White Sox express sympathy for Rose, Kane
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The one-two dose of bad news regarding serious injuries to the Bulls' Derrick Rose and the Blackhawks' Patrick Kane was a hot topic Wednesday at Camelback Ranch.
“It's bad news all the way around,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “Not good news. We're making sure guys are walking around with some padding around here.”
The Sox had some extra sympathy for Rose, who is going to have knee surgery for the third time since 2012.
“It's tough, especially with the flak he catches on the back end when it's not his fault,” White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija said. “He goes out and gives everything he has. It's just unfortunate. Hopefully he can rehab and maybe change his game a little and be a little more healthy. But again, that's for him to decide and I'm sure he's dealing with enough. That's a lot of weight on his shoulders. I feel for the guy.”
Given his reckless style of play, Adam Eaton spent much of his time in the Sox' trainer's room last season. The center fielder knows what it is like to be criticized for being injury prone.
“I feel for both of them,” Eaton said of Rose and Kane. “I'm excited to see what the Blackhawks do with the rest of the season, but they will be just fine. And then D-Rose, you have to feel for the guy. He gets a lot of heat. It's a great city, it's a great team.
“But he gets a lot of heat for being injured quite a bit. From my standpoint of being injured a little bit last year, I don't get nearly the heat that he does. It wears on you. Hopefully he heals up. He's one of the great players in the league and I think there are better years to come for him. I think he'll rebound quite nicely.”
Coach Coleman:
New baserunning instructor Vince Coleman was in the spotlight at training camp Wednesday, working with a group of players that included Adam Eaton, Avisail Garcia, Alexei Ramirez, Melky Cabrera and Micah Johnson.
Coleman, who ranks sixth in major-league history with 752 stolen bases, urged his pupils to be aggressive on the bases and “paralyze” the opposing defense.
Manger Robin Ventura, general manager Rick Hahn and executive vice president Kenny Williams were all present for Coleman's session.
“It's important getting a guy in there with that kind of knowledge, the baserunning as well as little tips of stealing bases and things like that,” Ventura said. “It's valuable for our guys to hear that stuff. Having him here and doing that, we feel lucky.
“Speed can put pressure on defenses. I know what it feels like to play against teams that have speed and are able to use it. It's uncomfortable. Not only the guys that run well, but everybody should be able to run the bases enough to keep the other team on their toes and make them aware that we'll take the extra base. We have to be able to do that.”
Comeback trail:
Relief pitcher Nate Jones, who had Tommy John surgery last July, is throwing on flat ground at a distance of 105 feet.
Jones is looking forward to making it back to the White Sox in July.
“After talking to (trainer) Herm (Schneider) and (GM) Rick (Hahn) about it, they haven't set a timetable,” Jones said. “My goal is around the all-star break. If it's before that, awesome. If it's later, that's cool, too. I want to be back as soon as I can and I want to be able to help and be a part of this team because they assembled a pretty good one this off-season.”