Eaton trying to dig himself out of an early hole
Over the first two weeks of the season, Adam Eaton bore very little resemblance to the White Sox' leadoff man who batted .300 last season.
Heading into Monday's game against the Cleveland Indians, Eaton was hitting .136 and failing to spark a disappointing offense.
"Guys are feeling really good coming out of spring training," Eaton said of the opposing pitchers he faced early. "They are going to come right at you and attack you. After the third or fourth start, game plans kind of change. They don't come at you with the 97 (mph). Now they are coming at you with 95 and they might try to sink it a little more because they don't feel as good on the mound.
"As hitters, it's the same way. I feel like when I feel (cruddy) I'm a better hitter because I have to bear down and then when I feel good, I'm swinging out of my shoes. Once you get into the routine of the season, I think the game changes a little bit."
Eaton started climbing out of the early hole by going 1-for-3 and drawing 2 walks in Monday's comeback win over Cleveland.
"I felt great (Monday)," Eaton said. "I felt good the last couple of days and then it seems like every now and again it seems like one at-bat here and there I'll feel like (crud). I'm putting the ball in play, not with the best swings I've had, but I lined out yesterday, got on base three times and I don't feel too bad. It's coming around."
Eaton signed a five-year, $23.5 million contract extension March 20, but the 26-year-old center fielder said he hasn't put any additional pressure on himself.
"You're all taller than I am and I know we have all discussed this a lot," the 5-foot-8 Eaton told reporters before Tuesday night's game. "I'm not supposed to be here in the first place. A contract is not something that motivated me. I have plenty of motivation to do well.
"There are 25 guys in here and there is the city. My contract aside, my motivation comes from within and everyone around me. So I don't look too much into that."
Anger management:
Upset by a beat writer reporting the absence of catcher Devin Mesoraco the day before, Reds manager Bryan Price on Monday went on a profanity-laced rant against the Cincinnati media and blasted the reporting of information that could be beneficial to the opposing team.
"I get what (Price) is saying," Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "I don't think I'm going to articulate the way he did. Everybody has a different way of looking at it.
"I understand that you guys have a job to do, and that's part of this job. It can get frustrating at times if you want to keep something quiet that you don't want people to know and somehow it gets out. I get that part. But I also understand you guys have a job to do. I don't think I'm really as forthcoming as (Price) is."