Does Sox third baseman Gillaspie have staying power?
At the end of last season, general manager Rick Hahn, manager Robin Ventura and other members of the White Sox' staff sat down and plotted roster changes for 2015.
With so many holes to fill, it was a lengthy conversation and the Sox wound up hitting on multiple targets.
Jeff Samardzija is the new No. 2 starter. David Robertson is the new closer. Adam LaRoche is the new designated hitter. Melky Cabrera is the new left fielder. Zach Duke and Dan Jennings are new arms in the bullpen, and Emilio Bonifacio and Gordon Beckham are the new bench players.
And, just like that, the Sox are expected to contend for a playoff berth after a combined 189 losses the past two seasons.
It was an impressive off-season haul, but the White Sox still need more from holdovers John Danks and Hector Noesi at the back end of the starting rotation, and they need more from catcher Tyler Flowers. They also need Micah Johnson or Carlos Sanchez to step up and earn the starting job at second base.
And the Sox need Conor Gillaspie to show he can be a starting third baseman.
"There's always pressure," Gillaspie said. "If you care about your job and how you do on the field, there will be added pressure on yourself."
Gillaspie handled the pressure and everything else thrown his way during the first half of last season, putting up a .326/.377/.484 hitting line while often playing spectacular defense.
But it all fell apart after the all-star break. Gillaspie lost weight, wore down, and his slash line plunged to .228/.284/.330.
With only so much money to upgrade the many other trouble spots, the White Sox decided to stand pat at third base. That buys Gillaspie another season to show he belongs.
"I feel good enough having played kind of two full years understanding my role and what it takes to succeed," said the 27-year-old Gillaspie. "Each year I try to figure out what areas hurt me.
"Last year it was fatigue. Toward the end of the season I just couldn't do it. So I'm hoping I prepared for that. From Year 1 to Year 2 I made some great strides.
"If that means I play every day, great. If not, I'm happy with whatever role I'm put in. I know at the end of the day I put in a lot of hard work and hours and thinking ahead to prepare for the season. At the end of the day I'm extremely happy with whatever happens with my career.
"That comes with age, and I'm starting to understand that as I get older."
Gillaspie put on 10-15 pounds over the winter to help him stay strong for a full season, and he thinks he will be able to maintain the weight after giving up chewing tobacco.
If Gillaspie flops, the Sox could turn to Beckham or Bonifacio at third base. Bringing up power-hitting Matt Davidson from Class AAA Charlotte is another possible option.
"Every position is going to be like that," Gillaspie said. "You try to do the best you can and control what you can control. For me personally it's working hard all year and letting the chips fall where they fall."