Perhaps its new name will help Keith Foulke when he walks into theballpark he knew as Comiskey Park.
The veteran relief pitcher who was such a part of White Soxhistory--he came from the San Francisco Giants in the famous "whiteflag" trade of 1997 and went on to save 100 games--already knows itwill feel strange today coming to U.S. Cellular Field in the uniformof the Oakland Athletics.
"It'll be a little bizarre going into the other clubhouse anddugout," he told the Contra Costa Times. "But I've separated myselffrom that situation. I'm very happy here. So in that respect, it'sreally no big deal."
Foulke was traded to the Athletics last winter after a year turnedsour for the fiery 30-year-old right-hander. The Dec. 3 deal sendingFoulke, catcher Mark Johnson and a minor-league pitcher brought inreturn the A's ace closer and Rolaids Relief Award winner Billy Kochin the first of two major deals by general manager Ken Williams.
The teams meet for the first time this season with the closersgoing through differing Aprils.
Foulke has had a good month, saving six games and posting a 2.19ERA with 15 strikeouts to three walks in 121/3 innings. Koch hasstruggled with a 1-1 record, 9.00 ERA and three saves in fiveopportunities but has 13 strikeouts to five walks in 11 innings.
Koch, 28, had only six blown saves last season in running awaywith the American League's top relief pitcher honors with 44 savesand an 11-4 record. Koch has said his problems are more about commandof his pitches than mechanics or velocity.
"I just have to work on missing the bat," he said last week. "It'sgetting a little frustrating. I had problems in 2001--I was all overthe place [throwing] but I worked it out last year and now we've gotit where I want [mechanically]. Now it's a matter of making betterpitches."
Sox manager Jerry Manuel is being selective in using Koch inclosing situations. On Sunday, with the Sox leading Minnesota 3-1 inthe ninth, Koch was warming in the bullpen. But with Man-uel watchingin the clubhouse after being ejected in the first inning, thedecision came to stay with left-hander Damaso Marte, who had pitchedthe eighth.
"Koch is still our closer," Man-uel said. "But the situation wasleft-right-left [hitters], and it was a good opportunity for Marte toget a save. It goes back to we have to get certain people going, andMarte is a critical part of the bullpen.
"I've always said with a good bullpen, you shouldn't be afraid toget saves with anyone. Billy Koch is throwing well, but not quite aswell as he has [before]. It means we have one other guy who can getsaves."
That was the scenario last season when a struggling Foulke losthis closer role to Marte and Antonio Osuna, since traded to the NewYork Yankees. Manuel met privately with Foulke, telling him he couldearn back his role. But the decision weighed hard on the vocal teamleader who ranks third on the Sox all-time saves list.
"I don't think I was treated the way I should've been treated,"said Foulke, who finished with a 2-4 record, 2.90 ERA and 11 saves. Ifeel like they just kind of pushed me out, and I was never reallygiven an explanation. It could've been handled better. But you lookat it now and where I am with the [Oakland] organization and itprobably was a blessing in disguise."
At the time of the trade, Foulke was concerned about joining a newteam.
"The adjustment has been great," Foulke said. I really like ithere. The guys are great and they allow you to just be yourself. It'sdefinitely an atmosphere that's conducive to winning.
"I had a great time [with the Sox]. One bad season isn't going totake that away. I was there for five-plus years. It's where Iestablished myself in the big leagues. It's where I learned how topitch and where I got an opportunity to close games. I have goodmemories. It's just the last season that I want to forget."
Foulke and the A's arrive with a four-game winning streak undernew manager Ken Macha. After winning two of three from Minnesota, theSox know they face another difficult series against Oakland and thenagainst West Division-leading Seattle.
"With their pitching staff, we have to try to score runs any waywe can," Frank Thomas said. "They were scuffling a little, too. It'sa new season and no one but the Yankees has come out the way it wasexpected. We're one of the elite teams, too, so we just have to getit going."
Much as he wants his hitters to get hot, Manuel believes theseries will be decided by pitching.
"You expect good pitching from them, and hopefully we'll get sometimely pitching, too," he said. "We'll need Bartolo [Colon] to shutthem down [today] and try to get some timely hitting."
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