Thornton: Dedicated to improvement

By Matt Thornton / MLB.com

 

"He's a very motivating coach," says Matt Thornton of pitching coach Don Cooper. (Getty Images)

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I was a little shocked when the Mariners traded me to the White Sox near the end of Spring Training. I was all set to break camp and go to Seattle, then they called me in from stretching and told me they had made the move.

 

At first it was kind of bittersweet. I was bummed to leave a team I'd been with for a while and I had a lot of close friends over there. But I was excited for the new start. And I was excited to come to the Midwest, where I have family.

 

Once the trade was made, I found out the White Sox had been interested in me for a while. When I was in his office, one of manager Ozzie Guillen's first comments to pitching coach Don Cooper was, "There you got him, now leave me alone." Cooper apparently wanted me for a while. He wanted to work with me. He wanted a shot. So, hopefully, things keep going the way they are, and keep improving.

 

The first time I ever pitched against the White Sox in '04. It was the one start I had in the big leagues, and Cooper saw me. Instead of saying, "Who's this guy?" he had been watching film on me. I was an opposing pitcher he'd probably never see again next year, but he saw something in me.

 

It's very exciting to work with him. He's a very motivating coach. He wants to push me to be an elite pitcher. He wants to push me to become a known pitcher throughout baseball. He wants people to realize how hard we work together and what our dedication to the game is. I think he's realizing that I'm dedicated to doing what I can to help this team win.

 

He's worked with me on the mental side of pitching. He challenged me on my mechanics and I got that. I'm throwing strikes and he challenged me again. He told me if I want to be an elite pitcher, you've got to learn how to finish these guys, to bury them. That's something I've challenged myself to do.

 

Mechanically, he had me make some really simple adjustments, mainly just getting my body out farther. I'm taking my time with my pitching motion and not landing short and trying to get over top of the ball. It's all about riding my drive to the plate out. My right leg is landing about a foot farther than it has in the past and that's allowing my mechanics to fall into place.

 

I didn't start out the way I wanted to in my first year and 1/2, two years, in the big leagues. Now I'm able to slow things down, I'm able to be calm on the mound. I'm able to focus and lock in on the catcher's glove, a small target, and attack it. I'm not seeing the big picture. I'm not seeing the umpire, catcher and batter all at once. I'm able to focus and go after the hitter. That's the big difference, when you just slow things down like that.

 

It's been a really neat atmosphere to come into. This team is so equal across the board. Everyone pulls for everyone and everyone pushes for everyone. It's been a great clubhouse to come into and be a part of. These guys are an amazing group of guys and they know how to win. They know how to get it done.

 

Reliever Matt Thornton, the 22nd overall pick in the 1998 draft, has struck out 15 batters and walked six (three intentional) in 13 1/3 innings for the White Sox this season. Born in Michigan, Thornton went to Grand Valley State before the Mariners drafted him. He pitched in 74 games in two seasons with Seattle and was 1-6 with just one start before getting traded to Chicago.

"There you got him, now leave me alone."

Man, after his experience in Seattle, I bet that was a great thing for Thornton to hear.

I believe Coop's gonna make something out of this guy. He seems receptive and Coop certainly believed he could.

I'm probably the only one, but I never knew this site existed.

 

http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pa/index.jsp

I'm probably the only one, but I never knew this site existed.

 

http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pa/index.jsp

 

wierd. its like they copied themselves

wierd. its like they copied themselves

 

Yeah, I was reading the press release on the suspensions on MLB.com and on the left side I saw an MLB Players Association link and there it is.

If Coop is right and this guy can become an elite pitcher...what a steal.

 

over his last 6 innings pitched he's given up 2 hits, no walks, no runs with 7 K's.

Edited May 26, 200619 yr by The Ginger Kid

I really, really like Thornton.

Reliever Matt Thornton, the 22nd overall pick in the 1998 draft, has struck out 15 batters and walked six (three intentional) in 13 1/3 innings for the White Sox this season.

 

How ironic - they acquired a strikeout machine in return for a strikeout machine

 

SFF

i dont care what anyone thinks

 

his last name is f***ing THORTONSON

 

since we traded for him i called him that (correctly so too) and will continue to do so

 

 

so.... HUR-RUMPH!

I'm still skeptical about him in the long run, but I really like what I've seen and read recently.

From the sounds of his column, he's been drinking the Coop-Aid. I love the things he's written, he's put 100% faith into Coop and Coop is doing nothing more than pushing him to be an impact pitcher, not just a middle reliever. After his rough times in SEA, it must just be a huge relief and confidence booster to have a pitching coach, a very highly regarded pitching coach, who was clamoring to get the opportunity to work with you. I think that the Thornton/Borchard deal with rank right up there with KW's best deals.

Awww: http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story...z1_spor_04.html

 

“I don’t know how the story would have gone on in Seattle,’’ he said, “but you have to wonder if the change and the opportunity to pitch in big situations like I have here would have ever been given to me. Is this trade the best thing to happen to me? Absolutely.’’

Just shows the value of Mr. Don Cooper.

 

How many other organisations would seriously love to have Coop as their pitching coach right now?

Just shows the value of Mr. Don Cooper.

 

How many other organisations would seriously love to have Coop as their pitching coach right now?

Dr. Don Cooper, get it right.

Steinbrenner's kicking himself for not being able to lure Coop away.

It's a good thing that Thornton is getting some confidence because we're going to need someone to replace the absolute lack of balls shown by Politte in every outing. That guy's a pussy now.

QUOTE(knightni @ May 27, 2006 -> 12:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Steinbrenner's kicking himself for not being able to lure Coop away.

Wasn't Cooper already signed through 2006? So how was George supposed to get him?

Wasn't Cooper already signed through 2006? So how was George supposed to get him?

I mean in general.

 

Coop's a New York guy.