By John Romano , Times Sports Columnist In Print: Wednesday, June 1, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG In his boyhood dreams, there had not been all the insanity.
The manner Alex Cobb have the item figured, your massive club calls, some people fretting hand people some sort of baseball and a uniform, after which everyone review your heart and soul out as being the crowd regards ones major-league debut.
Turns out, simple fact is often a very little different. There are men and women holding out on the international airport to be picked up. There are good friends getting in touch with about tickets. There will be family a person haven't seen, some sort of significant other driving out a tornado and also a stressed night in a very hotel bed.
"The initial time,'' his father, Rick, said, "was a new circus.''
So, yeah, Cobb's first appearance from Tropicana Field, within the primary day time regarding May contrary to the Angels, wasn't simply that stuff with dreams. He did not make them over the fifth inning associated with the particular Rays' 6-5 loss, along with this individual discovered, to his superb surprise, of which this individual seemed to be tipping down hitters that will precisely what pitches were approaching by way of having their baseball glove differently pertaining to fastballs in addition to off-speed pitches.
That's the key reason why Cobb ended up being identified for you to greet their second big-league appearance, about the ultimate morning of May, having a little a smaller amount panic and fanfare Tuesday night.
There has been very little household reunion during a diner this overnight before. When his papa labeled all-around noon upon Tuesday, Cobb had simply gotten away from pickup bed once a nice, peaceful sleep.
And when he or she took that pile contrary to the Texas Rangers, Cobb last but not least felt being a big-leaguer. Even if it turned out their minute time around.
"I believed similar to very last time I was unfaithful myself. I didn't review this method I'm competent at pitching. I attempted to do also much,'' Cobb said. "I weren't scared, but I ended up being timid. Not knowing things hope from hitters. Not understanding whenever I produced an excellent toss in case may well still receive ripped.''
Cobb wasn't major resistant to the Rangers, but this individual ended up being intelligent as well as effective. He got himself beyond jams, and also he or she held the baseball inside the park.
Six innings in the game, he and Texas left-hander C.J. Wilson experienced harmonized one another within a 1-1 duel.
Cobb obtained herself towards difficulties while in the seventh which has a set of two singles and a walk previous to providing solution to the actual bullpen. The remaining tally had been 61/3 innings, about three earned extends your decide one pretty happy Rays manager.
"He quite considerably validated, verified just what exactly many of us thought," Joe Maddon said. "Listen, I preferred this specific gentleman throughout originate training. I learn what exactly I'm seeing, as well as I such as what I'm seeing. His cosmetic foundation can be good. His material is actually good. He carries a very good experience pertaining to pitching.
"I include plenty of confidence on this guy. I'm certainly not comparing your ex that will (Jeremy) Hellickson, however they're slightly for instance Hellickson, that approach this individual pitches and also the types of pitches your dog throws. Physically these are similar, and the feel regarding pitching is similar.''
This spot around your rotation inside a sense have been that difference involving first and following place to the Rays within the American League East. Between Jeff Niemann's difficult start out and also Andy Sonnanstine's struggles, the particular Rays have gone 2-7 within the No. five spot.
Cobb's overall performance on Tuesday possibly helps ensure your ex boyfriend at the very least additional start when Niemann remains his minor-league rehabilitation.
"You by no means find out right until you're there, until anyone make money or even not,'' Cobb said. "Now I know I can.''
His girlfriend, Kelly Reynolds, could observe that distinction in Cobb's demeanor among his initial plus second big-league starts. There has been merely a far more comfortable think related to him, the girl said.
Cobb could probably point out identical concerning Reynolds, who only accomplished your ex master's gradation course along at the University of Alabama.
Just more than a 30 days ago, Cobb was in a accommodation within Louisville when Reynolds, with Tuscaloosa, known as inside tears. A tornado, your lady said, sounded as if the item appeared to be correct outside the girl door.
Seconds later, the phone travelled dead.
For a couple hours, Cobb appeared to be frantic. He acquired no strategy Reynolds as well as her bunkmate had snapped up a airbed away a new pickup bed and huddled underneath it in a very bathtub. He had absolutely no strategy the tornado had equalized a condo complicated in close proximity but missed Reynolds' building.
"My bunkmate explained to me in the future downstairs, nevertheless I had not been seriously worried. We'd had tornadoes most of week,'' Reynolds said. "This time when I viewed out and about the window, it turned out right now there while in front of us. It was horrible.
"I appeared to be within the cellular phone with the pup shouting and screaming, revealing to him or her presently there appeared to be some sort of tornado correct outdoor this window.''
Finally, after Cobb possessed identified as everyone he or she could possibly imagine for getting phrase with Reynolds' safety, your lover been able to getting a text message by way of him.
A evening later, he seemed to be identified as that will the majors.
The continue time, this Rays virtually informed Cobb it turned out a one-shot work along with they would be coming back again to be able to Triple A right after his / her start. This time, zero you have mentioned a word of mouth in order to him.
"I do not know what exactly I'm doing. Hopefully I'm on of which flight in order to Seattle (today).
"We'll see,'' Cobb said. "They haven't referred to as my family within yet, consequently I might simply just sneak on.''
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