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Gregor: Sox DH LaRoche making slow adjustment to American League

See if this sounds familiar.

The White Sox sign a free-agent designated hitter with National League roots and said designated hitter struggles in a new league and new role while striking out in bunches.

Adam Dunn was that guy the past four years before being traded to the Oakland Athletics in late August and retiring at the end of last season.

New DH Adam LaRoche has been that guy so far this year.

Signed to a two-year, $25 million contract after playing 1,472 of his 1,478 career games in the NL, LaRoche is off to a slow start with the Sox.

Heading into Thursday night's game against Kansas City, the 35-year-old DH was batting .229 with 3 home runs and 8 RBI. LaRoche also was tied for third in the American League with 21 strikeouts.

LaRoche said learning a new league has been the most challenging adjustment.

"Probably seeing the new pitchers," he said. "DH is different, but I'm getting comfortable there. The more I do it, the more comfortable it gets, start to get a routine down and figure out what works for me. But seeing pitchers that I haven't seen, there's a lot that I have seen.

"The more guys are getting bounced around to the teams, I'm constantly facing guys that have been in the National League for a long time. But there's still quite a few out there that I lean on these guys that have faced them quite a bit, pick their brain, watch some video and figure out what they're doing."

Coming around:

With his infield single in the third inning Thursday, rookie second baseman Micah Johnson has hit safely in six straight games.

"He's a mentally tough kid," manager Robin Ventura said. "It's important in this game to have that because the game will beat you down and will take advantage of you in your mind if you let it. He's just a really tough-minded kid that comes out to work. He's energetic about it, and we're lucky with the package we have with him."

Attendance woes:

When the weather improves, school is out and assuming the White Sox are playing good baseball, attendance should improve. For now, sparse crowds have been the early story at U.S. Cellular Field.

"There's a cold-weather factor and the Blackhawks are on; that can be a factor," Robin Ventura said. "Over the years you're used to this early, when it's this cold and you're where you're at, it's hard to get people out there.

"It happens everywhere. You look around the league and the cold weather. I think we'd love to see that support come out here and get behind these guys. I think we're playing better; we're heading in that direction where you deserve it."

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