Got a surprise in Surprise, AZ as Hideo Nomo was warming up for the White Sox. Nomo is a 37 year old Japanese righthander who enjoyed his best success with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hideo was 13-6 with a 2.54 ERA in 1995 as a rookie, 16-11 in 1996, and 14-12 in 1997. After suffering through a couple of injury riddled seasons he rebounded for a 12-8 mark in 1999 with the Brewers. As recently as 2001 he posted three consecutive years with records of 13-10, 16-6, & 16-13. So you might ask, how did were the Sox able to bring such an obviously talented pitcher into camp? Well Nomo fell on hard times the last couple of years and he is once again looking to recapture the magic that made him one of the best pitchers in the game, 123-109 lifetime.
Nomo had a shakey first inning allowing two runs, but rebounded with a couple of K’s and no runs in the 2nd. Brandon McCarthy was horrible in his quest for a job in the Sox bullpen. McCarthy walked three, allowed two hits (one of which was a HR), and three runs, all this in one-third of an inning. Boone Logan pitched 1 2/3 innings of shutout ball, hasn’t allowed a run all spring. Cliff Politte, Bobby Jenks, & Neal Cotts all threw an inning of scoreless ball. A.J. Pierzynski had three hits, Alex Cintron drove in a couple, and Jermaine Dye launched one over the fence. Although Doug Mientkiewicz went 3-for-3, a double, a homer, with four RBIs, it wasn’t to be as the Good Guys posted a 6-5 win.
what’s your feeling on the Sox taking on Nomo? I was hoping he would just up and retire.
I think it’s a good move by the Sox. Don Cooper seems to be a genius when it comes to reviving pitchers careers (see Esteban Loaiza). As for Nomo, I really don’t know if he’ll pitch for the Sox this year. If any of their starters falters I’d think they’d try Hideo before bouncing Brandon McCarthy between relief and the rotation. Hideo Nomo looked to be in great shape and had something on the ball, at 37 I’m not sure he’s ready to hang it up just yet.