CHICAGO -- White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper feels as if his work relationship with James Shields began on Tuesday.
After a second straight rough start with the White Sox for the right-hander and a third straight overall, Cooper and Shields went over some video comparing more positive times and recent starts to try to fix mechanic issues that have contributed to him giving up 23 earned runs on 25 hits over 9 2/3 innings, while walking 10 and striking out four.
"He's got enough stuff to continue to get people out. Stuff is not the question," said Cooper of Shields, who was acquired from the Padres. "He came over and he's a veteran. We are going to let him go out and pitch. It hasn't gone as well as he or anyone would want.
"Now we've started the process. We went down and looked at some things and we are going to tend to those things and see what it brings us. He's not far off. Obviously three very tough outings in a row, two for us and one for them in San Diego, but now, I think we are going to go."
Pedro Martinez tweeted last night that Shields is "flying open and his head is too far away from his release point." Cooper acknowledged mechanics issues, but he didn't delve too deeply into the corrections.
"It's using his legs," Cooper said. "We went and looked at all his positive stuff when he felt good, and we laid it side by side with the stuff he's doing right now. So some of the stuff is pretty evident. Tomorrow, we'll have a [side session] and really begin to get after it.
"The other day we had a [side session], but all we worked on was fastball command. We delved into a lot of stuff today, and again I feel pretty good. I know I feel better and now it's about getting the work starting tomorrow and getting ready for Saturday."
Worth noting
• Manager Robin Ventura's seventh-inning ejection Monday for arguing balls and strikes was not considered by the manager one of his crazier ones among the 15 in his career. It showed the passion not always evident from the even-keel leader.

"Every guy in here is trying to find some way to make it better, turn it around," Ventura said. "But that's also just part of the job."