For Sox, confidence a matter of perspective
Sweeping a three-game series from the team with baseball’s best record left the White Sox with varying degrees of confidence Thursday.
We’ll start with veteran captain Paul Konerko, who realizes there are still 80 games left on the schedule.
“I don’t think you make too much of it,” Konerko said. “I know you catch teams at different times, different periods in the year. I know teams have caught us when we didn’t have it going, and got us good. So I don’t think we really think about who it’s against as much as we’re just happy to get the wins.”
Manager Robin Ventura is much like Konerko, but he was a little more excited after the Sox beat the Rangers 2-1 Thursday to seal the sweep.
“It’s nice,” Ventura said. “But we feel we can play with anybody. They’re a great team. You go up against a team like that, it was big to get the first two. This one was definitely a bonus.”
Finally, let’s turn it over to rookie closer Addison Reed, who saved his second straight game against Texas Thursday.
“It’s a confidence booster,” Reed said. “Anytime this team comes in, it’s big to win the series. To sweep them is just that much better.”
Focus on fielding:Good teams play good defense, and that#146;s a big reason why the White Sox are in first place.The Sox have made 34 errors games, the fewest in the American League. They also entered Thursday#146;s game against the Rangers tied with the Seattle Mariners for the best fielding percentage (. 989) in the league.#147;I don#146;t think guys are playing over their heads,#148; said manager Robin Ventura, who won six Gold Gloves at third base, five with the White Sox. #147;They#146;re just playing to their capabilities. Again, you have to have the effort and all that goes with it. I don#146;t see guys overachieving, I just see guys playing well.#148;Gordon Beckham deserves Gold Glove recognition at second base, and Alexei Ramirez remains one of the best fielding shortstops in baseball.Newcomer Kevin Youkilis is also a strong defender, as he showed at third base in Wednesday#146;s win over Texas.#147;There are always knocks on you,#148; said Youkilis, who moved over to first base Thursday. #147;People are going to say things about you. People have knocked me my whole career, my whole life, saying: #145;He#146;s too slow. He can#146;t do this.#146; But sometimes you just got to get to the ball and make good plays.#147;I don#146;t have greatest arm or am the fastest, but if you get your feet under you, get yourself in the right spots, you make good plays.#148;Up in the air:Manager Robin Ventura said Dylan Axelrod is still likely to start Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays in place of Chris Sale.#147;That can change at any moment,#148; Ventura added.Axelrod started against Texas Wednesday night and threw 107 pitches over 5 innings.If Ventura doesn#146;t want to bring Axelrod back on three days rest, Deunte Heath is likely to get the nod. Heath came up from Class AAA Charlotte on Wednesday.