arm was bothering me a little bit. But today I threw nice and easy and I was so flexible."

 

"With days running out here, that's what made it even more sticky, if you want to call it that," Cooper added of Contreras, who still plans to fine tune his mechanics and control after missing more than two weeks and walking four on Saturday. "I thought he was going to be fine, I was hoping he'd be fine. Until you actually go out there and pitch and feel good, that's what you go by."

 

For Jenks, Saturday was part of his final week's plan to build up his pitching arm. As a starter for most of his Minor League career, Jenks mentioned that he needs at least 15 innings during Spring Training to get himself ready.

 

Even with Minor League "B" games, Jenks entered Saturday well short of that number. His approach is to take a couple of days off, and then have another three-inning outing. After another day or two off the mound, Jenks will throw in back-to-back games to be ready for the season.

 

Jenks could only offer a knowing smile and credit his manager for providing excellent bits of advice when asked about his most recent talk with Guillen on Thursday, and the manager's questioning of his conditioning. Jenks reiterated that he feels fine physically, and that his girth problem stems from doing too much weight training in the offseason and not nearly enough cardiovascular work.

 

That routine has changed this spring, with cardio being the focus and a return to light work with weights.

 

Playing the extra weight card is an easy crutch to explain Jenks' Spring Training struggles. But for a young man who is "built big," it's not remotely usable as an excuse.

 

"The fact of the matter is I don't have my stuff," said Jenks, who added he absolutely could get his "stuff" up to par with the extra work this week. "I'm real inconsistent. One day I'll go out there at 95 [mph], and the next day I'll go out there at 92. I'm a power pitcher and it's hard for me to pitch at 92.

 

"Of course, I'm going to get scrutinized a little bit with the way things have been going during Spring Training, and it's something I know I have to take. If it's still going on toward the end of April, then maybe it's a concern. Right now, it's still Spring Training and we are still getting ourselves ready."

 

As Jenks continues regular-season preparations, the White Sox pitching questions were just about completely answered. Even Boone Logan, the southpaw who has never pitched a full season above Advanced Rookie Great Falls, moved closer to cementing the final roster spot with two hitless innings in Scottsdale.

 

Actually, the competition is still somewhat open, with fellow left-hander Javier Lopez throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. In either case, the White Sox clearly have solid options, assuming Hermanson can't go.

 

"These guys are world champions, and to make it would be an honor," Logan said. "If I make it, I'm going to give them all I have."

 

"Good teams seem to move on when things happen," Cooper added. "I consider us a good team, so we'll move on."

[hi8is]

great article... i sure f***ing hope they go with lopez and logan

[daa84]

great article... i sure f***ing hope they go with lopez and logan

me too....im actually high on lopez....nobody has really mentioned his 16 Ks in 12.2 IP. I think he'll be fine, especially against lefties only. Unfortunately i think thornton will make the team, but unlike just about everyone else here, im not writin thornton off quite yet, i just think he wont be as effective right now as lopez

[Jordan4life_2007]

me too....im actually high on lopez....nobody has really mentioned his 16 Ks in 12.2 IP. I think he'll be fine, especially against lefties only. Unfortunately i think thornton will make the team, but unlike just about everyone else here, im not writin thornton off quite yet, i just think he wont be as effective right now as lopez

 

I think the most any of us could've hoped for was atleast one of these guys we brought in to step up and put the pressure on Ozzie and his staff. Lopez has been fantastic.

[iWiN4PreP]

nice article.

contreras the man.

[Dick Allen]

me too....im actually high on lopez....nobody has really mentioned his 16 Ks in 12.2 IP. I think he'll be fine, especially against lefties only. Unfortunately i think thornton will make the team, but unlike just about everyone else here, im not writin thornton off quite yet, i just think he wont be as effective right now as lopez

They both suck. Lets not get too excited about spring training results when this guy comes into a game in the later innings and is facing AA hitters. He has allowed 54 runs his last 56 innings pitched on the major league level. When KW was describing the guys he was interested in from the left side back in November or December, I mentioned Thornton as a possibility. He has no command, and maybe if they worked with him for an entire spring they could correct that. I just don't know if they have enough time to straighten him out, if it is even possible to straighten him out.

[SSH2005]

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sportsstory.asp?id=171054

Contreras feels good after four-inning stint

 

By Scot Gregor

Daily Herald Sports Writer

Posted Sunday, March 26, 2006

 

TUCSON, Ariz. — Jose Contreras speaks only a few words of English, so it can be difficult to know what he’s thinking or how he’s feeling.

 

But upon his return to the mound Saturday for the first time since March 10, Contreras’ body language was easy to translate.

 

Even White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper picked up on it.

 

“I asked him (if he felt good) and he shook his head and really gave me a good look in his eyes like, ‘Yeah, I’m OK now,’æ’’ Cooper said after watching Contreras throw 78 pitches over 4 innings in a game against the Colorado Rockies’ Class AAA minor-league team.

 

For the record, Contreras allowed 2 runs on 4 hits while walking four and striking out five. His fastball was clocked between 92 and 95 mph.

 

But on this day, the numbers didn’t matter much.

 

“I really didn’t care about results,’’ Cooper said. “I always want them to be perfect — no runs — and have a great outing. But it was really more important physically and mentally for him. And I think we got both of them. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.

 

“Hopefully we nipped (the injury) in the bud. With days running out here, that’s what made it even more sticky, if you want to call it that. I thought he was going to be fine; I was hoping he’d be fine. But until you actually go out there and pitch and feel good … that’s what you go by.’’

 

Contreras, the Sox’ best starting pitcher (11-2, 2.96 ERA) over the second half of last season, was scratched from his March 15 Cactus League outing with a sore right triceps. X-rays showed no structural damage, but Contreras still was concerned even after being cleared to throw on the side.

 

Following Saturday’s start, the big right-hander was the picture of relief.

 

“Today, I felt I was 100 percent,’’ Contreras said through a translator. “A few days ago in the bullpen, I felt 90 percent. But today was 100. I’m really excited. I feel so good. A few days ago, I was still kind of scared because my arm was bothering me a little bit. But today I threw nice and easy and I was so flexible.’’

 

Contreras initially planned to just throw over the top, but he felt strong enough to drop down throughout his outing.

 

“On the way over here today, I was thinking maybe we’d go 5 (innings), not that 5 was essential,’’ Cooper said. “I asked him if he felt good, if he wanted to drop down to a lower angle in the fifth inning. Obviously he (dropped down) in the second, so that meant he was feeling good.’’

 

Said Contreras: “I had a plan before the game to just go over the top, but I felt so good that I started throwing the ball at different angles.’’

 

There is time for 1 more start in spring training, and Contreras still is on track to start the third game of the regular season, April 5 against the Cleveland Indians.

 

A week ago, neither Contreras nor the Sox knew if that would be possible. That appears to have changed.

 

“Right now, he’s still on schedule for that,’’ Cooper said. “We still have to get two more, a sideline and a (exhibition) game, but now it looks like it’s realistic.

 

“What it comes down to is, before he got hurt, before he had his difficulty, he was really going well. With 10 days off, you lose a little bit of touch and feel. We got that going today.’’