Cooper dismisses practice of labeling starters Nos. 1-3

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Don Cooper is not a fan of labeling starters in the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 format.

So while Jose Quintana's statistics from 2012 and '13 have him looking like a second starter, there's nothing locking in the left-hander behind staff ace Chris Sale.

"We don't put numbers on people. I've said this for years, but obviously nobody is really listening," Cooper said. "We are putting our guys in a position that best helps our club.

"What is our best formation? No. 1 doesn't face No. 1 all the time. No. 2 doesn't face No. 2. After a week, it's all out with days off. Our No. 1 guy is the guy that's out there that day. That's our No. 1 guy, no matter whose name it is."

Cooper believes that the only time numbers really mean something is when it comes to who pitches Games 1, 2 and 3 of a playoff series. The rotation White Sox manager Robin Ventura and Cooper have set, which the pitching coach didn't make public, certainly could change over the next few weeks.