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Paulino's arm responds after debut outing

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The best news for Felipe Paulino coming from his Cactus League debut on Sunday was that the right-hander felt nothing but normal soreness on Monday's day after.

Now the White Sox hurler, who had ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow on July 3, 2012, and then had a cyst removed from his shoulder last September, can focus on normal Spring Training starter stuff. One area of focus for Paulino is putting away hitters after getting ahead in the count.

"Stuff out of his hand is good enough, but we've got to command it more and more," said White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper. "He got ahead in the count. He was poor and really unacceptable in put-away situations.

"He left a bad breaking ball in the zone. He got the guy by the neck and we let him out of it. Once you get ahead of the guy, you should really have him."

Cooper believes that if Paulino keeps getting ahead of hitters as he did Sunday, they will get them out.

"It also gives us direction on what to work on. It might reinforce some of the stuff we are already talking about," Cooper said. "I'm ok with him. He moves on to the next one. It's all good. Now we have better direction with him."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin.
Read More: Chicago White Sox, Felipe Paulino