Quintana focused on delivering strong second half

CHICAGO -- Jose Quintana made a Friday stop at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla., to check in on some old friends and coaches, not to mention chat with a few younger players from Colombia. The Yankees gave up on the southpaw in the 2011 offseason, and Quintana made an immediate impact with the White Sox in 2012.

Twenty-two of his 25 appearances came as a starter, but by Quintana's own admission, he tired as his first big league season progressed. A 5.01 second-half ERA supports that assessment.

So Quintana worked hard at gaining more offseason strength to ensure his August and September will be as good as his April and May. The 24-year-old feels in shape for a strong post All-Star break showing, with starts Tuesday in Detroit and Sunday in Philadelphia to close out the first half.

"My goal was to get stronger, so I could be durable throughout the whole season," said Quintana through translator and White Sox coach Lino Diaz. "I feel really good right now."

Quintana doesn't really search for answers as to why the Yankees parted ways with him, even after posting a 10-2 record with a 2.91 ERA for Class A Advanced Tampa in 2011. He also doesn't seem worried about a growing stretch of no-decisions that includes all six starts in June and an 11-strikeout, two-hit scoreless effort over seven innings Thursday at home against the Orioles.

"I'm not frustrated because I felt like I've had some good outings," Quintana said. "As long as I'm giving the team an opportunity to win, that's what I can control."