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Hungry Loaiza is gobbling up hitters. (Baseball).(Brief Article)
Several baseball people react to Esteban Loaiza's 5-0 start with contempt, dismissing the White Sox righthander as "a teaser." Loaiza, 31, always has had great stuff, even great Aprils. But as one executive says, "Success has always been his biggest enemy."
Maybe now that will change.
After earning $6.05 million with the Blue Jays last season, Loaiza lingered as a free agent until January 24. Spurning the Expos and Tigers, he signed a nonroster deal with the Sox, knowing he would need to make the team to receive his $500,000 salary.
"He came into camp hungry," says Buck Martinez, Loaiza's former manager with the Blue Jays. "We never could keep him focused."
White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper says he was mystified that Loaiza allowed 192 hits in 151 1/3 innings last season. Loaiza needed to vary his repertoire and waste pitches when ahead in ...