'We're going to change a lot of things'
TUCSON, Ariz. -- At the very least, the White Sox want to be interesting.
Last year, as they stumbled through their worst season since 1989, the Sox' overall ineptness sapped interest by the all-star break.
Before it mercifully ended, the White Sox were a complete afterthought. On the plus side, maybe that means few will remember the low point of 2007 -- four straight home losses to the Boston Red Sox in late August by a combined score of 46-7.
"We did not play good as a baseball team,'' said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "We played real bad. From the first game of spring training, we played horrible.''
The Sox are back at camp -- pitchers and catchers report today -- and there's little doubt it will be the most intense preparation since Guillen took over as manager in 2004.
"We're going to change a lot of things,'' Guillen said.
Guillen insists the changes have nothing to do with last season's 72-90 record, but the losing tone was established early while the White Sox were going 10-22 in the Cactus League.
This time around, the Sox are going to work on basic fundamentals (hit-and-run, bunting) on a designated practice field, and all of their front-line players, especially the starting pitchers, are going to regularly play in exhibition games.
"You're not going to see too many 'B' (minor-league) games,'' Guillen said.
Last year, the White Sox could have practiced from early in the morning to late at night in spring training, and the end result would have probably been the same.
The Sox' offense was stung in the regular season by an early injury to leadoff man Scott Podsednik, and projected No. 2 hitter Darin Erstad was never the same after going down with a high ankle sprain on May 31.
Throw in a lost season for Joe Crede, who played in only 47 games before having back surgery, and nagging injuries to Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye, and the White Sox' .246 team batting average (the lowest in baseball) is easier to explain.
Ditto for the bullpen, the Sox' other trouble spot in 2007.
Closer Bobby Jenks was outstanding, but he got little or no help from setup men Mike MacDougal and Matt Thornton. And let's not even rehash the work of overmatched relievers such as Ryan Bukvich, David Aardsma, Andrew Sisco and Dewon Day.
As the new season dawns, the White Sox can't wait to officially close the book on 2007.
"I'm not going to lie,'' said catcher A.J. Pierzynski. "It (stunk). It really (stunk).''
Even though the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians head into the season as the legitimate favorites in the AL Central, the White Sox are quietly confident they'll play more like the team that won the 2005 World Series and followed up with 90 wins than the one that struggled to finish ahead of the last-place Kansas City Royals last year.
"We deserve where we finished last year,'' Guillen said. "But I like the team (general manager) Kenny (Williams) put together. We have a lot more flexibility with the lineup, and the big problem we had last year was the bullpen. I think it's going to be a lot better.''
The Sox invested $30 million for two veteran relief pitchers, Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel.
And they beefed up the lineup with shortstop Orlando Cabrera and outfielder Nick Swisher. If Alexei Ramirez and/or Carlos Quentin make an impact, the White Sox could make it interesting.
"I think everybody's seen what Detroit's done, and they automatically think they're going to win the World Series and the White Sox are going to (stink),'' said starting pitcher Mark Buehrle.
"But going into the season, on paper, I think we have a good chance to go to the playoffs.''