Tough season for White Sox’ Cooper
It has been a tough season for the White Sox, and even tougher for pitching coach Don Cooper.
In April, Cooper was hospitalized in Arlington, Va., with diverticulitis and he missed a 10-game road trip that made stops at Washington, Cleveland and Toronto.
Cooper was hospitalized again Saturday in Baltimore with the same condition, but he was able to return to the Sox’ dugout for Monday night’s game against the Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field.
“It’s hereditary and I’m getting older,” the 57-year-old Cooper said. “I have somebody in my family who’s had it, and I’m certainly getting older, so I meet both criteria.
“I’m going to have to take care of it at the end of the year, find out exactly what it is, because I don’t want to go through this every four months.”
Looking ahead:The 2014 schedule was released Tuesday, and the White Sox open the season March 31 against the Minnesota Twins at U.S. Cellular Field.The Sox and Cubs play May 5-6 at Wrigley Field and May 7-8 at the Cell.Other interleague matchups include a three-game series at Colorado (April 7-9), home series vs. Arizona (May 9-11), San Diego (May 30-June 1) and San Francisco (June 17-18) and trips to Los Angeles (June 2-4) and San Francisco (Aug. 12-13).Block it out:White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said he will wait until the season#146;s over before making decisions on players and coaches.Considering the Sox rank last in the American League in runs scored, hitting coach Jeff Manto#146;s job could be in jeopardy, especially with Jim Thome waiting in the wings.#147;You just continue to work,#148; manager Robin Ventura said about his coaching staff. #147;All that stuff gets figured out later. For us, we#146;re continuing to work and you get through it and get to the end of the year, and that#146;s me included.#147;I think anytime you look too far out into the future you forget what#146;s in front of you.#148;Remembering 9/11:Wednesday is the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and Paul Konerko still has vivid memories of the day. The White Sox were in New York City preparing to play the Yankees when the World Trade Center was attacked.#147;I remember it very well,#148; Konerko said. #147;You don#146;t forget things like that. Nobody is going to forget what happened that day. But to be in New York, it was very #133; a weird place to be, that#146;s for sure.#147;So no doubt, it#146;s always a story that I have to tell, but it#146;s not exactly you want to tell that one. It was definitely a crazy day and just it seems like it was yesterday.#148;