SS ANDERSON GROWING AS PLAYER, MAN
Emerging infielder gains key perspective upon becoming a dad
CLEVELAND — White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson has a nice combination of things helping him get through his first major- league experience at the tender age of 23. He’s a new father, and he has what manager Robin Ven- tura calls ‘‘ supreme’’ confidence.
Anderson’s fiancee, Bria, delivered baby Peyton into his life during spring training and, as any new parent knows, changed everything. For Anderson’s baseball life, for the good.
‘‘ It has,’’ Anderson said. ‘‘ Being a father doesn’t let the game of baseball beat me up. When I have a bad game, I can go home and see her smile. It helps me out, playing the game.’’
A first- round draft choice in 2013, Anderson is playing a capable shortstop while batting .272 with six homers and 15 RBI in 55 games. He extended his hitting streak to nine games with a double in his first at- bat in the Sox’ 3- 1 loss Tuesday to the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field and is 11- for- 34 with four walks during that stretch.
The walks are worth noting, considering the rookie’s 71- 6 strikeoutto- walk ratio.
‘‘ I’m still figuring out who I am at the plate,’’ Anderson said. ‘‘ Figuring out my good pitch to hit, figuring out my zone and just locking in.
‘‘ I would love to [ cut down on the strikeouts]. It’s something I’ve been working on. I’m also working on a getting a good pitch to hit. I still have a lot of work to do. I’m just getting my feet wet and basically preparing myself for next year.’’
Next year is becoming a good place to look for the Sox ( 56- 62), who aren’t going anywhere this year. Their seventh loss in a row to the American League Central- leading Indians ( 68- 49) dropped the fourth- place Sox to a season- low six games below .500.
Tough- luck loser Jose Quintana ( 9- 9) was denied a career- high 10th victory for the second consecutive outing despite another quality start ( two runs in six innings).
‘‘ It was a tough game,’’ said Quintana, who appeared to have Rajai Davis picked off in the third, only to see first baseman Jose Abreu’s throw to second go off the mark. ‘‘ They can run. I wanted to keep runners off base. But all my stuff was working good, especially my breaking ball.’’
Back- to- back doubles by Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor in the first and an RBI single by Mike Napoli in the third were all Indians right- hander Corey Kluber ( 13- 8) needed. He gave up one run — Justin Morneau’s fourth homer — in six innings.
No matter what the Sox’ front office decides about what direction to go during the offseason — major rebuild or patch things up and hope to compete — Anderson is all but assured of being part of the plan. He has no doubt he belongs.
‘‘ My confidence is something I never lose, no matter what,’’ he said.
‘‘ I know we play a tough sport, but you get to come out and play again the next day. Even if they get you the day before, you get to come out and compete again.
‘‘ It’s been up and down. I’ve had some good days and some bad days, but overall I’m enjoying it and having fun with it and really locking in.’’