Levine: White Sox Seeking New Leaders In Clubhouse
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The White Sox are taking applications for clubhouse leaders for now and the future. During the obvious failure of this year's team to compete for anything meaningful on the field, a void in leadership within the walls of the clubhouse existed.
Upper management did a good job of identifying solid pros when they signed Adam LaRoche, David Robertson, Zach Duke and Melky Cabrera and traded for Jeff Samardzija in the offseason. All of them have had solid careers and possess leadership ability, but a poort start to the season created an unforseen dynamic -- some had to focus on getting their own games together. That, in part, prevented this group from being the go-to guys when a player needed a direction or correction from within.
John Danks and a few of the veterans from previous seasons have the trust and the back of their teammates, but there was still a clear void left by the retirement of captain Paul Konerko after the 2014 season.
Manager Robin Ventura and his coaching staff have done their job of being there for instruction and correction of the players. That said, many times a big leaguer needs the direction and ear of one of the men he's in the trenches with.
"This year it took a little while longer than it did before," Ventura said of 14 new players who were brought in this season meshing together. "When you lose a guy like (Konerko), who is an automatic go-to guy, it takes time to evolve in different areas of the team. This year it took a little longer, because you didn't have that that guy who was a steady influence."
Every manager needs that leader in the clubhouse to help police situations like what occurred on Tuesday evening in Chicago's loss to Oakland. After White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton ran into an out by attempting to stretch a single into a double with his team down 11 runs, the situation screamed for a strong clubhouse leader to handle the situation for Ventura and Co. A young energetic player, Eaton made his team and manager look bad with the attempt to take an extra base in the blowout.
Eaton will learn and grow from the situation, but the leadership role in the clubhouse is in need of fortification.
"if you're not winning games and not playing well, it's hard to be the guy," Ventura said of leaders evolving. "We have guys who lead by how they do it and prepare, like Jose (Abreu)."
The fact that Abreu doesn't speak English is a non-starter for leadership on most clubs. The respect is there, but the missing element of conversation at the right juncture makes it difficult to be the man in such a situation.
"The issue is that we have not played consistent baseball -- not leadership," said Danks, the team's longest-tenured player. "I try to be welcoming as possible without smothering. That is the way I wanted it when I came into the league. Mark Buerhle and Jon Garland were my guys. I felt anything that came up, I could go to them. Everybody is willing and available in our group for the young guys or anyone."
Under normal circumstances, Danks and Co. would have had leadership help from the veteran group brought in -- but the proverbial sign will still be hanging outside the clubhouse going into 2016: "Veteran leadership help wanted -- apply inside."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
