Sox’ Beckham says he has ‘something to prove’

Nearly every player who has a long major-league career experiences a mulligan year.

You know, a disappointing season that is remembered more as a blip than a barometer.

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham is hoping his mulligan came early.

Entering 2010 as a rising star based on his fifth-place finish in American League Rookie of the Year balloting the season before, Beckham wasn’t a complete bust.

But much more was expected from the former University of Georgia All-American, who carried the Bulldogs to a second-place finish in the 2008 College World Series.

On a mission#147;In my opinion, I have something to prove,#148; Beckham said after arriving at training camp ahead of most regulars. #147;I#146;ve worked hard. Last year maybe I was a little too comfortable, you know? Let#146;s just put it that way.#148;

After joining the Sox two months into the 2009 season, Beckham survived an 0-for-13 hitless streak to begin his major-league career.

He eventually figured out how to succeed at baseball#146;s highest level and wound up batting .270 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI as a rookie.

Instead of building off the auspicious start, Beckham batted .235 with a home run and 4 RBI last April, .159 with no homers and 6 RBI in May and .233 with 1 homer and 10 RBI in June.

During the brutal three-month stretch, Beckham also went 211 at-bats without a home run and 112 without an extra-base hit.

Too much, too soon? No wonder White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was asked on a near daily basis if Beckham would be better off in the minor leagues.

#147;This kid had never failed at any level of baseball before,#148; Guillen said. #147;All of the sudden he struggles and doesn#146;t know how to get out of it.#148;

With the help of White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker and teammates Paul Konerko, Mark Kotsay and A.J. Pierzynski, Beckham finally made some adjustments in July. They worked, and he started playing like the can#146;t-miss rookie.

#147;I just have a better idea of what I want to do,#148; said Beckham, who finished the season with a .252 average. #147;I#146;m not worried about stuff that isn#146;t important. I (fell) in love with something last year that I tried to manipulate and with my swing, I can#146;t do it. My swing is my swing. And what I finally realized halfway through the season is that I don#146;t have to manipulate anything.

#147;It happens naturally. I just have to go up there ready to hit. I#146;ve taken that from the second half into the off-season and gotten a better feel. That#146;s basically it.#148;

Holding his ownAs for his defense, Beckham was a shortstop in college, and he played third base for the White Sox as a rookie.

Last year, he moved to second and played about as well as possible, finishing sixth in the AL with a .981 fielding percentage.

Get strong, get meanWhile Beckham was preparing to take batting practice at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., last week, Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf strolled by.

Reinsdorf marveled at the 20 pounds of muscle Beckham packed on over the winter, and the 24-year-old infielder explained how the added strength is only going to help in 2011.

As for his demeanor, Beckham has plenty of Southern charm and is always available to the front office, media and anyone else who asks for his time. Pierzynski, who hails from neighboring Florida, said that needs to change.

#147;He has a locker next to me so I#146;m trying to teach him to be more mean, tell people no sometimes,#148; Pierzynski said. #147;He#146;s like, #145;I have a hard time doing that,#146; but he has to do that. You can say, #145;Give me 10 minutes. I have to get my work in.#146; And then you can do it. That#146;s fine.

#147;But I think last year, the organization and himself and everyone said we need you to do so much. That#146;s great because he#146;s a great young player and has a great future. But at the same time, you have to be able to say no and that#146;s the hardest thing you learn sometimes.

#147;We talked a lot this winter. I like the way he#146;s talking and I like the way he#146;s acting. He#146;s got a different mindset this year. That#146;s good. It#146;s what he needs and what we need as a team. I look forward to him having a great year and as long as you guys (media) don#146;t anoint him the second coming of Babe Ruth, we#146;ll be all right.#148;