The Trib's Mark Gonzalez profiles Don Cooper, taking an interesting look at his relationship with Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen. I've C&P'd this excerpt to keep in mind throughout April as we prepare for the Matt Thornton Experience:
Such was the case Monday when the Sox landed struggling left-handed reliever Matt Thornton from Seattle.
"When the pitching coach tells you 'I want this guy,' and 'Don't worry about his ability to throw strikes,' and my scouts want the guy as well, I'm going to do everything I can to get him," general manager Ken Williams said after Thornton was acquired for outfielder Joe Borchard.
(...)Williams and Guillen have faith that Cooper will be able to develop Thornton, 28, a disappointing one-time first-round draft pick whose spotty major-league record includes a 5.21 lifetime ERA in just 57 innings.
Well, at least we'll know who to blame. I don't necessarily worry about Thornton's ability to throw strikes as much as I worry about his knack for throwing meatballs. I'm afraid that what Cooper and Co. will find out is that 95-mph meatballs from the left side are no different than any others. He's been beat up by big-league and minor-league hitters alike.
I'd be happy if Thornton managed to reach Alan Embree's level. Not the Embree we saw with our Sox, where basically fit the same profile -- hard-throwing lefty with no movement on his fastball -- as Thornton, but the one who put up a couple years of sub-3.00 ERA with the Red Sox. That's not saying much, but given what we've seen from Thornton so far, we can't really say anything at all.
Personally, I'm more excited about Gonzalez's photo. Points for anybody who writes in, "I don't have any questions, but I just wanted to say I loved you in 'Magnum'" and sees it posted in his mailbag.