Watch CBS News

Levine: White Sox Have Good Vibe, Aim To Surprise Division Foes

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Picked by many experts to finish near the bottom of the American League Central, the White Sox may have a surprise waiting for their detractors. After finishing 76-86 and in fourth place last season, the front office made numerous moves with the goal of turning a lifeless team into a competitive club again.

The early returns of a 3-1 start have been good.

Adding quality major league talent at five different positions has already changed the dynamic of this year's squad. After the Drake LaRoche drama, the resolve of this group seemed to change.

"We came together as a team after that," third baseman Todd Frazier said ahead of Friday afternoon's home opener against the Indians. "It showed what we have as a team. We came together talking about things. Everybody really chipped in. We talked about, 'Let's go now.'"

That vibe wasn't evident in 2015, when a slow start was prolonged into a disappointing season. With captain Paul Konerko retired, the clubhouse never did mesh together. This past offseason, White Sox officials added new players at three infield spots, center field and catcher.

"It's not the easiest thing to do," general manager Rick Hahn said the changing dynamic. "All 30 clubs want to add high-character guys who are going to produce. Sometimes you have to take some chances on some guys who had some so-called character hickeys on them. We don't have that (2005) championship banner up there without Bobby Jenks or A.J. Pierzynski. They were guys we would have probably stayed away from if the decision was based strictly on reputation. Going back from that club until this club, we implore our scouts to the best they can to know the actual makeup of the individual player. We ask them not to base it on reputation. Again, sometimes you need to take some chances to address a need."

The entire White Sox position player roster has turned over since the conclusion of the 2013 season. The only regulars who are left from 2014 are first baseman Jose Abreu and outfielders Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia.

"When you bring in this many guys, you never know how things are going to go when they get here," manager Robin Ventura said. "This group just seemed to hit it off right away. They continued that all the way through spring training. Now it's carried over into the season. I don't think it was all an intentional thing. They all just came in and did it."

The players all seem to enjoy each other on this club, evidenced by their migrating to the lockers of Frazier and Abreu to hang out and their impromptu soccer games in the the clubhouse that feature an empty grocery cart as a target.

"This is just a group of guys playing ball and having fun," Ventura said. "This is not that complicated if you think about it. You are bringing in guys from different places at different points of there career. We run the gambit of Rollins being where he is at and the career he has had all the way to Tyler Saladino, who had his first Opening Day (in the majors) just the other day. Everybody is in here for the right reasons. We feel they are here at the right time for the right things."

Veteran reliever Nate Jones explained the difference in the clubhouse culture of 2016 and since the blowup between management and the players in early March in regards to the LaRoche saga.

"This was one of those things where we just banded together and said, 'Let's go,'" Jones said. "You can see the results in that so far. It has been exciting to watch us play."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.