Cooper: Jenks will be ready when it counts

March, 7, 2010
3/07/10
4:58
PM CT
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Bobby Jenks
Jerry Lai/US PresswirePitching coach Don Cooper is not concerned about Bobby Jenks' status for Opening Day.
Chicago White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper was in Mesa, Ariz., on Saturday when Freddy Garcia and Bobby Jenks were pitching in a game in Glendale, Ariz.

Cooper had this report on Jenks: "It was his first outing of the spring. He's just getting on track. He had been a tad behind but he is now on track and we're moving along with him."

Jenks, coming off of an off year in 2009, had 29 saves in 35 attempts before injuring his calf muscle and not pitching the last two weeks of the season. Cooper doesn't seem to have any concern.

"What we know about Bobby since 2005 when he joined us is when the bell rings he is ready to go," Cooper said.

Manager Ozzie Guillen was asked about whether Jenks has to re-prove himself to management this season.

"No, he has to prove something to himself," Guillen said. "He's our closer until he's not our closer anymore. He's got to go out and do what he's been doing in the past, and we have a lot of confidence in him. He's our man."

Jenks had a rough first outing on Saturday, giving up two runs on two hits, allowing two walks in one inning.

  • The White Sox had 10,000 seats sold for Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs in Glendale, Ariz. Cactus League rules allow teams to offer vouchers for future games for any fans holding tickets for rainouts.
  • The White Sox will play a B game on Monday in order to get work in for the pitchers who missed throwing on Sunday because of the rainout. Pitcher Jake Peavy, who was supposed to pitch against the Cubs, threw a 45-pitch, simulated two-inning game in the team's batting cages against live hitters.

    "I have to treat it like it was a regular game," Peavy said. "I wasn't going through the motions. I was putting something on it. For the first time out in spring training, in a game mode, in my mind I was very pleased."

    Peavy said he will throw against the Los Angeles Angelsin Tempe, Ariz., next time out. The Sox pitcher will also host Wood Jock 2010, a big-league fan fest in Scottsdale, Ariz., this weekend. This will be a charitable event that will include Peavy, San Francisco Giants Barry Zito, former New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyoas well as Sox teammates Scott Linebrink, Omar Vizquel and Gordon Beckham.

    All participants will sing and/or play an instrument.

    "I'm pretty excited about the week coming up," Peavy said. "This should be a great event and hopefully will help a lot of people."
  • Cooper said Gavin Floyd, J.J. Putz and Randy Williamswill pitch the regular-scheduled game on Monday for the White Sox. The newly scheduled B game has all minor leaguers, including lefty Matt Thornton, in a game that will be on a backfield at 9:30 a.m. Cooper has said that Linebrink, who has been battling a sinus infection, will also pitch in one of the two games.
  • The quote of the day goes to who else, but Guillen. The Sox manager, still laughing about Cubs manager Lou Piniella not going to Las Vegas this weekend for the matchup between the Cubs and Sox on Friday and Saturday, said: "Piniella said he's not going to Las Vegas this weekend because his wife is here [Arizona]. I'm going to Las Vegas because my wife is here," Guillen quipped.
  • Bruce Levine | email

    Chicago baseball beat reporter
    Bruce Levine has covered sports in Chicago for over 28 years and hosts "Talkin' Baseball," heard Saturday mornings on ESPN 1000.

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