Behind the scenes, Cooper and Cora get Sox going
Thirteenth in a series
Editor's note: As the countdown continues toward the April 6 opener for the White Sox, Daily Herald Sports Writer Scot Gregor will offer his analysis of each position on the team and the key issues facing the club this season.
Q. Explain the real influence of bench coach Joey Cora.
Gregor: Had Joey Cora been hired as the Seattle Mariners' manager this winter - and I thought he was a lock - the White Sox would have suffered.
From the first day of spring training to the last day of the season, Cora runs the show from behind the scenes.
As a player, Cora thrived at getting his uniform dirty and doing all the little things. His role is much the same as the Sox' bench coach.
Q. Year in and year out pitching coach Don Cooper seems to do amazing work. How do you explain his success and does he have visions of one day managing? And how's his hamstring?
Gregor: Last question first. Cooper's hammy is back to 100 percent, and you can bet he won't be throwing any more temper tantrums in the dugout like he did at Dodger Stadium last season.
As for his success, too many of his peers, both current and former, force their beliefs on the pitching staff. Cooper is as opinionated as the come, but he listens to his pitchers and tailors a plan of attack around what they do best.
He is a pitching coach through and through, so don't expect Cooper to ever manage.
Q. Harold Baines and Ozzie are as different as any two men alive. Explain their relationship and what Baines means to Ozzie.
Gregor: The relationship goes back to when they were White Sox teammates, and Harold could often be spotted pulling Ozzie out of the hotel bar before the lights for last call went on.
Opposites attract might be a cliché, but it rings true with these two. There has always been a mutual respect between Harold and Ozzie, and it's as strong today as it was back in the 1980s.
Q. Hitting coach Greg Walker took a lot of heat last year. What's your view of the job he has done and how important is he to the team?
Gregor: Walker has been taking a lot of heat for the past three seasons, but he understands where it's coming from.
He is the hitting coach of a team that has plenty of power, but the Sox have had trouble scoring runs when the top of the order either fails to execute (see Nick Swisher) or fails to stay healthy (see Scott Podsednik, Darin Erstad and Jerry Owens).
Unlike a lot of hitting coaches, Walker puts the work in, and he has a plan for all of his hitters. That's really all you can ask for.
• Got a question about the Sox for Scot Gregor? Visit his blog, Chicago's Inside Pitch, to share your questions and comments.