For Sox pitchers, ‘a little bonding time’
The White Sox will hold a first-ever mini-camp for pitchers this weekend at their spring facilities in Glendale, Ariz., what coach Don Cooper calls “a little bonding time.”
While the session is mostly for minor-leaguers, among those attending are Jake Peavy, Matt Thornton and newly signed reliever J.J. Putz. None is scheduled to throw off a mound, just play catch and talk pitching and what is expected of them come spring.
“It’s just a little jump-start,” Cooper said. “I’ll be meeting J.J. Putz for the first time and be able to watch him play catch.”
Cooper also said all his pitchers “are fine physically,” including Putz, a one-time bullpen closer who is coming off June elbow surgery to remove chips.
— Dave van Dyck
New Irish coach makes his first hires
Brian Kelly reached into his past to begin filling out his new Notre Dame staff, officially hiring three assistants Tuesday who all have ties to previous Kelly stops.
Tight ends coach Mike Denbrock and secondary coach Chuck Martin both served as coordinators under Kelly at Grand Valley State. Defensive line coach Mike Elston is the first of a handful of Cincinnati assistants expected to migrate to the Irish.
“All three guys understand the importance of player development, and we share the same philosophies for making our team better,” Kelly said in a statement.
A couple more hires may be official by week’s end, once the candidates clear Notre Dame’s human resources process. The full staff should be in place by next week.
Brian Hamilton
USOC picks former CEO as new chief
Scott Blackmun will be the new chief executive of the U.S. Olympic Committee, the Tribune learned Tuesday.
The USOC board has chosen him over Chuck Wielgus, the chief executive of USA Swimming.
“I think it’s a good decision,” said USOC board member Anita DeFrantz.
USOC chairman Larry Probst is to introduce Blackmun, 52, to the staff Wednesday in Colorado Springs.
Blackmun, an attorney, served the USOC in a variety of positions from 1999 through 2002. He was acting CEO from November 2000 through October 2001.
He replaces Stephanie Streeter, who became acting CEO when the board ousted Jim Scherr last March. Streeter, of Neenah, Wis., declined to be a candidate for the full-time job.
— Philip Hersh
