"I'm not looking at ERA," Cooper said. "Every club would like to have three lefties in the bullpen. We have that ability to have three lefties every day, at least two, especially in our division where we have a lot of good-hitting lefties and guys who switch-hit.
" Batting practice pitcher and former Sox pitcher Kevin Hickey , bullpen coach Mark Salas and Cooper all have made suggestions that Myers says have paid off. With the Sox, Myers, 38, has limited left-handed hitters to a .222 batting average (6-for-27).
In his 55 games with the New York Yankees, left-handers batted .312 against him before he was released. "He has done very well in the past against lefties, except for earlier this season," Cooper said.
"There are a couple of little things helping him. His savvy is experience. He's a very interesting guy to me.
" Myers' submarine-style delivery and 12 years of major league experience are what the Sox lacked in the bullpen for most of this year and could entice them to pick up his $1.1 million option for 2008. "I also like the veteran presence he can bring," Cooper said.
"We had a bunch of younger guys out there. [But] we're not looking [just] for presence, or a guy who is good in the clubhouse. We're looking for guys who can help us get guys out, and then if they bring those things in the clubhouse, it helps.
" Extra innings Mark Buehrle and Bobby Jenks were honored in a pregame ceremony. Buehrle pitched a no-hitter April 18 and Jenks retired 41 consecutive batters to tie a major-league record set by San Francisco's Jim Barr in 1972. Jim Thome will be honored before Saturday night's game for hitting his 500th home run Sept.
16.
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