Levine: Defense Should Be Improved For White Sox

By Bruce Levine--

GLENDALE, Ariz. (CBS) -- Catching the baseball and, in some cases, throwing a ball back to the infield after it stopped rolling was below par for the White Sox the last two seasons.

Chicago's 2012 club was an outstanding defensive group that ended up with the fewest errors in the league, and general manager Rick Hahn made numerous changes in the offseason to get the White Sox closer to that level again.

Gone from the inept 2014 club are Dayan Viciedo and Alejandro De Aza, whose defensive play was almost laughable at times. Although new left fielder Melky Cabrera isn't Willie Mays-like in the outfield, he should be able to handle the routine play.

Third base and second base are also positions to watch for better play. Conor Gillaspie has improved at the hot corner but is still a work in progress. Second base will be handled by ea youngster in Micah Johnson or Carlos Sanchez.

"We believe we will be a much better team defensively," Hahn said on 670 The Score's Inside the Clubhouse. "We look at Gordon Beckham as a player who will be able to give us outstanding glove work at third, shortstop and second base. Micah has made great strides at second, and Carlos is already a fine defender. Melky we feel is certainly an upgrade in left field."

Hahn went on to say that with outfielders Avisail Garcia and Adam Eaton projected to be in the lineup every day, the White Sox should be above average at many positions in 2015.

Eaton admitted the defense was too sloppy at times for his club last season.

"We should be a lot better, and I am excited about where are game is headed defensively," Eaton said. "Defense is kind of my department. I take a lot of pride in it personally. We all know physical errors are a part of the game and mental errors do occur. When a player doesn't hustle, we handle that in the clubhouse. The media never sees it. We have seen it from time to time, a player an older player gets on a younger guy for lack of hustle. Stuff has to be addressed from time to time. We are all human and distractions do happen. That is an older guy's job to bring guys who are distracted back into the game."

Eaton, Garcia, shortstop Alexei Ramirez, first baseman Adam LaRoche are potential Gold Glove candidates. Others like Gillaspie and Jose Abreu have worked hard to improve. Beckham makes the whole infield better, as manager Robin Ventura can move him around at will late in games.

Catchers Tyler flowers and Geovany Soto are decent receivers with strong arms. Mobility could be an issue behind the plate.

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