Contreras back in business
When asked about Jose Contreras' performance in 2007, White Sox pitcher Don Cooper didn't have to expound. And he didn't have to be specific.
"He lost it last year,'' Cooper said.
On the field the 36-year-old Contreras lost 17 games, the most by a White Sox pitcher since Richard Dotson did the same in 1986.
Off the field Contreras was dealing with a divorce exacerbated by his defection from Cuba in 2002 and a nearly two-year wait before his ex-wife and two daughters were able to join him in the United States.
"I think a lot of fans look at us as just baseball players, like we're machines that go out and play,'' Contreras said through an translator. "But we all have problems. We all have situations with our families. Luckily, everything is very stable now.''
Heading into tonight's start against the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field, Contreras appears to have found everything that was missing last season.
The big right-hander has won each of his last 2 starts while allowing only 2 earned runs over 14 innings. Overall, Contreras is 4-3 with a 3.35 ERA.
Catcher A.J. Pierzynski said Contreras should pitch even better as the season progresses.
"He's getting closer,'' Pierzynski said. "His velocity is still a couple miles an hour down, but he's getting closer. You can see his confidence growing, and that's the biggest thing. He's very confident right now.
"And he's been throwing his split-finger (fastball) over the plate for strikes. He's getting strikeouts and called strikes on it, and anytime he does that he's going to be tough.''
Putting a tough year behind him has been equally significant.
In addition to being able to spend quality time with his two daughters from his first marriage, Contreras has a new girlfriend and is the proud father of a two-week old son.
"Everything is good,'' Contreras said with a big smile. "The tranquility in my personal life is very important. Overall, my personal life is stable, and that has brought stability to my pitching.''
In his first 2 starts of the season, Contreras was roughed up for 9 runs (8 earned) on 16 hits over 11¿ innings.
That raised many of the same questions Contreras dealt with in 2007, but lately he has looked much more like the pitcher who rattled off 17 straight wins in 2005-06, a franchise record.
"Last year, I've never had a losing season in 17 years,'' Contreras said. "It was tough for me to take. But I went home in the off-season and started working toward this season. I got myself prepared. Getting ready to pitch this season was very important to me, and I'm ready to help the team.''
Contreras is a big reason the White Sox are back in first place in the AL Central following a 7-3 West Coast trip.
"Was it personal problems with Jose last year?'' Cooper asked. "Stuff problems? Problems with his location? It was all of those things. Now I see him getting stronger every time he goes out there. He's throwing first-pitch strikes, keeping the ball in the zone, a lot of things he wasn't doing when he was going bad.''
It's all going good for Contreras and the Sox right now.
"It was such a mental thing last season,'' Contreras said. "My confidence level was low and I felt like I was letting the team down by not pitching well.''
Contreras came into 2008 as the White Sox' No. 4 starter after taking the ball on Opening Day last year. He was viewed more as a liability than an asset, but that has been altered, at least for now.
"All of the things he went through last season, they've been well documented,'' Cooper said. "And he had some arm difficulties last year, too. But he's come back with all of those things having been taken care of. He came back hungry.
"He's a proud guy that doesn't like to fail.''
Scouting report
White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet today and Thursday; Channel 26 Wednesday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchup: The White Sox' Jose Contreras (4-3) vs. C.C. Sabathia (3-5) today; Javier Vazquez (4-3) vs. Paul Byrd (2-3) Wednesday; Gavin Floyd (4-2) vs. Aaron Laffey (2-2) Thursday. All games 7:11 p.m.
At a glance: The White Sox have won five straight and jumped back into first place in the AL Central. The Indians, coming off 3 straight interleague losses at Cincinnati, are in second. The Sox have played only 16 home games, the fewest in baseball. After a brutal start, Sabathia has bounced back with 2 straight wins while allowing 1 earned run in 16 innings. He started the season opener against the White Sox and gave up 5 runs in 51/3 innings, including a pair of 2-run homers to Jim Thome. The Indians have the lowest batting average (.236) in the league. The Sox are second lowest at .247, but they rank fourth highest with 203 runs scored.
Next: Los Angeles Angels at U.S. Cellular Field, Friday-Sunday
-- Scot Gregor