Guillen pumped up, but realistic
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Manager Ozzie Guillen is fired up by the White Sox' potential this season.
You could just hear it in his voice Tuesday afternoon after the Sox completed their first full-squad workout at Camelback Ranch.
“The first day of camp, everybody's excited, everybody's enthusiastic, a lot of energy,” Guillen said. “I have a feeling this ballclub is going to continue to do that because I talked to most of the guys one by one and I've got the feeling this team's going to be connecting very well, very quick.”
But when it came to saying the White Sox are going to win the AL Central — like center fielder Alex Rios proclaimed Monday — Guillen drew a heavy line.
“Like I told them in the meeting today, don't believe in the hype,” Guillen said. “We haven't done anything yet. We don't deserve all the propaganda and stuff; I think we have to earn it. I think the ballclub will play to earn it.”
Like A.J. Pierzynski and Gordon Beckham said the day before, the Twins are still the team to beat in the AL Central, and they've had the Sox' number is head-to-head competition in eight of the past 10 seasons.
Guillen liked the way the White Sox went about their business Tuesday, and he expects it to continue throughout the upcoming season.
“We've got to show people we're that good,” Guillen said. “But right now, it's all propaganda. It's all high expectations. It's all about what (outsiders) think. I talked to them and made it very clear, we haven't done anything yet.
“Let people say what they say but don't believe what they say. Just make sure you go out there the way you should and hopefully the rest will be taken care of.”
Offensively, the Sox are looking at their best lineup since 2004, when they had Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Lee, Paul Konerko, Joe Crede and Jose Valentin.
On Tuesday, newcomer Adam Dunn hit in a group with Konerko and Carlos Quentin and lofted drive after drive over the fence on the White Sox' primary practice field.
In nine years with the Reds, Diamondbacks and Nationals, Dunn has never played in the postseason.
That's the main reason the 6-foot-6, 285-pound slugger signed with the White Sox during the off-season, and his addition is the main reason why so many prognosticators are picking the Sox to win the Central.
“It's pretty good,” Konerko said of the White Sox' lineup. “You break down lineups and you look for some speed, some power, balance. It's all right there. The bottom of the lineup, whoever we put down there is pretty formidable. We look like we're probably, in the middle of the lineup, kind of one guy deeper than a lot of teams.
“Maybe whoever is going to hit sixth for us would probably hit fifth for a lot of teams. It's all there but as you know, it's on paper and doesn't mean anything until you go out and do it. You have to go out and it all has to click together.
“We felt good about our lineup leaving here last year and we didn't get it going, so there is always work and an unknown about how things are going to transpire.”