Sox expecting big things from Jenks
SoxFest opened at the Palmer House Hilton on Friday, and no splashy trades or signings were announced.
Even the underflow crowd for the first of two question-and-answer sessions with White Sox general manager Kenny Williams, manager Ozzie Guilllen and TV voices Ken "Hawk" Harrelson and Steve Stone seemed tepid save for the one fan who, armed with a laminated sheet of offensive statistics, unsuccessfully tried getting hitting coach Greg Walker fired.
With a stellar starting rotation returning and some intriguing off-season additions like leadoff man Juan Pierre, third baseman Mark Teahen and relief pitcher J.J. Putz, the overall mood was good at the annual winter gathering for Sox fans.
But the big news came later Friday evening, when Williams told the four beat writers covering the team about an earlier meeting with Guillen and closer Bobby Jenks.
After Jenks went down for the season last September with a strained right calf, Guillen said the 6-foot-3, 285-pounder needed to watch his weight and get himself in shape during the off-season.
Jenks, who blew a career-high 6 saves last year while leading all American League closers with 9 home runs allowed, looked fit and trim at SoxFest, not that he cared to offer many details.
"I've been working hard this winter, getting ready for this spring because it's going to be a big year," Jenks said. "It's taking it personally when it (criticism) is brought up first. That's when you take it personally. But all of that is brushed aside now, we've got baseball to focus on now, spring training and getting ready for the season.
"At the time, it was frustrating but now it's time for baseball. It's very important because if I go out there and try to focus on the game and that's in the back of my mind, I'm not going to be doing my job the best I can."
Jenks said he wasn't motivated to get in shape by what Guillen said, or even this follow-up from the general manager: "If he's upset that it's continuously brought up, then he should work on it and get it to where it's not an issue," Williams said. "It is an issue. If he's going to have an extended career of effectiveness at a high level, like he certainly is capable of doing, then he has to take better care of himself."
Jenks appears to have done just that, but not for Guillen and Williams.
"What's gone on in the winter is truly behind me," said Jenks, who signed a one-year, $7.5 million contract while avoiding salary arbitration last Saturday. "This winter, what was focused on was for me. Just because this came up, it was a bad coincidence. I was doing this for myself."
Surrounded by a pack of reporters Friday, Jenks bristled at several questions. But the big right-hander apparently took a different stance when patching things up with Williams and Guillen.
"I'm really proud of this guy," Williams said. "He looks the best I've ever seen him. He's sitting here and looking at me, and then Ozzie, right in the eye, addressing some of the issues head on, like a man. I'm proud of him.
"Sometimes you've got to push some buttons to ultimately get to that point. Before I could even get it out of my mouth, he said, 'I lost (weight) the right way and I'm strong.' I talked to him about his flexibility and he said, 'Yes, and I work on that as well.' We're in a good place with Bobby Jenks. Bobby Jenks is going to have a good year."
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