Frank Thomas’ idea of himself as a player has changed. It’s fitting because the team he has led for so long has changed too.
Thomas and the White Sox, who open a potential season-altering three-game series Tuesday against the Royals in Kansas City, are not the same as they were when they opened the season at Kauffman Stadium with three straight losses. They are not even the same Sox who were struggling for respectability two weeks ago.
Good thing.
The Sox team that departed K.C. in April with questions is now one that comes in with at least some answers.
“We have some answers about our pitching, and we probably have answered some questions about our bullpen,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “Obviously the way we’re swinging the bats will make a huge difference.”
Chicago took two of three from the Royals later in April. But those games were at U.S. Cellular Field, where the Sox are 33-20.
In six games against Kansas City this season, the Sox have scored six or more runs only twice. They have averaged more than six runs over the last two weeks.
The difference is coming from the middle of the lineup, where Magglio Ordonez once again is playing like the All-Star outfielder he’s been. And Carlos Lee has forced opposing pitchers to deal with Ordonez. Lee has identical home-run (19) and RBI (66) totals as Ordonez.
But the standard-bearer for the Sox is still Thomas. He remade himself from Walking Frank to Power Frank when he sensed the Sox needed the long ball more.
“My role has changed,” Thomas said. “I’m more that middle-of-the-lineup buffer guy who’s going to make the guy in front of him better and the guy behind him better.”
The additions of Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett also have rejuvenated the club. The Sox are 14-9 since the trades.
“Performance is important, but going about it in a certain way tells everybody this is the right way,” Manuel said.
The Sox had questions in the bullpen, but nowhere near earlier concerns. In losing the first four meetings against Kansas City, relievers Tom Gordon, Billy Koch and Rick White took three of the defeats.
“I think the key is going to be our bullpen,” Manuel said. “Not just two guys, but everybody. If we are to be a good team, somebody else has to step up.”
———-
White Sox at Royals
Season series: Royals lead 4-2.
Tuesday: Mark Buehrle (8-10, 4.21 ERA) vs. Darrell May (5-4, 3.33). 7:05 p.m.; Fox Sports Net; WMVP-AM 1000
Wednesday: Jon Garland (7-7, 4.40)
vs. Runelvys Hernandez (5-3, 2.81).
7:05 p.m.; Fox Sports Net;
WMVP-AM 1000
Thursday: Esteban Loaiza (13-5, 2.19) vs. Kyle Snyder (1-5, 4.54). 7:05 p.m.; WCIU-Ch. 26; WMVP-AM 1000
———-
Edited by Michael Kellams (mkellams@tribune.com)
