Corey Patterson said Tuesday he wasn’t upset with criticism from former manager Don Baylor, who told the Tribune he questioned Patterson’s desire and potential.
“He’s long gone and with another club now,” Patterson said.
Baylor, now a bench coach with the New York Mets, said the 23-year-old Patterson’s decision to leave winter ball prematurely after the 2001 season “doesn’t say much for his desire.”
“Being a first-year player, in my mind I didn’t have a bad year last year,” Patterson said. “It doesn’t mean I’m where I want to be. Obviously I have some work to do. … Take two great players–Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds–two guys I like to watch. I think I did a little bit better than they did in their first full year.”
Patterson hit .253 with 14 home runs and 54 RBIs in his first full season, striking out 142 times.
In comparison, Sosa hit .233 with 15 home runs and 70 RBIs with the White Sox in 1990, striking out 150 times. Bonds played in 113 games with Pittsburgh in ’86, batting .223 with 16 homers, 48 RBIs and 102 strikeouts. Bonds, with an on-base percentage of .331, easily outdistanced Patterson at .284 and Sosa at .282.
