GLENDALE, Ariz. -- One new manager.

Three new coaches.

And one-time White Sox staples such as Mark Buehrle, Carlos Quentin and Sergio Santos playing for new teams.
Yet, when the first pitch is thrown by Philip Humber around 2:05 p.m. CT during Monday's Cactus League opener against the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch, the Spring Training scenario remains virtually the same for pitching coach Don Cooper with regard to the preparation of his charges.

"For guys we know are going to be on the team -- and we know nine of them -- it's about getting them ready," said Cooper, speaking before Sunday's White Sox workout. "For some, it started [on Saturday in the Intrasquad game]. For everybody else, the next few days.

"Then, for the others, it's an audition for the openings we have. Nobody is ahead of anybody, nobody is behind anybody else. The evaluation now is going to start. We're not evaluating them during batting practice or sidelines. But now that the [games start], certainly everybody is going to be watching, and we're looking to evaluate to put them on the team."

Although Cooper has wavered between eight or nine locks on the pitching staff over the past 10 days since camp began, he clearly mentioned nine on Sunday. That number means Addison Reed will join Matt Thornton, Jesse Crain and Will Ohman as relievers who break camp with the club.

So, three stands as the magic number to complete the bullpen and the pitching staff, when factoring in starting pitchers John Danks, Jake Peavy, Gavin Floyd, Chris Sale and Humber. At least two of those remaining spots will be of the long-relief variety, based on Cooper's criteria.