How well do you think he's going to do? I'm guessing 6 IP 1 ER 7 K and a win. That would be just fine for me.

I'm guessing 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 3BB, 1K

I'm guessing 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 3BB, 1K

Just 1? He keeps hitters off balance. He will get more than 1.

It's silly to speculate.... knowone here but a select few have seen Cotts pitch, and without watching him actually pitch it's impossible to just guess how hes going to do.

It's silly to speculate.... knowone here but a select few have seen Cotts pitch, and without watching him actually pitch it's impossible to just guess how hes going to do.

I've seen him pitch. He is awesome.

It's silly to speculate.... knowone here but a select few have seen Cotts pitch, and without watching him actually pitch it's impossible to just guess how hes going to do.

Kill joy

I saw him pitch at the futures game, and he looked like a guy with a boatload of talent. However to try and guess how he will do seems more like a contest board type thing.

If I had to guess how he'd do, I'd say: 6 IP, 2-3 ER, 3 BB, 5-6 K. Afterall, this would be his first major league start so we can't expect too much from him.

So when exactly will he be activated?

I've seen him pitch. He is awesome.

In AA. Let's see how he fares against a ML team without three of it's big hitters. Damn.....

In AA. Let's see how he fares against a ML team without three of it's big hitters. Damn.....

Not a bad situation to start out, is it?

Not a bad situation to start out, is it?

Not at all. But it looks as if Salmon will be in the line-up for Cotts. The injury must have been a one day thing

Based on what I saw from him in college, as well as the stuff I've read up on him during his minor league career, I'm thinking he'll pitch 6.2 innings, giving up around 5 hits, 4 walks, and 6 strikeouts.

 

He'll be a little shakey in the first couple of innings; however, once he gets it going, he'll be ok.

 

One thing to note from what I saw from him at ISU...When he gets a run or two from his team, he tends to pick up steam, feeding off the offense. So, if we can get some runs up early, Cotts' shakiness shouldn't go as long.

is cotts going tomorrow??? mlb board shows danny wrong to start on the front page........

This now isn't the situation we needed to start him in....Mondays game was big because we had a big starting pitcher advantage, obviously that wasn't so. Now, Cotts has to keep us from dropping into 3rd place.....

well it dont matter hes not starting tomorrow(???)mlb.com says no.......

 

 

Tuesday, August 12 @ 9:05 p.m. CT 

TICKETS | TV: FSN | Radio: ESPN Radio 1000

 

 

 

62-56

 

Wright

0-5, 6.08

 

 

@

Ortiz

13-9, 4.58

 

 

55-63

and on the same page they put up this article ....lol... wtf does anyone over there know whats going on for sure???

 

Notes: Cotts to start Tuesday

Left-hander to debut as fifth starter against Anaheim

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com Get tickets

 

 

 

 

Neal Cotts posted a 2.12 ERA at Triple-A Charlotte, allowing 62 hits in 106 1/3 innings. (Brian Bahr/Getty)

 

 

 

ANAHEIM -- Jerry Manuel left the comfort of Tucson and the familiar surroundings of Tucson Electric Park on a number of different occasions during Spring Training, taking the bus trip down I-10 in order to see some of his prospects in action during split-squad games.

But from all of those two-hour journeys to Surprise, Phoenix and Tempe, Manuel has no recollection of left-handed pitcher Neal Cotts.

 

“I don’t remember anything about him,” said Manuel with a laugh. “I made all those trips past that Ostrich farm (off the highway) and can’t remember Cotts. That’s sad, isn’t it?

 

“He’s throwing for me tomorrow and I have no idea. I know the face. When I saw him, it was like, ‘OK, I know this guy.’ But I can’t remember him pitching.”

 

Manuel might want to forget Cotts’ Spring Training numbers, a 1-0 record with a 22.50 earned run average in two games, and look at the inhumanly successful numbers the 24-year-old put up while pitching for Double-A Birmingham this season. Cotts, who was acquired along with closer Billy Koch from Oakland in December, will make his Major-League debut Tuesday night against the Angels, as Manuel alluded.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

"I have a lot of nerves going through me, but I’m really excited to be here."

-- Neal Cotts

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

The soft-spoken rookie was with the team Monday, in preparation for Tuesday’s first pitch. Cotts’ contract will be purchased prior to Tuesday’s game, and another move will be made accordingly.

 

Cotts was dressed and on his way home from Sunday’s game for the Barons, when manager Wally Backman and pitching coach Juan Nieves called him back and broke the good news. In 20 starts with Birmingham, Cotts posted a 9-6 record with a 2.12 ERA and allowed a mere 62 hits in 106 1/3 innings. He struck out 131 and walked 56.

 

Temporarily assuming the fifth starter’s slot, Cotts would like to come close to duplicating that success.

 

“I have a lot of nerves going through me, but I’m really excited to be here,” said Cotts, who throws a fastball in the low- to mid-90s, a change and a curve. “I’m also tired from traveling. Everything is going on at the same time.”

 

“Any time you can dip into the organization and get a shot in the arm, it’s kind of critical at this time,” added Manuel of Cotts’ arrival. “It would be just like acquiring someone other teams know nothing about, and (Cotts) has good stuff. He might take a while to figure out -- hopefully until the end of October.”

 

Cotts, who was born in downstate Belleville and resides in Lebanon, Ill., focused on soccer at the outset of his athletic career. But a broken leg, suffered when he was kicked during a game in the summer prior to his junior year, effectively shifted the focus to baseball.

 

Manuel hopes Cotts can have the same effect as Livan Hernandez did when he was called up by Florida in 1997 and helped the Marlins to the World Series title. But, there’s no guarantee for Cotts staying in the rotation after Tuesday night. That is, unless he turns in a “memorable” performance.

 

“That’s entirely up to him,” said Manuel of Cotts, who started the All-Star Futures Game at U.S. Cellular Field, allowing one run in one inning. “If he responds well, we will insert him in there for the time being.”

 

Crouching Olivo, Absent Injury: After sitting out almost five games with a bruised right shoulder, Miguel Olivo returned to the starting lineup Monday night.

 

The young catcher also softened his stance on the actions of Kansas City catcher Brent Mayne, who Olivo tripped over while trying to score during Tuesday’s victory over the Royals. As recently as Friday, Olivo was more than a little miffed over Mayne’s perceived blocking of the plate without benefit of the baseball. But watching the replay, and maybe his quick healing process, helped change Olivo’s mind.

 

“I could see what he was doing, and maybe I would have done the same thing on the play when I think about it,” Olivo said. “He didn’t have the ball, and that’s why I got confused.

 

“But I can’t think about it. I want to play with a clear mind.”

 

Olivo suffered problems throwing the baseball during the ensuing two or three days after the injury. He pronounced himself 100 percent Monday.

 

“I’m fine,” Olivo said with a smile. “I really thought I lost the whole year (when I fell), but Hermie (trainer Herm Schneider) took good care of me.”

 

 

 

Who’s on first? Frank Thomas talked Sunday about returning to first base during the club’s seven-game road trip to Anaheim and Texas, trying to feel more a part of the game. But Manuel said Monday the lineup would stay the same, with Paul Konerko at first base, for the time being.

 

“As long as we are playing good baseball and going about it in the fashion we are currently going about it, the lineup will stay the way we are for a while,” Manuel said. “They have a batting cage here for Frank, so it’s not one of those situations where he can’t work out in between at-bats.

 

“We are going to stay that way until we look for some different things offensively,” Manuel added.

 

White out -- officially: The White Sox have placed reliever Rick White on waivers for the purpose of granting his unconditional release. White, who was designated for assignment on Aug. 2, had a 1-2 record and 6.61 earned run average in 34 relief appearances.

 

The Houston Astros illegally claimed White and announced they signed him as a free agent on Aug. 6. When a player is designated for assignment, the club has 10 days to trade him, release him or, if he clears waivers, re-sign him and send him to the minors. So, the Astros move was voided, with the White Sox still holding White’s contractual rights.

There's alot of pressure on this kid. I hope he can handle it. I just wanna see him give us a chance to win tomorrow. 6 innings of anything less then 4 runs will do for me...

There's alot of pressure on this kid.  I hope he can handle it.  I just wanna see him give us a chance to win tomorrow.  6 innings of anything less then 4 runs will do for me...

Basically, you are defining a quality start. Yes, that would certainly be acceptable.

A lot of pressure on this kid, but he's going to be okay. The Sox are gonna force Ortiz to challenge them, he is not pitching well of late. They are going to want to give this kid a win. A beer shower for Cotts in the locker room would be a good thing for the clubhouse on this road trip.

I see an Aaron Sele like performance. 4+, 80 pitches, 3 K's 5 BB's 6 hits, 5 runs. A costly error from the fielders to deflate the evening. Just when I get excited (Sunday leaving the park,) this team shows when I can not. The idea of a guy that was basically a throw in on a deal making a huge start for us, we are 2 out with 44 to play (KC has 45 to play,) frustrates me. Wright should have pitched last eve, I have no clue what this teams wants to do.

Most of you haven't seen Cotts pitch. If he's anything similar to what he was in AA he will be just fine. 6 IP 3 ER will have me sold on this guy.

From seeing him at the Future's Game, seeing how other pitchers have debuted recently, and how he has said he is nervous I'm not expecting much from him. Of course, I'm not the best judge, but I'm going to say that he will go 5 innings and give up 4-5 runs. Haven't seen him enough to predict BBs or Ks.

I think this will be his stats: 6 IP, 3 hits, 3 BB, 3 ER, 7 Ks. And a win...

I'm hoping he'll be able to go at least six innings. He's gotta keep that pitch count down or JM will easily give him the hook early. If he can keep his composure, I'm sure he'll be able to keep that pitch count down, allowing him to pitch more innings.