Cubs' Bosio has big fan in Plesac

Nearly 20 years ago, Dan Plesac predicted that Chris Bosio would someday be a major-league pitching coach, even if Bosio himself had never thought of it.

“I could tell from the time I first met him in 1983 in the Instructional League because he could just never get enough of pitching, from the mechanics to the delivery to the mental side of it,” said Plesac, who's in Arizona this week in his role as MLB Network analyst. “Most people just saw him as tough, as this big, animated, Pete Vuckovich type guy. He was tough. He had that hockey player mentality. He pitched with a lot of passion.

“But the media never saw the other side of him. He was a true student of pitching.”

Dale Sveum was drafted in the first round by the Brewers in 1982, Bosio taken in the second round of the same draft, and Plesac was the Brewers' first rounder in 1983.

All three played together in the minors and all three broke in with Milwaukee in 1986. Sveum left after 1991 and Plesac and Bosio after the 1992 season.

Now Sveum is the Cubs' manager and Bosio the pitching coach.

“Bosio and I pitched together in the minors and majors, and we were in bullpens, clubhouses, cabs, buses and airplanes together. You name it,” Plesac said. “But I know Dale and he's a no-nonsense guy who is very, very confident.

“This is Dale Sveum's first managing job and most guys would go for a known commodity as pitching coach. That's the safe play, but instead he went for the guy he thought was the best guy (in Bosio).

“As a manager you have enough responsibility and you don't want to have to worry about the pitching staff, and he trusts Bosio and he knows what he's all about, and Bosio is very, very good at this.''

Plesac — sixth in baseball history with 1,064 games pitched — says the staff will never have to guess where Bosio stands on an issue.

“He's very passionate about pitching, very clear about what he thinks and he will stick up for his pitchers like nobody else,” Plesac laughed. “I give Dale Sveum a lot of credit for hiring Bosio. It's a bold move and a good move.”

Bruce Weber

It was an appropriately sad ending for Bruce Weber and Illinois in the Big Ten tourney Thursday as Iowa overcame a 7-point Illini lead in the second half and outscored Illinois 27-17 the rest of the way.

For Weber's sake, let's hope Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas makes the call quickly and allows Weber to get on with his life.

Weber appears to be good man who really cares about his players and tried to do it the right way, but it just didn't work for him at Illinois.

Here's wishing Weber well in the future.

Hawks-Rangers

If you didn't enjoy the Blackhawks getting physically pounded by the Blues on Tuesday night, don't expect much different Friday night from the Rangers. The only good news is New York had to play at Ottawa on Thursday.

Ivan Boldirev-ing

With NHL scoring down for the third straight year, Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle points a finger at some of the rule changes designed to do the opposite.

“I'm not a big fan of the red line being taken out,'' Boyle told the San Jose media. “I think it takes away offense. Guys can make the long play now and just flip their blade over and have the puck go in, and it's not icing. (The red line) is probably something that could change the game, but I don't see that being changed any time soon.”

The bounty

NFL Network's Mike Lombardi: “I am sure James Harrison is anxious to see what fines and suspensions commissioner Roger Goodell has in store for the Saints personnel involved in … their bounty program … since the linebacker has been suspended, fined and clearly has been a point of emphasis in Goodell's crackdown on player safety.”

Best tweet

From Hunter Hillenmeyer: “Here's the playbook, sir. Let me know if I can do anything to help.'' — Peyton's new OC

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: “Robert Griffin III runs 2.7-second 40 away from Redskins and Browns representatives.''

And finally…

Omaha World-Herald's Brad Dickson: “At the NFL Combine, Jared Crick ran an impressive 4.99 40-yard dash. Still, during his run the price of gas went up twice.''

brozner@dailyherald.com

Ÿ Listen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score's “Hit and Run” show at WSCR 670-AM, and follow him @BarryRozner on Twitter.