Logan makes long jump

[SSH2005]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...tesox-headlines

Logan makes long jump from South Texas to Sox's bullpen

 

By Mark Gonzales

Tribune staff reporter

March 28, 2006, 10:43 PM CST

 

TUCSON, Ariz. — Boone Logan has put Helotes, Texas, on the baseball map.

 

But it took some tender-loving care, a full-time commitment to pitching and some tips from a former major-league pitcher to help Logan start his dramatic climb with the White Sox after throwing only 51/3 innings above Rookie League ball.

 

"We have a small-town mentality here," said David Collenback, Logan's coach at O'Connor High School in Helotes, a town 15 miles northwest of San Antonio with a population of about 5,000.

 

"His success has all of us pumped up. I see his father (Glenn) at the convenience store, and we talk about Boone all the time."

 

Logan, 21, is the first graduate in the eight-year history of O'Connor High to reach the majors. And his progress in high school is nearly as remarkable as his jump this spring from Class A to the Sox's Opening Day roster.

 

"I think he pitched in only one game his junior year," Collenback recalled. "And he played football (tight end) for a while. He played some first base his senior year, but he made a couple of errors so we had him stick to pitching."

 

Logan persevered through hard work that mirrors the town's image.

 

"He was one of the hardest-working kids we've had," Collenback said. "In Helotes, there are a lot of blue-collar and farm workers."

 

Collenback admitted he might have been too tough on Logan and said he backed off before Logan's senior year, which resulted in a modest 7-4 record before the Sox drafted him in the 20th round in 2002.

 

"My style was to always get on him and chew him out," Collenback admitted. "I finally put my arms around him, and that got him going.

 

"I think he'll tell you that he hated me at the time, but now our relationship is strong and we joke about it."

 

Said Logan: "I was mad because I never played as a junior."

 

According to Collenback, Sox local scout Keith Staab was impressed with Logan's willingness to learn and projected that a skinny, 6-foot-5-inch 17-year-old with determination could increase his 87-m.p.h. fastball by polishing his skills.

 

Although the Sox drafted Logan, all parties agreed it would be better for Logan to attend junior college, with the Sox retaining signing rights until shortly before the 2003 draft.

 

Logan decided to attend Temple College, located between Waco and Austin. There he learned under head coach Craig McMurtry, who pitched in the majors for eight seasons.

 

"He made me grow up pretty quickly," Logan said. "He was a hard-nosed guy. In fact, I need to give him a call. He straightened out my mechanics very well. That's one reason I went to a juco. I was only 17, and he had a lot to do with my mechanics."

 

The Sox were pleased enough with Logan's development to sign him after his freshman year at Temple.

 

"It was the same thing with Mark Buehrle," scouting director Duane Shaffer said of the process that led to the signing of the Sox's current staff ace. "You're never sure how this will turn out, but you can see the potential is there. With a little work, you might have something there."

 

The relationship among Logan, Collenback and the O'Connor program is now so strong that Logan worked out at the school and helped O'Connor players before reporting to spring training.

 

"I was the first one to get drafted out of school, and I went there to get my arm ready," Logan said. "I wanted to stay in a baseball environment, so I'd stay for every practice to help them the best I knew."

 

Logan also knows how to humble high school kids.

 

"He was throwing batting practice before he left, and a kid took him deep and started talking," Collenback said. "He brushed the kid back on the next pitch."

[Jordan4life_2007]

Just amazing that only a month ago, 95% of Sox fans didn't know who this guy was.

[whitesoxfan101]

For some reason, I have a feeling this kid is going to do a great job and turn into one of those unbelieveable stories like Jenks did last year.

[SSH2005]

For some reason, I have a feeling this kid is going to do a great job and turn into one of those unbelieveable stories like Jenks did last year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I like Ozzie's role for him. It's a small, low pressure role that will put Logan in the position to succeed...

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sportsstory.asp?id=171647

“Now the pressure is on,” Logan said. “I have to do what I’ve been doing during spring training — throw strikes.”

 

Guillen said Logan would be used as a sixth- and seventh-inning guy to face one or two hitters, likely lefties.

[whitesoxfan101]

LOOGY!!!!! (Man I love that term).

 

As long as this kid can get 1 or 2 guys out in certain spots and Big Bobby doesn't flatline, our bullpen should still be ok.

[GoodAsGould]

I think this kid is going to carry his success from spring training on to the majors.... Im glad we went with him over Lopez. I also think our bullpen will be better than many think.... B-Mac might start off a little slow but he will adjust to the pen and be a good arm we can trust and I think Thornton will improve as the season goes on kind of like Vizcaino was for us.

 

 

Also now im not 2 worried about Jenks... Hawk said when he saw him in spring last year his velocity was way down too so its not like it just came out of no where he lost his velocity and he looked pretty good his last outing.

[SSH2005]

Also now im not 2 worried about Jenks... Hawk said when he saw him in spring last year his velocity was way down too so its not like it just came out of no where he lost his velocity and he looked pretty good his last outing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, the difference this spring is that Jenks supposedly lifted too many weights over the offseason and now his arm is tightened up instead of being loose. This may be one of the reasons that his velocity is down.

[G&T]

Well, the difference this spring is that Jenks supposedly lifted too many weights over the offseason and now his arm is tightened up instead of being loose.  This may be one of the reasons that his velocity is down.

 

They have him on a new exercise plan now: more cardio. He's not throwing that slow anyway, he's been at about 95 or 96. The real problem for him is that he can't locate a curve to save his life. I hope that's something that will be remedied by a looser arm. Once the adrenaline is pumping in the regular season that might add a couple mph.

[GoSox05]

i think Logan looks pretty good. He seems to keep his cool on the mound.

[southsideirish71]

Lets see how Boone does when there are 40k screaming white sox fans.

 

His nerves under that type of pressure is what I worry about. His arm and his talent look good so far.