Contrite Rios claims he has made changes

GLENDALE, Ariz. — One year ago, a confident Alex Rios reported to spring training and boldly predicted the White Sox were the team to beat in the AL Central.

Upon arriving at camp Saturday morning, Rios was singing a different tune.

There were no favorable forecasts this time around. Instead, Rios talked about the changes he’s made on the heels of a miserable 2011 season.

The Sox’ 31-year-old center fielder batted .163 in April and never recovered.

“I couldn’t get out of it,” a contrite Rios said. “It was a pretty disappointing year for me and for everybody, for the fans and everyone. I’m very positive this year. I know I can come back and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

If not for teammate Adam Dunn, Rios might have been the most disappointing player in the American League last season.

For $12 million, Rios produced a .227 batting average, 13 home runs, 44 RBI and 11 stolen bases.

In 2010, Rios consistently flashed his five tools while batting .284 with 21 home runs, 88 RBI and 34 stolen bases.

Rios has an unusual swing and stance. He gets into a low crouch, drops his hands low and holds them close to his body.

When he is mechanically sound — like was two years ago — Rios is a dangerous player.

But when his swing is off even a tick, Rios becomes an easy out.

Rios took swing after swing in a batting cage with new hitting coach Jeff Manto on Saturday morning, but it is way too early to tell if the off-season adjustments are going to make a difference.

To get his swing back to where it should be, Rios said he watched videos from 2006-07, when he was an all-star with the Toronto Blue Jays.

“I’m not trying to copy what I did,” he said. “I’m just picking things that might help me to get back to where I was before. I broke down my swing to start. I tried to see everything and analyze everything that I did when I was doing good.

“I tried to remember all those things. I think I feel pretty good. I hit for quite a while and we’ll see happens.”

Physical mechanics are important for Rios, and so is his mental state.

Many times last season, Rios slammed his bat in frustration or simply appeared to give up during at-bats.

Rios would often take his offensive struggles to the field, where he also played poorly.

Everybody is happy in the early days of spring training, but Rios knows he has to stay upbeat to regain his edge.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I’m very positive. I don’t have any doubts on my skills. I know that I can produce. It’s just a matter of staying positive and not cluttering my mind with lots of things like mechanics and all the things that I was worrying about last year.

“It’s just see the ball and hit the ball, that’s what I’m going to try to accomplish this year.”

Keeping it simple might be Rios’ best strategy.

“You go through seasons where you just out-think yourself,” manager Robin Ventura said. “Get back to basic stuff. For him, it can happen. He’s a talented kid. I’m really looking forward to him getting going.”