Levine: Chemistry Professor Robin Ventura Has 'A' Students

By Bruce Levine --

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago White Sox are winning ball games in many different ways with a lot of different contributors. Manager Robin Ventura finally has a group of heady players who are willing to sacrifice their own selfish instincts for the betterment of the team.

The White Sox brought in seven new position players in the offseason, and they all seem more interested in using their baseball IQ than being concerned with individual stats. Doing the little things and not making bad mental mistakes have been the calling card for this season's club.

"We saw this happening before the season began," Ventura said of the chemistry beginning to form. "The other side of that is I have been on teams that seemed to have good chemistry but weren't any good. It can go both ways, but you have to be able to win games to make it feel like there is something. (Chemistry) does mean something when you are winning games."

Ventura gave the White Sox front office credit for shaking the roster up and going after solid pros who they thought would fit into the concept of team ball first. The trades for third baseman Todd Frazier and second baseman Brett Lawrie were examples of this. Both came at the cost of some highly thought of minor league players and/or evolving big leaguers. Executives Rick Hahn and Ken Williams knew they needed impact team players now to go with pitching staff that was built to win over the next couple of seasons.

The key to winning 12 of the first 18 games has been great pitching and having a group that doesn't beat itself with bad decisions on the field.

"A lot of these guys respect each other and hold each other accountable and are pulling for each other," said Ventura, who didn't have the togetherness he wanted last season. "That is not the case on every team you are around."

The maturity of returning players like Adam Eaton and the addition of energy players has been a turning point this time around. Eaton has had the weight of the world taken off of his shoulders by just playing his new position in right field and not thinking he must be the leader on the team. Eaton has hit from the get-go and also has played quality defense after moving over for new center fielder Austin Jackson.

The love of the game was the only factor for shortstop Jimmy Rollins to return to baseball, as he signed a one-year deal with the White Sox later in free agency. Rollins has made tons of money, won an MVP and played on a World Series championship team. At 37, he brings the esprit of a great career to this hungry ball club.

"We see guys trying to help others," ace Chris Sale said. "We have a bunch of guys who pick each other up. There are things I can't tell you that don't need to be leaked out. The reality though is I see guys helping each other, before, after and during games. You see that and you say to yourself this team has something different. The comradeship and the passion. There is a lot of passion here. After that triple play (Friday), after we score, the walk-off win (Saturday), after big wins like we have had, you come in a little bit more together and have a little bit more pep."

Is there a real impact of good chemistry, and is it just a product of winning?

"I would say good chemistry is real," Sale said. "If you have a bunch of guys who do not like each other or help each other out, it probably won't work. If you want to call it chemistry, go ahead or call it what you want. I am just glad we have it."

Has the chemistry angle been over emphasized?

"Look every year you see a lot of turnover on every team," veteran left-hander John Danks said. "We have brought in a lot of professional guys. They truthfully come here, get in there work and are prepared to help us try and win every day. They are helping us win ball games. That is all we need."

An A in baseball chemistry 101 has been a key for this winning group on the South Side of Chicago.

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