Positive Sox sport new look, attitude
Funny how public perception often differs from baseball reality.
In the case of the White Sox, the tough talk of the past apparently wasn't in actuality so very tough, and concerns about the gentle nature of the next man in charge are just as inaccurate.
“What I hear from the players is the attitude around here wasn't very good last year, and that starts with the manager,” said new White Sox bench coach Mark Parent at SoxFest on Friday. “This is going to be a positive experience this year, and that doesn't mean it will be easy. You can have expectations without putting guys on edge.
“I heard things kind of got lost last year, that there was a lot of negativity in the dugout during games and in the clubhouse and during preparation for games.
“If someone doesn't want to be here, it can really have a negative effect on guys.”
After 25 years in professional baseball as a catcher, coach and manager, the 50-year-old Parent knows of what he speaks, and at 6-foot-5 and, well, let's just say more than his last listed playing weight (240), one can see Parent making certain Sox players stay in line and stay within manager Robin Ventura's program.
“It's a fresh start with Robin and a clean slate and I think the guys will be a lot more relaxed,” Parent said. “Last year was a tough year but last year is over. You can't change what happened, but you can change some habits.
“Guys are going to play harder and they will play smarter. A lot of the little things got away from the team, and it's pretty hard to win games when you don't take care of the little things.”
Yes, fundamentals were a problem in 2011, but so was performance, and aside from Paul Konerko and Alexei Ramirez, the lineup is one question mark after another, from Alejandro De Aza to Dayan Viciedo, and Gordon Beckham to Brent Morel.
And, of course, there are the huge disappointments like Adam Dunn and Alex Rios, who are signed here for a very long time, while A.J. Pierzynski is 35 and Paul Konerko will be 36 in March.
But a positive outlook was definitely the theme of the day as SoxFest opened at the Palmer House Hilton.
“There's still a lot of talent in this room, and I've competed on teams that had less,” said Parent, who was known as “Bernie” during his playing days. “Detroit is loaded and everyone can see it, but you never know what can happen during a season.”
But only days after the Tigers added Prince Fielder to an already imposing division champ that finished 16 games ahead of the White Sox last season, it's a tough sell.
“Maybe, but I remember last year at this time, everyone was telling me I was lucky I stayed here and didn't sign with Arizona because we were picked to go far and they were supposed to be terrible,” Konerko said. “Look at how all that played out.''
True, Arizona won 94 games and the N.L. West, while the Sox managed 79 victories and a third-place finish.
Since then, the Sox have lost wins and innings leader Mark Buehrle, traded saves leader Sergio Santos and dealt the Sox' second-most productive RBI and home run hitter in Carlos Quentin.
That means much will be expected of players like Chris Sale, who moves into the rotation, and outfielders Viciedo and De Aza.
“That's why we play the games,” laughed Ventura. “They don't play 'em on paper and every year there are surprises and disappointments.”
On paper, the rotation includes Sale, John Danks, Jake Peavy, Gavin Floyd and Phil Humber, assuming Peavy remains healthy, Humber can pitch a full season as well as he did a half, and Floyd doesn't bolt for the space program.
“I think the players are relieved that it's a new year. I know I always felt that in spring training after we had a bad year,” Ventura said. “Every year is different, with different players and different chemistry and a different feeling.”
It definitely felt different Friday, with players seemingly more relaxed and smiles were easy to find. Some of that has to be due to diminished expectations.
“I disagree,” Ventura said. “I think every player hopes for expectations. I mean, you don't go into a game expecting to lose or into a season expecting to lose. These are major-league players and they expect to win.
“I expect them to appreciate that they get to be here and play baseball every day. This is the greatest job in the world and if they can't appreciate that then they don't need to be here.”
There was much optimism Friday, and it's true they don't play the games on paper and they don't play them on the field for another two months.
But looking at the White Sox' roster in January with memories of 2011 does not do the eyes any favors.
Considering at the same time the strength of the top teams in the American League, any discussion of playoffs seems a fantasy.
“My rookie year (1990) the Twins finished last and there was no hope for them. The next year they won the World Series,” Ventura said. “Last year, the Cardinals were given up for dead in August and they won the World Series. Let's play the games and see what happens.”
That seems to be the consensus.
brozner@dailyherald.com
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