Sox’ Danks likes team’s attitude
After Tuesday night’s 3-2 loss to the Orioles, starting pitcher John Danks was a little dejected but hardly discouraged.
Danks was actually encouraged after the White Sox mounted a rally in the ninth inning and had the winning run in scoring position before Brent Morel grounded out to end the game.
“We get down in the game last night and he (Baltimore closer Jim Johnson) had to make some tough pitches in the ninth to get out of it,” Danks said. “That’s just a complete reflection of this group, from (new manager) Robin (Ventura) to the 25th man on the roster. It’s a very tight-knit group and a never-say-die kind of team.”
Last year, the Sox were 2-65 when they trailed after 8 innings. Danks revisited the miserable season one more time.
“It’s just playing hard,” Danks said. “That’s not to say we didn’t last year. I hate to say it, but there were times, especially later in the season, where we were just kind of counting the outs. Kind of like, ‘All right, let’s just get it over with.’
“It’s early, and we understand that. But to this point we’ve been a never-say-die kind of team.”
Attendance drop:
After drawing 95,844 for their opening three-game series against the Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field, only 38,817 have showed up for the first three of a four-game set against the Orioles.
School is still in session, the weather hasn’t been great and the Blackhawks are in the playoffs, but the Sox still figure to have troubles at the gate all season.
“I think our fans have always been fair,” Paul Konerko said. “If we play well and do well, they’ll come out. It’s a little bit early to tell, but I think the answer is we’ve got to go out and play a good brand of ball and do well for them to show up. We’ve got to earn it.
“We know the last couple of years, we’ve given back some of the trust by the way we’ve played on the field. That’s fair. We’ve just got to earn it back, piece by piece. It’s that simple.”
While the crowds have been small for the Baltimore series, the boos have been as loud as ever. And some familiar names — Adam Dunn, Gordon Beckham, Brent Morel — are popular targets.
“Everybody is human, so it’s tough not to hear it,” Konerko said. “It’s impossible not to hear it. I’ve been booed here and it’s not fun. The fans pay the money to come in and they can do whatever they want to do, within reason. They don’t want anybody doing anything illegal. They’re allowed to boo; they’re allowed to cheer. That’s part of it. You can’t run away from that. All you can do is put in an honest day’s effort.”
Where’s Lillibridge?
Brent Lillibridge has been a regular late-inning defensive replacement in left field, but he’s started only one of the White Sox’ first 11 games.
Manager Robin Ventura said he’ll try to get Lillibridge in the lineup for Thursday’s final game against the Orioles.
“He gets maybe a little bit more of a feel playing just because he’ll go in a lot more in left field late in games,” Ventura said. “But I’d like to see him play a full game and just get him more time, too.”
After his pregame media session, Ventura said he can start Lillibridge at all three outfield spots, second base and third. Eduardo Escobar is the Sox’ backup shortstop.