NOESI TURNS IN FLAWLESS CACTUS LEAGUE DEBUT By Scott Merkin / MLB.com GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If White Sox right-hander Hector Noesi pitched as well for the Mariners as he has against the Mariners over the past year, then the right-hander might still be pitching for the Mariners. Over two starts with the White Sox in 2014 against one of his former teams, Noesi allowed one unearned run during 14 innings. Noesi picked up right where he left off in Saturday's Cactus League debut by retiring all six Seattle hitters faced at Camelback Ranch, throwing 18 strikes among his 28 pitches. But Noesi doesn't consider it extra motivation when facing the Mariners. "It's not motivated. I was telling some friends in the training room that I should pitch to every team like I pitch to them," said a smiling Noesi. "I'm gonna take that for this year because it's not that I have a feeling for them, but I always try to go there for them because I don't want them to say, 'Oh, that's why we put him on waivers,' you know. "I want everybody to see that it's not. You have to learn and get better and better every time. It's not going to be that easy." Those past struggles with the Mariners and briefly with the Rangers seem to have helped Noesi develop with the White Sox. The team's fourth or fifth starter recorded three outs by ground ball and three by fly ball Saturday, while working on getting the fastball inside to both right-handed and left-handed hitters as stressed during recent side sessions by pitching coach Don Cooper. That relationship with Cooper has been career-changing for Noesi, who deserves credit for putting in the work to get better. "Like I always say, he's always there working on something, no matter what," said Noesi of Cooper. "And not just with me, with everybody. It's not like, 'Oh, let me work with [Jeff] Samardzija because Samardzija is a big guy.' "You know, he's been good. But with everybody it's the same, working hard. I give him a lot of credit." A spot at the back of the rotation seems to be secure for Noesi, who posted a 4.43 ERA over 27 starts with the White Sox in '14. Yet, Noesi takes nothing for granted. "I never feel secure. I always try to do my work and feel like I'm competing to be better," Noesi said. "That's mental stuff, because sometimes if you feel too comfortable, things change." "You see a little life on his ball. He had the ball down. He added a little sink to it today," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "He looked good. That's what you want in your guy coming out." SOUTH SIDERS' RODON: 'I FEEL LIKE I'M READY' By Scott Merkin / MLB.com GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Carlos Rodon looked Major League ready during his two innings of work on Friday against the Padres. His mindset and confidence reside on that same exact big league level. "If it's up to me, I feel like I'm ready," Rodon, 22, told MLB.com. "It's a decision they have to make. It doesn't matter what I think sometimes." Rodon struck out four among his 31 pitches but didn't get a chance to really review his start until Saturday. He liked almost all of the sliders thrown, but missed on a couple of fastballs. "A couple I wish I had back, but it's still early," said Rodon, the third overall selection in the 2014 Draft. "I'm still working on things. I can get better at next time out." Rodon threw only one changeup on Friday, but he expects to mix in a few more when starting for the White Sox against the Rangers on Wednesday at Camelback Ranch. One thing to remember is that this strong effort represents just one start among what figures to be five or six for Rodon this spring, and even if he's as impressive as he was Friday while replacing the injured Chris Sale, there's still a chance Rodon begins the season with Triple-A Charlotte. General manager Rick Hahn told MLB.com earlier this week that service time is not an issue in comparison to Rodon's 24 2/3 innings total of previous Minor League experience. They may want to ensure that when Rodon comes to the White Sox, he's prepared to stay with the White Sox. But if Rodon proves to give the White Sox their best chance to win among the options, he may be tough to overlook. Rodon truly has benefited from his three collegiate years at North Carolina St. in terms of having a step up on being ready. "I've talked about this with a lot of people," Rodon said. "A guy is coming out of high school, he needs three to five years to develop. College guys have more makeup, understand what he needs to do himself, how to keep his composure. We are going to be more ready, that's a good way to put that, than a high school guy." CAMP NOTES: WHITE SOX OFF AND RUNNING By Scott Merkin / MLB.com GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The White Sox have picked up five stolen bases over their past two games, showing signs of the aggressiveness stressed by new baserunning instructor Vince Coleman. "We are working on stuff," said White Sox leadoff man Adam Eaton, who was out of Saturday's lineup against the Mariners but picked up a stolen base Friday. "He's there in our ear, making sure we know the correct way to do things. His insight, his experience, they are well known. We are taking everything he says and trying to put it on the ground." Eaton was joined in the stolen-base column by Avisail Garcia and J.B. Shuckon Friday and Emilio Bonifacio and Alexei Ramirez on Saturday, giving the White Sox five players with swipes in two games. Having Coleman on board helps, but so does having a roster with excellent speed and athleticism. Other notes from White Sox camp: • Dayan Viciedo, the one-time White Sox outfielder who was designated for assignment to make room for Gordon Beckham on Jan. 28, spoke to The Associated Press in Florida about his time with the White Sox. Viciedo agreed upon a Minor League deal to join the Blue Jays. "I was slightly surprised because I thought I had an agreement in place to stay there, but I understand it's a business," Viciedo said through an interpreter of his departure from Chicago. "You have good days, you have bad days. I took it in stride. I'm not upset. It kind of surprised me at first but everything had worked out and is OK. "I've thought about it twice and it's an opportunity for me to start anew. It did catch me by surprise but I'm happy [with Toronto] and am going to move forward." As for keeping in contact with Ramirez and Jose Abreu, his native Cuban former teammates who remain part of the White Sox, Viciedo said he talks to both but has more contact with Ramirez. "We're like brothers, real close," Viciedo said. "We're in constant contact." • Erik Johnson threw two scoreless innings during the White Sox 8-2 loss to the Rockies in Saturday's "B" game at Camelback Ranch. Johnson, who has a chance to start one of the split-squad Cactus League games on Thursday, struck out three and walked one. Raul Fernandez fanned two in one scoreless frame. • Don't look solely at the four runs on three hits allowed by Zach Putnam in judging his two-thirds of an inning worked in Saturday's Cactus League 11-7 loss to the Mariners. "Aside from giving up a few knocks, I felt pretty good about the way I threw the ball," said Putnam of his 2015 Cactus League debut. "My splitter, I'm trying to sharpen that pitch. "I've been working that in live BP and during sides, and it hasn't had the nastiness I guess that I want to see. Today I made some strides into getting midseason with that. There's obviously a lot of work to still be done, But from a standpoint of just what I wanted to accomplish, I felt pretty good about the way that went." • Tyler Danish, the White Sox seventh-ranked prospect per MLB.com, will start Tuesday in Surprise against the Royals. John Danks, the regular starter on that day, will throw a simulated game instead. "There are going to be some spots when we play that we're going to give some guys who are pretty young some opportunities here until we get later in the spring," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Then we'll start locking down where we're going to be." MINOSO EULOGIZED BY FAMILY, FRIENDS AT FUNERAL By Cash Kruth / MLB.com CHICAGO -- Stories and remembrances of Minnie Minoso, the legendary ballplayer and all of Chicago's friend, brought much laughter and some tears to those who gathered to celebrate his life Saturday afternoon at Chicago's Holy Family Church. Minoso, dubbed "Mr. White Sox" for his standout baseball skills and outgoing personality, died Sunday. His birthday was listed on baseball-reference.com as Nov. 29, 1925, but some believed he was between 89 and 92 years old. Hundreds gathered at Saturday's memorial service, where Minoso's family, teammates and White Sox personnel spoke.