Ventura: I expect us to make the playoffs
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Spring training is under way, and every major-league team can find something good to feel about at this early stage of the season.
After the first day of camp at balmy Camelback Ranch, let's just say the new and improved White Sox are feeling really good about themselves.
"I expect us to make the playoffs," manager Robin Ventura said. "I expect us to make a good run at it and make the playoffs."
For Ventura, about as low key as they come, that's really saying something.
But he had plenty of positive company as Sox pitchers and catchers officially got started on the new season.
"We have a team to fight back now," said ace Chris Sale, one of the few bright lights on White Sox teams that combined to go 136-188 while finishing 47 games out of first place the past two years. "In the off-season, we are working out and you see that while we are working hard, our front office is doing things to put a winning team on the field. It's up to us.
"The more work that comes in, the more that comes out. Keep working hard and stay on top of it and hopefully we are spraying each other at the end."
If you believe the Las Vegas bookmakers the Sox don't figure to be much better than a .500 team this season, and that's not good enough for the postseason.
But the White Sox do have some impressive pieces:
• Jose Abreu. The defending American League Rookie of the Year made it look pretty easy in his Sox debut.
Abreu became the first rookie in history to finish in his league's top 5 in each Triple Crown category with a .317 batting average, 36 home runs and 107 RBI.
• Sale. While finishing third in Cy Young Award voting, the 25-year-old starter posted a 2.17 ERA, the lowest by an AL left-hander since 1978, when Ron Guidry had a 1.74 ERA.
• Jeff Samardzija. The new No. 2 starter had a combined 2.99 ERA with the Cubs and A's last season and is one of just five major-league pitchers (Sale is another) to have 200 or more strikeouts in each of the last two years.
• David Robertson. The new closer ranked third in the AL with 39 saves for the Yankees in 2014 and he averaged 13.43 strikeouts per 9 innings.
• Melky Cabrera. A career .286 hitter, the new left fielder ranked ninth in the AL with a .301 batting average last year and tied for 10th with 35 doubles.
• Jose Quintana. The No. 3 starter allowed 3 runs or less in 25 of his 32 starts last season.
• Adam LaRoche. With the Nationals last year, the new designated hitter/first baseman tied for fifth in the National League with 92 RBI and was seventh with 26 home runs.
• Adam Eaton. When healthy, he was an effective leadoff man for the White Sox, and the center fielder ranked 10th in the league with a .300 batting average while tying for first with 10 triples.
That is quite a list of talent, so it's comes as little surprise that general manager Rick Hahn was in an upbeat mood Friday.
"I know there is an understandable and deserved excitement within the fan base and the front office," Hahn said. "And now over the last few days, I felt it down here. I got a message from (hitting coach) Todd Steverson the other night that he had 27 players here early, which is outstanding. And in talking to guys and hearing their excitement and dedication and focus right now, there's a different feel around here.
"There's a level of confidence and expectations and even some swagger in terms of how guys are going about their business. It's a great feeling. Some of that may well be because of the moves we were able to make. Some of that is because of the process that has been in place for a little while now and knowing, having a better feel for what to expect from a Jose Abreu and what Eaton brings to this team.
"A year ago, we were talking about how those guys could be core type players and now we are viewing them as important pieces of a larger puzzle. It's a real great feeling and vibe around here right now."