All good so far for Contreras
TUCSON, Ariz. -- It's still early, very early, but there was a significant development Thursday in the White Sox' training camp.
OK, maybe two.
The Sox finally beat Colorado in Cactus League play, a 12-3 decision that snapped a string of 11 straight losses to the Rockies dating to the spring of 2006.
More important, starting pitcher Jose Contreras breezed through his first exhibition outing, working 3 innings and allowing 1 unearned run on 1 hit.
"It's hard when you have a year like he did last year,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. "That was a big game for him to build some confidence. He threw the ball well, kept the ball down.''
While it would be unfair to say Contreras is the one player the White Sox need to bounce back this season, the big right-hander is definitely on the spot.
In his first four major-league seasons, split between the New York Yankees and the Sox, Contreras always had a winning record. He also was a big success in his native Cuba, going 117-50 over seven seasons.
Last year, Contreras struggled mentally and physically, going 10-17 with a 5.57 ERA. The season was so bad, the 36-year-old pitcher was demoted to the bullpen after giving up 7 runs on 8 hits in a July 31 start against New York at Yankee Stadium.
"It was the worst year of my career,'' Contreras said through a translator. "It was tough to prepare for each game. You try to win for your team, but for it to not go well was tough. This year I prepared hard physically and mentally and I feel good about it.''
While he speaks limited English, Contreras can say a lot with his big smile and gentle nature. But when things started going badly in 2007 -- especially during a stretch of 9 straight losses -- Contreras' body language obviously was uncomfortable.
Thursday morning on WMVP 1000-AM, Tom Waddle and Marc Silverman asked Jon Garland, a veteran starter for the Sox before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels in November, about Contreras' struggles.
"I think it was more mental,'' Garland said. "It's a lot tougher than people think. People think because you dealt one game, you should be able to do that your whole career. It's not like that. Some days, you come to the field and you just don't feel good, your arm doesn't feel good, your body doesn't feel good.
"But I think mentally, he might have had a bad one and then started talking to himself a little too much: 'I can't do this again, I want to prove myself,' or 'This is what they're expecting of me.' You know, it weighs heavy on guys when they are on the field.''
Contreras seemed to breathe a big sigh of relief Thursday after he pitched against the Rockies.
"Last year didn't go well; it went poorly,'' Contreras said. "But I prepared for this one. I prepared well and I left today's game well. I feel a lot better, physically and mentally, than last year.''
The Sox have two proven performers, Mark Buehrle and Javier Vazquez, at the top of the rotation. With two other unproven arms, John Danks and Gavin Floyd, it's no secret Contreras needs to return to form.
"You throw strikes, you're going to have a chance to win, and that's what he did today,'' Guillen said. "We made sure he attacked the strike zone and see what happens. When Jose gets behind the hitter, everyone knows he's going to get in trouble.''