The same field where manager Ozzie Guillen ripped his players four games into spring training last March for their lack of passion will be the site for his back-to-basics drills.
Guillen reiterated Sunday that an emphasis on bunting and hit-and-run plays will be enforced in drills well before regularly scheduled workouts and exhibition games in Tucson, Ariz.
This won’t be a boot camp where players are penalized for failures.
In fact, Guillen plans to set up friendly competition where winning groups will receive perks, such as free dinners, from their losing teammates.
“We want to make it fun, but we’re not going to [mess] around,” Guillen said last weekend of the early-morning drills that would typically last no more than 30 minutes.
“We want to take the best out of that but make it fun and enjoy what you’re going to do.
“But in the meanwhile, I’ll be in charge of that field because we have to do better stuff.”
Guillen said that coaches Joey Cora and Razor Shines would be involved in the drills and believed the Sox’s younger players would benefit from this project.
The only players exempt from participating in the drills are sluggers Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and Jim Thome.
Dow Jones player
When asked if there could be a surprise player in camp, Guillen immediately fired away at shortstop Robert Valido.
The 21-year-old was ranked by Baseball America as the best defensive infielder in the Sox’s system entering the 2006 season but batted .208 in 45 games at Double-A Birmingham and .222 in nine games at Class A Winston-Salem.
Valido also coped with a hand injury.
“I want to talk to Valido and ask him why he goes backward so much,” Guillen said.
