'We no longer want you. You're gone': Don Cooper opens up about White Sox exit
Less than two weeks after the 2020 season ended, the White Sox made an unexpected announcement.
After three years of regularly getting his brains beaten in managing a team in a rebuild and then guiding the Sox to the playoffs in his fourth season, Rick Renteria was out.
Renteria has declined to talk about his decision to “part ways,” which is how the White Sox phrased the transaction.
After paying deserved respect to Renteria and all of the heavy lifting he did without complaint, Sox general manager Rick Hahn dropped another bombshell Oct. 12.
Don Cooper, the longest-tenured pitching coach in the major leagues, also “mutually agreed to part ways.”
“I would be remiss as the general manager, this organization would be remiss and White Sox fans would be remiss if we didn't take a moment to appreciate the contribution that Don Cooper has made to this organization over the last three decades,” Hahn said. “The memories we have, not only from (20)05, but from the developments of some of these pitchers over the recent history of this organization, from the Mark Buehrles to Jon Garland and Chris Sale, some of the big names that have thrilled us over the years are thanks in part to Don's efforts.
“The White Sox and the front office and White Sox fans owe a debt of gratitude to Don for everything he did over the years.”
Cooper was the Sox's pitching coach for 19 seasons, and he spent 33 years in the organization.
Always outspoken, Cooper finally talked about the parting Thursday on the Parkins & Spiegel Show (AM-670). It's pretty safe to say the 65-year-old New York City native did not agree to part ways.
“Here's where you cut through the (crud),” Cooper said. “ ‘We no longer want you to do what you're doing. You're gone. You're out.' And that's OK. I don't want to be somewhere where I'm no longer wanted.”
After so many years with the White Sox, Cooper views his exit with a strong sense of betrayal.
“I spent more than half my life with the (Sox),” he said. “It's not fun when people you look up to, admire and care for don't do the same for you. It's not fun.”
Co-host Danny Parkins asked Cooper who didn't care for him.
“Obviously, nobody,” said Cooper, who didn't care for the question. “I'm no longer with them. That's a silly question. That's a leading question. It's a question trying to ask me something to get in trouble.”
Cooper tried deflecting questions about a long run with the White Sox after his opening remarks.
“I was happy and grateful for my opportunity,” he said. “It's unfortunate. The bottom line is it hurt. When you're no longer a part of something, it hurts. But I'm over that hurt and, trust me, I've moved on and I'm living my life. I knew the end could come. I knew the end was closer than the beginning.”