SEASON SUMMARY

Kohlmeier's gone from the Orioles--claimed on waivers by the White Sox this off-season.  But he went from would-be closer to the outhouse in no time flat.  In truth, his apparent success in 2000 masked many, many worrisome signs--better than 15 baserunners per nine innings.  In 2001 he continued to allow baserunners by the bushel, and added in a big league worst 2.9 HR/9IP, which added up to eight blown saves in 14 opportunities and a stratospheric ERA of 7.30 in 2001.

It also won him a ticket to AAA Rochester in late June after blowing a save in spectacular fashion against Toronto.  He was recalled at the end of July and, in his first return appearance, blew a save against Anaheim--and promptly wasn't given another opportunity to save a game for the duration of the season.  He made a total of three appearances and was sent back out on August 10 before being recalled when rosters expanded on September 1 and saw his ERA balloon has high as 8.90 before tossing three scoreless appearances until his swan song--his first big league start against Boston on Oct. 5...a game in which he allowed four earned runs in 4.2 innings.

Despite pitching reasonably well at Rochester during his two stints there this past season, the Orioles presumably gave up on him quickly because his repertoire and "stuff" aren't particularly good.  Kohlmeier's fastball is average at best and usually very straight.  Read:  Pow!  His slider is his best pitch, but isn't all that much slower than his fastball.  In fact, Kohlmeier doesn't really have an off-speed pitch at all, making it impossible to change speeds.

It's really hard to see where Kohlmeier fits in with the White Sox, unless it's as some kind of insurance in case some of the right-handed relievers on the club are unable to return from arm miseries (Bill Simas, Antonio Osuna, Lorenzo Barcelo).  If the injured players make it back, Kohlmeier would be something like seventh or eighth on the right-handed relief depth chart (the White Sox also have Bob Howry, Sean Lowe, Gary Glover and closer Keith Foulke and a slew of right-handed swingmen) and very likely out of a job with the major league team.

TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY NEXT YEAR, HE MUST:

1) somehow become a much, much, much better pitcher--cutting down on the hits...the home runs...the walks...the whole deal

2) hope that a whole bunch of Chicago relievers either get hurt, stay hurt and/or pitch very badly

NOTES

Was relatively lousy (4.64 ERA in 17 appearances) at home, but was beyond awful (10.24 ERA in 17 appearances) on the road...posted ERA of 9.00 in 22 night games...had a humongous platoon split:  held righties to .190/.284/.417 in 84 ABs; lefties hammered him to the tune of .395/.462/.753 in 81 ABs...in two big league seasons, lefties are hitting .370 against Kohlmeier in 135 ABs.