THIGPEN’S MEMORIES OF CWS STILL RAISE ‘CANE

SARASOTA — Chicago White Sox pitcher Bobby Thigpen must face his nemesis each time he takes the mound. He can never relax. Greg Ellena is always there, threatening to sabotage each performance.

“I’ve got to deal with him all the time,” said Thigpen, 23, one of the most promising young relief pitchers in the American League. “He’s haunting me. I know that if I don’t somehow get him out of my mind when I go out there to pitch, I’ll start questioning my ability and get hammered.

“It’s hard to believe he still affects me like this, but he does. What he did to me is almost always on my mind.”

Ellena, a former University of Miami catcher, left a lasting, negative impression on Thigpen during the 1985 College World Series.

Thigpen, a full-time outfielder, part-time pitcher for Mississippi State, gave up a two-out, two-run home run to Ellena in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave Miami a miraculous 6-5 victory and eliminated Mississippi State.

The Hurricanes went on to win the World Series and Ellena was named tournament MVP.

Giving up the home run alone would have been devastating enough. But there was another heart-breaking twist to this game for Thigpen.

In the seventh inning, he hit a grand slam against Miami All-America reliever Rick Raether to give the Bulldogs a 5-4 lead.

“I went from the highest high to the lowest low, all in less than an hour,” Thigpen said. “The home run Ellena hit hurt the most. I had two strikes on him and I threw him a fastball over the plate and he lost it.

“I think about that pitch, that game and Ellena all the time, except when I pitch. If I think about him, I’ll get in trouble out there.”

The memory of Ellena’s home run is fresh, but it is less traumatic now.

Thigpen, who throws a sinking 90 mph fastball, has too bright a future to worry about the past. And besides, Ellena’s blow didn’t damage him too badly.

Less than two years after faltering in the College World Series, Thigpen was pitching in the major leagues.

The White Sox called him up late last season and he was an instant success. Mediocre as a starter at Double-A Birmingham (8-11 with a 4.68 ERA), Chicago made him a middle reliever and he responded with a 2-0 record, 1.77 ERA and seven saves.

During the first day of spring training White Sox manager Jim Fregosi announced that Thigpen had a full-time job with the major league team. He will pitch in middle relief to set up stopper Bob James.

Ellena ended his baseball career with a disappointing senior season at UM last year.

“That College World Series was his career. He didn’t do too much before that or after that,” Thigpen said. “But that doesn’t matter. He did me in.

“I had already been picked by the White Sox (in the fourth round of the June free-agent draft) and I was excited about starting my pro career. But after his home run, it was a depressing way to start.”

Although he pitched only 40 innings his senior season, the White Sox considered him a pitching prospect because of his arm strength.

“I was too slow to play in the outfield in professional baseball. My throwing arm from right field is what got the scouts interested in me,” Thigpen said. “I have no further interest in playing the outfield. I love pitching, especially in relief.”

Thigpen has two pitches — a fastball and a cut fastball — and is therefore better-suited for the bullpen.

He was a starter last year in Birmingham because the White Sox believed the extra innings would help him get ready for the major leagues.

“I don’t have enough pitches to be a starter. I’m working on a breaking pitch now, but I think I’m always going to be a reliever,” he said. “I enjoy pitching in relief. I like coming in with the game on the line and challenging the hitters. Coming up here last year and getting guys out has done a lot for my confidence.

“I feel very confident right now.”

He knows what he has to do to maintain his confidence.

“Keep Greg Ellena as far out of my mind as I can,” he said.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

— LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 72-90 (fifth in A.L. West).

— ROOKIES AND NEWCOMERS: Outfielder Gary Redus (acquired in a trade with Philadelphia), rookie pitcher Bobby Thigpen, rookie catcher Ron Karkovice and second baseman Donnie Hill (acquired from Oakland for pitchers Gene Nelson and Bruce Tanner).

— INFIELD: Strong defensively, but lacks offensive punch. Tim Hulett is at third, Greg Walker, coming off an injury, at first, Ozzie Guillen at shortstop and Donnie Hill at second. Outstanding rookie prospect Ron Karkovice is the catcher.

— OUTFIELD: Harold Baines is steady and productive in right but coming off knee surgery. Center field and left field will see a platoon system. Against right-handers Redus will play left and Daryl Boston center; against left- handers Ivan Calderon will play left and Redus will move to center.

— PITCHING: Shaky early in the season, it eventually became the team’s strength last year. Richard Dotson, Floyd Bannister, Jose DeLeon and Neil Allen are the starters. Thigpen should help Bob James form strong 1-2 tandem in bullpen.

— PLAYER ON THE HOT SEAT: Richard Dotson. He came back from chest surgery last year and lost 17 games and had a 5.48 ERA. The White Sox are counting heavily on him.

— WILL WIN THE PENNANT IF: Baines, Walker and designated hitter Carlton Fisk can supply enough offense to support the pitching staff. The Sox hit only .247 with 121 home runs last season.

— WILL STRUGGLE IF: Dotson and the starting pitchers are inconsistent.