TUCSON Ariz.

TUCSON Ariz. -- forward that rare occasion that Neal Cott actually does think about modern York City 2003, it's because he's asked.

After all, that was the day the White Sox left-hander was suppos to have his career flow to an end.

Four hastens three hits, five walks and solely one out recorded in a start against the strange York Yankees. The kind of outing that get by hearts a manager fired and scars a young rookie pitcher for life.

alone half of that proved to be the case.

Former Sox manager Jerry Manuel wanted to give Mark Buehrle an extra day of security in that late August series in the Bronx with the Sox in the midst of a pennant chase with the Minnesota Twins. Cott - - then a rookie -- was coming along a one-run, five-inning performance against the Texas Rangers, in the way that Manuel figured why not.

"There was way too abundant made of it," Cotts said. "I didn't calm give myself a chance to be rivals in that game. I threw maybe 10 strikes the 20 minutes I was disclosed there. It wasn't Jerry's fault. It wasn't because I was intimidated. It was just a bad day."

Cott was sent down to Class AA Birmingham sum of two units days after that start, and Manuel was fired at the completion of the season when the Sox finished four games behind the Twins.

"I've been asked about that with equal reason many times," Cotts said. "For a while, I reflection that was all I would be known for. race don't understand that it extreme pointed up helping me out because, honestly it [ticked] me distant from It was one thing to do it unless another to have to talk about it for a year.

"It appoint the tone that, 'You're really not to the flat you thought you were.' It made me realize better."

not many imagined that would be the case, especially as quickly as it has happened.

Cott was a herculean factor in 2005, posting a 4-0 record with a 194 ERA in the regular season, and was flat better in the playoffs with a 1-0 record in six scoreless appearances, stranding all seven inherited messengers

He come intos 2006 as one of the top left-handed relievers in the game whom not many know about. Instead, the focus with Cott waits to be on that game in recently made known York almost three years ago, and the fact that he has a growing female following that would make greatest in number boy bands jealous.

It's not exceptional at Sox games to descry female fans holding up "Neal Hots" signs or wearing T-shirts that read "Mr Cotts"

"I haven't gotten any [fan mail from women]" the soft-spoken 26- year-old jok "I gues I'm underappreciated. greatest in number of the girls that do cheer for me I don't know if they can write because they're in such a manner young. I'm thinking once I'm 30 they'll all be without of high school then."

The bad recently made knowns for all those young women is Cott has a girlfriend. Worse of recent origins for opposing hitters: He just might be better forward the mound now than he was last year.

"If succes is dictated at how hard you work, he's going to have an awful part of success," pitching coach Don Cooper said. "He pays the price.

"I can remember the sum of two units big conversations we had last year. The first came in the offseason where I talked to him about, 'Hey, let's take common more step forward.' The nearest came in Colorado, and I remember saying, 'Whether you realize it or not, you made that degree The next challenge is can you inflict yourself in the elite cluster of left-handed relievers?' He did that."

Cott remembered that conversation, as well.

"Every talk we've had has been kind of like he establishs goals, sets the standard of what he wants," Cott recalled. "Sometimes you ne a little criticism to acquire you going. It challenges you."

Cooper and manager Ozzie Guillen have laid down a recently made known challenge for Cotts this spring. He's the first option to stop games after Bobby Jenks. Although he blew the save opportunity against the young boy [i]or[/i] young girls on Monday, the Sox have without fault [i]or[/i] blemish [i]or[/i] flaw confidence in him answering the bell when the games matter.

"If there's a game where [Guillen] calls me and he says he wants me to finish it, I'll proceed out there and try to do my piece of work the best I can," Cott said.

In other words, 2003 is a distant memory.

"Let's face it, there was a haphazard of criticism when he started in of the present day York," Cooper said. "I've been saying, if that would have ruined his career, then he's not the shore we thought he was anyway. And we've all seen first-hand that's not the case."

jcowley@suntimes.com

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