Kotsay demonstrates why Sox call him 'just a good baseball player'
GLENDALE, Ariz. - The bases were loaded with one out Sunday when Mark Kotsay came to the plate in the bottom of the first inning in the White Sox' Cactus League game against the Royals.
Kotsay took two quick strikes against Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar and then showed why the Sox hold him in such high esteem.
The 34-year-old veteran calmly took a ball. Then Kotsay coaxed another one, and another and one more to draw a walk and force home a run.
"He's just a good baseball player, he really is," said White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker. "He's easy for me. You just pat him on the back and say, 'Go play baseball.' "
Kotsay has been playing baseball for a long time - he's entering his 13th full major-league season.
But it hasn't been easy for the former Cal State-Fullerton legend. The White Sox are his sixth team and Kotsay has survived two back surgeries, the most recent coming in January of 2009.
"I've always taken great pride in the fact that early on, I learned the fundamentals of the game and that's kind of kept me around," Kotsay said. "I thrive on the fact that I know I'm not the biggest, the fastest or the strongest, so I try to work a little bit harder than most. Although the older I get, I seem to find less is more for me. I can't go in and take 500 swings in the batting cage anymore, but the work that I do, if it's 10 or 15 swings, it's concentrated and focused."
Kotsay has been one of the Sox' best players in the Cactus League this spring, and he is batting a robust .419 after going 0-for-1 and walking against the Royals.
"He's just a really good player," Walker stressed. "His reputation has been that way his whole career. You go back to college, he has the reputation of being one of the greatest college players of all time. As a hitting coach you look at him and say he's a real low maintenance player. His swing his simple, his mechanics are simple and his brain works the right way."
Kotsay's back has not always worked the right way, but unlike former White Sox third baseman Joe Crede, he's managed to keep it healthy enough to stay in the game.
"I think there's only one other guy (Oakland's Eric Chavez) that's had two back surgeries and is playing right now," Kotsay said. "It's something you continually deal with, not just from a baseball standpoint but from a life standpoint.
"One, I had a great surgeon (Dr. Robert Watkins). Eric used the same surgeon. And it's pretty much being religious on the back program, stabilization stuff. It's a nonstop grind of getting in here and utilizing the training staff and the strength coach. Just being religious with the program."
Kotsay is as versatile as they come - he can play first base and all three outfield positions - but his main role with the Sox this season is being the designated hitter against right-handed starting pitchers.
"I'm sure he can handle it," Walker said. "He's mentally strong enough to do anything in this game. He does everything well."
With a bit of trepidation, Kotsay is looking forward to the challenge.
"I think I can handle that," Kotsay said.
"Being the DH is something where, if you have the mental capability to sit there after you make an out and kind of let it go right away and not grind on it, I think you can have success. It's all different though and we'll see how it plays out. No worries."
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