White Sox fans can talk all they want about the need for an improved offense and bullpen and about the importance of the No. 4 and 5 starters, but the key to this season rests in the oversized hands of Jose Contreras.
“If Jose has a good season, then we should have a good season,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “If Jose pitches real well, we will compete. That’s the key for us, to get him back on track and be the one he was.”
The one he was. That would be the way he was in 2005 during a 15-7 regular season that earned him four starts in three postseason series. Or even the 13-9 pitcher he was a year later.
But certainly not the one he was last season, when Contreras tied for the second-most losses in the majors with 17 and the Sox lost 90 games.
“Last year, I’m taking it out of my mind,” Contreras said. “I’m using last year as motivation to improve on this year. Last year’s behind me.”
Of course, there are doubters, including those who wonder whether his listed 36 years of age is anywhere close to accurate (Guillen kids that he is the grandfather of the Sox’s newest Cuban player, Alexei Ramirez, listed as 25).
But Contreras is putting minds at ease — including Guillen’s — this spring. He held the Angels to one earned run in three innings Tuesday, his first earned run in six spring innings.
And for those who believe spring means nothing, remember Contreras allowed six hits and four walks in only 4 2/3 innings in his last March outing in Tucson. That was followed by eight runs in one inning in the season opener.
“Physically and mentally, everything is right on,” he said Tuesday. “I’m right on course.”
Last year, neither facet was close to being on a positive course, as his fastball velocity dropped and his marriage was broken.
“We all have problems off the field,” Guillen said. “If we don’t perform because of the problems off the field … I don’t believe that. Some people are weaker, softer up in the head. Jose lost confidence last year because his velocity was not there and he couldn’t pitch. Pitching is about spotting and throwing strikes, throwing the big pitch. He couldn’t do it last year.”
This spring, Contreras has worked at regaining velocity by reworking his arm angle.
“I’m going to try to mix up the angles,” he said. “My normal angle is kind of sidearm, but this year I’m working on three-quarters, regular angle and down a little more. I’m trying to keep the pitches in a zone.
“I want to pitch more three-quarters or higher, because last year I pitched too many down low so my velocity came down. I want to improve on all that.”
Whatever the reason for the failures last summer, Contreras needs to return to his one-time status as a big-time pitcher, and so far the results have been there.
“With all the stuff that went on last year, he did wind up winning 10 games,” pitching coach Don Cooper said.
“We have to try to push that to 15-plus. He’s coming back determined. He’s a proud guy, he’s determined. We saw how he rose in 2005 when everybody wanted to run him out of town.
“We have to have that same kind of rise again. If there’s anybody that can do it, it’s him because of his work ethic and his pride. Nobody likes to go out and [endure] what happened to him last year. He’s at a good starting point right now.”
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dvandyck@tribune.com
