With his all-around tools, Rios a key fixture for Sox
Turns out, Frank Thomas was dead on.
Making the rounds in the White Sox’ clubhouse last April on the eve of the season-opening game against the Indians, Thomas was asked about Alex Rios.
The two were teammates in Toronto in 2007-08, and Rios hardly played like he did north of the border after the Sox claimed him off waivers from the Blue Jays on Aug. 10, 2009.
“That wasn’t the real Alex Rios you guys saw,” Thomas said. “He wasn’t comfortable when he came over here, but he’s going to settle in and have a big, big year. I’ve seen what he can do. He’s got all of the tools and he’s a talent. Wait and see.”
Coming through
As Thomas predicted, Rios had a standout season in 2010.
After putting up a dismal .199/.229/.301 line in 41 games with the White Sox in 2009, Rios adjusted his swing, dropping his hands back down to where they were when he was a two-time all-star with the Blue Jays.
And the athletic 6-foot-5, 210-pounder also found a comfort level that was missing after his abrupt exit from Toronto.
“I know everybody very well now,” Rios said at the Sox’ training complex in Glendale, Ariz., earlier this spring. “I know how they play and that’s a good thing when you feel comfortable, when you know everybody and it feels like a family.”
Last season, Rios’ batting line jumped to .284/.334/457, and his OPS rose from .530 in his abbreviated stay with the White Sox in 2009 to .791 last year.
Doing it all
Rios isn’t going to win any batting titles or home run crowns, and he’s not going to challenge teammate Juan Pierre for the most stolen bases in baseball.
But few were better last season in doing everything well, and that’s a testament to Rios’ all-around ability.
In addition to batting .284 with 29 doubles and 21 home runs, the 30-year-old Rios established career highs with 88 RBI and 34 stolen bases.
Again, confidence was the biggest key.
“Through the years you learn how to deal with struggles and I’ve learned a little bit,” Rios said. “That’s one of the most important things for a ballplayer, to understand how to get out of struggles and keep going. I think I did a pretty good job.”
Big talk
Rios is always cordial with the media, but he rarely said anything approaching semi-controversial during his first full season on the South Side.
Meeting with reporters for the first time this spring, he created the biggest stir in camp when asked about the upcoming season.
“We’re the team to beat (in the AL Central),” Rios said. “We have good additions to the team. The core is solid, and with the additions we’re even stronger. I think we’re going to give a hard time to a lot of people out there.”
From manager Ozzie Guillen to teammates such as captain Paul Konerko and young second baseman Gordon Beckham, Rios’ bold outlook was met with damage control.
“On paper we look good, but I wouldn’t say we’re the team to beat,” Beckham said. “Everybody’s excited to be here and we’ve got a good team and we’re going to compete. It’s the way we do feel; we feel like we should be the team to beat. But you know what? We’ve got to go out and prove it.”
The road ahead
Rios is geared up for another big year, but the 19th overall pick in the 1999 amateur draft is aware that he did wear down at the end of last season.
In addition to batting just .228 over the final month, Rios’ average dipped to .256 in the second half and his home run total fell to 6. In the first half, he batted .305 with 15 home runs.
Rios’ defense also tailed off, so it’s doubtful he’s going to start 141 games in center field again.
“There’s a lot of running,” he said. “I don’t know if I got a little tired, but I like to be active. I don’t get sleepy when I’m active.”