By John Romano , Times Sports Columnist In Print: Wednesday, June 1, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG In his boyhood dreams, now there was not as often insanity.
The approach Alex Cobb had them figured, this big tavern calls, these people hand people some sort of ball and also a uniform, after which you can anyone frequency your heart out there because guests kind regards ones major-league debut.
Turns out, certainty can be just a little different. There are people holding out in the international airport that they are chosen up. There are generally pals labelling with regards to tickets. There usually are family a person haven't so much seen, some sort of girlfriend sitting away a tornado including a restless nighttime from a hotel bed.
"The initial time,'' his father, Rick, said, "was a circus.''
So, yeah, Cobb's very first look at Tropicana Field, about the primary evening connected with May alongside the Angels, has not been specifically the equipment associated with dreams. He couldn't ensure it is from the fifth inning from the Rays' 6-5 loss, as well as he or she discovered, to be able to his or her great surprise, this he / she appeared to be tipping away from batters to be able to what pitches have been coming through having his baseball glove in another way to regarding fastballs as well as off-speed pitches.
That's exactly why Cobb has been established in order to greet their subsequent big-league appearance, about the final day associated with May, with a bit of fewer anxiousness and fanfare Tuesday night.
There was zero family reunion in a bistro the nighttime before. When his or her mother labeled about midday on Tuesday, Cobb had just gotten outside pickup bed once a nice, tranquil sleep.
And whenever this individual needed your mound contrary to the Texas Rangers, Cobb finally sensed such as a big-leaguer. Even in the event that it turned out his second time period around.
"I felt similar to very last time I totaly ripped off myself. I decided not to pitch the way in which I'm competent involving pitching. I tested out to do too much,'' Cobb said. "I was not scared, but I ended up being timid. Not understanding things to anticipate from hitters. Not learning when I produced a great review if it will still have ripped.''
Cobb has not been predominant from the Rangers, but he had been smart and effective. He acquired themselves outside of jams, along with this individual stored this shot in the park.
Six innings to the game, they and Texas left-hander C.J. Wilson had matched both in a very 1-1 duel.
Cobb acquired herself into trouble from the seventh that has a set of two singles including a wander in advance of presenting strategy to that bullpen. The final tally has been 61/3 innings, three earned runs as well as one really happy Rays manager.
"He pretty much validated, tested cures thought," Joe Maddon said. "Listen, I preferred this gentleman around spring training. I understand what I'm seeing, and I such as just what I'm seeing. His makeup foundation is good. His things will be good. He has a great really feel for pitching.
"I have a very massive amount self confidence during this guy. I'm definitely not assessing your ex boyfriend for you to (Jeremy) Hellickson, but they're a bit more similar to Hellickson, the best way this individual pitches as well as form of pitches he or she throws. Physically they're similar, along with the actual think for pitching is actually similar.''
This identify inside rotator in the feeling has become this distinction between first and also second position for your Rays within the actual American League East. Between Jeff Niemann's rough get started and Andy Sonnanstine's struggles, your Rays possess long gone 2-7 from the No. several spot.
Cobb's efficiency upon Tuesday most likely makes sure of your ex boyfriend a minumum of one far more get started while Niemann remains their minor-league rehabilitation.
"You for no reason know until you happen to be there, until everyone succeed and also not,'' Cobb said. "Now I know I can.''
His girlfriend, Kelly Reynolds, may possibly see this variance within Cobb's temperament somewhere between his / her first along with minute big-league starts. There seemed to be merely a more calm really feel with regards to him, your lover said.
Cobb could possibly express exactly the same concerning Reynolds, who seem to just done your girlfriend master's diploma plan for the University of Alabama.
Just more than a calendar month ago, Cobb was in some sort of accommodation inside Louisville while Reynolds, throughout Tuscaloosa, labeled with tears. A tornado, the lady said, sounded while when ?t had been right outdoor her door.
Seconds later, the product resolved to go dead.
For a couple hours, Cobb ended up being frantic. He acquired absolutely no thought Reynolds as well as the woman's roommate experienced selected a mattress mattress away from a bed and huddled under this within a bathtub. He had absolutely no idea the particular tornado had flattened a great apartment difficult in the area but had missed Reynolds' building.
"My roomie explained for you to are available downstairs, although I weren't seriously worried. We'd have tornadoes most of week,'' Reynolds said. "This occasion when I seemed out the window, this was right generally there while in front of us. It was horrible.
"I had been on the cell phone with your pet moping and crying plus screaming, sharing with him there seemed to be a tornado proper exterior my window.''
Finally, after Cobb experienced called every person he / she could imagine to be able to have expression connected with Reynolds' safety, the girl seemed to be in a position to purchase a text message message by way of him.
A day time later, he or she ended up being referred to as into the majors.
The very last time, the Rays pretty much advised Cobb it turned out a one-shot package and they could well be moving back to Triple A following his start. This time, no person has claimed some sort of term to help him.
"I don't know exactly what I'm doing. Hopefully I'm on this flight journey for you to Seattle (today).
"We'll see,'' Cobb said. "They have not called my home throughout yet, thus I could possibly only sneak on.''
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