The veteran hurler politely declined one request from the media at the beginning of White Sox camp, focusing all of his attention on a comeback from offseason surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow, a comeback progressing nicely to date. But those who work closest with Colon point out that his overall nature is a quiet one, even at his healthiest.

"Sure he is, a quiet guy," said White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper of Colon. "He keeps to himself. When he was here the first time, I don't remember anyone to translate for him after the game like we've had for other guys.

"I think people just didn't think he talked much and didn't ask him much. They went to other people to ask stuff about him."

Colon's first turn with the White Sox covered one season in 2003, and as Cooper pointed out, there was no regular interpreter for the hurler who does interviews in Spanish. Teammates who spoke both English and Spanish would alternate with the media after a Colon start.

That availability has changed in the present, with White Sox coach Omer Munoz on staff, in part, to help key players such as Jose Contreras, Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo with this same dynamic. Of course, the White Sox didn't sign Colon to be the media's go-to-guy.

Their $1 million agreement, with up to $2 million in incentives, was aimed at rounding out the starting rotation via a career 150-game winner, who won the American League Cy Young Award as recently as 2005, with the Angels. Manager Ozzie Guillen already has mentioned that he would be more than ready to take his chances against the AL Central and the rest of baseball, for that matter, if both Colon and Contreras are set to go when the White Sox break camp.

When Colon came to Chicago via trade in 2003, he was a pitcher who relied on a high-octane fastball to knock down opposing hitters and a durable pitcher who completed what he started on nine occasions. Clearly, it was an approach that worked far more often than not.

Six years later, Colon's fastball won't hit 97 or 98 mph, but his vast pitching knowledge certainly can cover any amount of lost velocity.

"I'll tell you what we are talking about," Cooper said. "This is the second half of his career, and Bartolo is now trying to prove he can go from a pure power guy to a guy who still can pitch with real solid stuff.

"Remember, there's nothing he can't do with a baseball. He can cut it, slice it and dice it. He's like Popeil's pocket pitcher. He can do it all. He might be able to even core an apple.

"If he gets healthy, then you got a chance to win ballgames on that fourth or fifth day. He's a proven guy, and we all know he knows how to pitch. He certainly has the heart and the [guts]."

As of Saturday, Colon and Contreras are scheduled to throw Monday, Wednesday and Saturday of next week, with side sessions on March 9 and 12. They are then tentatively scheduled to each pitch an inning in a game on March 14, but that date could turn into another side session.

Once Colon finds himself all the way back, that heart and competitive fire should take over. Just ask Jim Thome, Colon's teammate in Cleveland from 1997-2002, about his mound nature, with the two playing together as part of four playoff teams. The 38-year-old Thome also understands how the 35-year-old Colon might have a little something to prove on the heels of three straight less-than-Colon-like seasons.

"Never count him out," Thome said. "We all might look back at what he does this year and say what a great [GM] Kenny Williams signing it was. He's a great addition and just a tremendous teammate."

And there lies the final piece of the Colon puzzle. Quiet? Yes, but the lack of everyday commentary certainly doesn't represent the quality of person he is or his concern now for the White Sox.

"Oh, God, he's a good guy," Cooper said. "I don't get to know him like maybe some of the other pitchers because he doesn't say much. Actually, he's kind of talking a little bit more than I remember. He's saying good stuff."

"We've talked a little bit, but the conversations usually are pretty fast," said Guillen with a laugh. "He gives you a couple-word answer and that's it. He's a great guy -- that's just the way he is with pretty much everyone."