Solid depth, outspoken Samardzija just two things fans should love

Thoughts and observations from the first week of the White Sox' spring training camp:

• Depth.

On site at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., I seemed to hear that term multiple times a day.

"You start looking at how we are with pitching and I think there is depth there," manager Robin Ventura said.

"We have more and bigger and better arms than we've had in the last few years," pitching coach Don Cooper said.

"It definitely looks like a much revamped team and definitely a team, you look from top to bottom, it's got some depth," infielder Gordon Beckham said.

It's difficult to disagree, especially when looking at the pitching staff.

While they might not break camp on the 25-man rosters, file these names away because they should be heard from at some point during the season - Carlos Rodon, Frank Montas, Onelki Garcia, Matt Davidson, Tim Anderson, Chris Beck, Erik Johnson, Jesse Crain, Kevan Smith, Matt Albers and Brad Penny.

And don't forget hard-throwing relief pitcher Nate Jones, who could be back from Tommy John surgery in April.

• It's early, really early, but it already seems like Jeff Samardzija was born to play for the White Sox.

Fans are going to love the right-handed starting pitcher, who hails from nearby Northwest Indiana and grew up rooting for the Sox.

Not only is he a top-end arm, Samardzija is an aggressive athlete and he says whatever's on his mind.

The White Sox have been lacking a bit in that department the past few years, so look for Samardzija to keep the season interesting.

As for the contract extension, give it time. A free agent at the end of the season, Samardzjia will have earned the right to test the market, but he's likely to give the Sox the first crack.

On that front, free-agent James Shields signing a reasonable four-year, $75 million contract with the Padres could be very good news for the White Sox.

• Here's an interesting first-week quote from Gordon Beckham, who is back with the Sox after being traded to the Angels last August following a disappointing six-year run on the South Side.

"When you struggle and people look at you and they're saying, 'You're struggling, you're struggling,' and there's not a lot of substance in terms of guys that have come from different teams that can really play, the blame gets kind of put on certain people," Beckham said. "I think it's nice to have the players we do this year because they're just a lot of good guys, a lot of guys they brought in that can really play."

And take the heat off a certain infielder named Gordon Beckham who looks to be the utility man.

• If Rodon does go to Class AAA Charlotte to start the season, the Sox are going to be accused of gaining a financial advantage on the service time front.

That might be true to an extent, but keep in mind that Rodon's changeup is still a work in progress and remember he only pitched 24⅓ innings in the minor leagues last season after being the No. 3 overall pick in the draft.

• The White Sox have done very little right on the basepaths for as long as I can remember.

That should change with Vince Coleman on board as baserunning instructor.

On a back field at Camelback Ranch on Wednesday, the former base stealing terror had the full attention of a large group of Sox players that were assembled.

Coleman talked about always being on the offensive while running bases, paralyzing the defense and having no fear.

If his coaching takes, the White Sox should turn a longtime negative into a positive.