Pitching coach Don Cooper expects Jose Contreras to be “in charge of the game” Tuesday night when the right-hander makes his first start for the White Sox against the Royals in Kansas City.
“We’re going to let him pitch his game and see where he’s at and go from there,” Cooper said.
If Contreras follows the pattern he established with the Yankees over the last
11 1/42 seasons, expect him to use his split-finger fastball early and often, no matter how well it’s working.
The knock on Contreras–one of them, at least–is that he doesn’t trust his fastball and falls in love with his splitter. It’s a pattern Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he hopes to see Contreras change.
Contreras’ aversion to using his fastball was a source of frustration to the Yankees. Catcher Jorge Posada was known to yell at Contreras for refusing to throw his fastball more, especially early in the count.
Contreras’ maddening inconsistency is the main reason the Yankees were willing to part with him. Some have questioned his makeup: Can he pitch in big games? Can he pitch through adversity?
Cooper said there is no question Contreras has legitimate major-league stuff. Cooper remembers a game Contreras pitched against the Sox in September at U.S. Cellular Field: eight innings of four-hit shutout ball, with nine strikeouts.
“It was the best game pitched against us,” Cooper said. “The hitters were mumbling about his stuff.”
But when the Sox faced Contreras in New York on April 9 this season, they scored five runs off him in 51 1/43 innings.
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5 things about Jose
– Once Cuba’s top pitcher, he defected after a game in Mexico to come to the U.S. after he slipped out of his hotel, made his way to Monterrey, flew to Tijuana and walked into the U.S.
– Soon after that, the free-agent signed a four-year deal worth $32 million with the Yankees.
– Early this year, his wife and two daughters sought asylum after reaching Florida after a daunting boat trip.
– With then-Milwaukee Brewers prospect Ben Sheets on the mound, the U.S. baseball team beat Contreras and the Cubans for the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics.
– Cuba’s Fidel Castro used to call him once a week and often invited Contreras to his home for dinner.
REDEYE
