While the Cubs and Yankees set their rotations for the World Series–or so they hope–the White Sox prepare to purge memories of their disappointing finish last season while eagerly anticipating what’s ahead of them.
“I think we have a good team,” center fielder Aaron Rowand said. “We have the same core guys we had last year.”
Those “core guys” helped the Sox to an 86-76 record. They finished four games behind the AL Central division-winning Minnesota Twins.
Rowand and third baseman Joe Crede are in camp early, joining the pitchers and catchers. Rowand, who appears to have the center-field job to lose, has been in Tucson for almost a week.
“I’m ready to roll,” he said.
Pitchers and catchers will undergo physicals Friday morning before being put through their first workouts under new manager Ozzie Guillen.
While the Sox aren’t burdened with World Series expectations, they aren’t subscribing to the doom-and-gloom scenarios that greeted the departures of Bartolo Colon, Tom Gordon, Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett.
“I think the whole club has a good outlook,” pitcher Dan Wright said.
“We’re all confident and we have a pretty good core group of players back and some new faces who are going to help. We’re expecting nothing but the best from ourselves.”
They also know they play in a division that appears very winnable.
The defending champion Twins lost three key ingredients: relievers LaTroy Hawkins and Eddie Guardado and catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Detroit and Kansas City have improved and Cleveland has some of the best young talent in the American League. But there isn’t a dominant team in the group.
“The Central has always been [wide open],” Rowand said. “I know Minnesota lost some guys, but they still have their core group. They’re going to be good regardless. They play well together.”
That was not something often said of the Sox last season. The Twins’ chemistry was often cited as the main reason they overtook the Sox in September. The Sox had a two-game lead on Sept. 9 but went 8-10 the rest of the month.
“We had the talent [to win],” Rowand said. “I don’t know if it was a lack of chemistry or guys trying to do too much. [Minnesota] just outplayed us.”
Will the Twins’ chemistry be altered with the loss of key components? Will the Sox under Guillen become a tight-knit group that overcomes the odds? Those are among the many questions that face the Sox this season.
“It’s going to be different with Ozzie,” said Rowand, who believes Guillen’s enthusiasm will energize the clubhouse.
If nothing else, there will be a constant din of chatter.
“Ozzie’s a happy guy,” catcher Miguel Olivo said. “He talks a lot.”
How happy and chatty Guillen will be in six months remains to be seen.
