White Sox not about to make brash predictions
On the Cubs Caravan last week, star first baseman Anthony Rizzo turned some heads with this comment: "We're going to win the NL Central, and you can quote me on that."
There's nothing wrong with being confident, but major-league players rarely step out and make such bold predictions.
Over on the South Side, the White Sox are feeling very good about themselves after adding proven performers like Jeff Samardzija, David Robertson, Adam LaRoche, Melky Cabrera and Zach Duke during the most productive off-season in recent memory.
The Sporting News picked the Cubs to win the World Series this year despite a run of five straight losing seasons. The preseason magazine also picked the Sox to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
The White Sox might like their chances - especially with top starters Max Scherzer (formerly with the Tigers) and James Shields (Royals) out of the AL Central - but they weren't making any proclamations Friday from SoxFest at soldout Hilton Chicago.
"I don't want any billboard material right now," center fielder Adam Eaton said when asked if the Sox can win the division this season. "Come on now. (Rizzo) is entitled to his opinion. I'm very good friends with him, and it's good to have confidence in your team, it really is. I think there's a lot of confidence flowing in Chicago now, on both sides.
"From the White Sox' standpoint, I think the talent is there but you need to play the games. You can go into spring training and think you're going to be the best. It doesn't matter until you go out there and play 162 (games). We're going to go out there and compete ... that's all you can do. The talent is there and if we can go out there and compete every day, we should be up there."
Add Samardzija to a rotation that also includes Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, along with talented youngster Carlos Rodon at some point, and the White Sox should be more formidable on starting pitching alone.
Like Eaton, Samardzija stopped a bit short of predicting a postseason berth.
"I think this team is built to win and most importantly, built to compete every day," Samardzija said. "As a professional player, the most exciting aspect is that every day when we exchange the lineups we're coming to win. You have a lot of professionals on this team."
The White Sox filled so many obvious holes on the pitching staff and around the field, so it's not surprising they are expected to be a factor after two straight losing seasons.
Executive vice president Kenny Williams said this is the most anxious he's been to get to spring training since 2005, when the Sox won the World Series.
General manager Rick Hahn might beat Williams to the White Sox' training complex in Glendale, Arizona.
"We view ourselves as a contender, absolutely," Hahn said. "But at the same time, when we started this process midway through 2013, the intention was not to jump up and contend for one season. It was to put us in position for sustained success."
The Sox' expected success this season is going to bring the outside pressure back, especially on manager Robin Ventura.
"I think you want that," Ventura said. "If there isn't pressure, then you're not playing for the right things. If that's what it is, that's great. I'm not going to act any different or do anything different. That's fine. That's what we're shooting for. You want to have that."