Can Chicago White Sox follow Abreu's lead?
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Before the Chicago White Sox went through their first full-squad workout of spring training Tuesday at Camelback Ranch, vice president Kenny Williams issued a stern warning during a team meeting.
The message was pretty straightforward: Fall in line with the rest of the team or hit the road.
Three straight losing seasons are not sitting well with Williams, general manager Rick Hahn and manager Robin Ventura, and last year's ragged play is no longer going to be tolerated.
That was Ventura's message Tuesday morning.
"It's about the team, what we expect, what I expect from them," Ventura said. "They should expect it from themselves. There should be a standard that we have and they should be able to enforce that themselves as well.
"We'll be there to do it, but we've set our own standard with how they should be playing every day."
Ventura took the brunt of the blame for last year's 76-86 record, and he enters the new season squarely on the hot seat.
"It was sloppy for me," Ventura said of the 2015 season. "It's not always easy to watch. Now you bring new guys in, you want them to understand the level that we want to play at. When it doesn't go well, that's what it looks like."
Every White Sox player is expected to play at a higher level this year, and Jose Abreu is again expected to lead the way on the offensive side.
"I hope he keeps doing what he's doing," Ventura said. "I think a lot of people were talking about a sophomore slump, but Josie, he's a guy you can just count on. You can count on him being prepared, being ready to play.
"He's a great hitter, player, all of that goes into it, but he brings a little something extra to the table because of his preparation and he cares a lot about what's going on in the clubhouse with the guys that he plays with."
With little or no protection in the middle of the Sox' lineup last year, Abreu still joined Albert Pujols as the only players in major-league history to have 30-plus home runs and 100 or more RBI in each of their first two seasons.
"I think that's one of the bigger things that's so impressive with him, we really had nothing there for him and he's still able to get those numbers," Ventura said. "I think with some protection and scoring some more runs, those numbers will increase.
"He did that pretty much on his own. There wasn't much surrounding him that helped him. I think we have some pieces that can help him."
Todd Frazier is the White Sox' new cleanup hitter. He finished fourth in the National League with 35 home runs last season while playing for the Cincinnati Reds.
Another trade acquisition, Brett Lawrie, hit 16 homers for the Oakland Athletics.
Abreu paced the Sox with 30 home runs in 2015, but there was a big drop-off after that. Leadoff man Adam Eaton was second with 14.
If Adam LaRoche and Avisail Garcia can bounce back this season and Frazier and Lawrie provide expected power, Abreu figures to have his third straight banner year with the bat.
"I feel good because I'm doing my job," Abreu said through a translator. "But I'm on a team. You want to win as a team.
"Sometimes it's been tough for us to play. I have to be grateful to the White Sox because they give me the opportunity to play here and be part of their family. I hope to help them to win, and this could be the season that it could happen."
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