No talk, all action: Anderson focused on goals
Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson generally avoids sharing the statistical or personal goals he’s aiming for entering a season.
“I don’t really like to talk about it, I just like to do it,” he said during a conference call.
His bat did plenty of talking in 2019 when he joined Luke Appling (1936 and 1943) and Frank Thomas (1997) as the only players in team history to lead the American League in batting average. Anderson had a .335 average, the best mark in the majors.
Anderson was back in a familiar setting Friday morning, taking grounders at Guaranteed Rate Field during the first workout of summer camp.
“Everybody has been ready,” he said. “Everybody wants to see some baseball. I’m excited to get back on the field. I’ve been sitting in the house, obviously enjoying the time with my family and my kids that I usually don’t get. I’ve been soaking that up.
“I’m ready to get back out on the field and hopefully be dominant again and continue to have fun and continue to bring a lot of excitement to the game of baseball.”
Anderson also continues to make an
impact off the field, participating in a gun violence awareness PSA with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. The video also addresses bringing in more resources and providing economic opportunities to neighborhoods on the South and West sides.
“We all know that Chicago is kind of crazy around the Fourth of July,” Anderson said of the PSA. “It was real dope and awesome to (collaborate) with the Mayor on something like that to send a message so powerful.
“I’m excited about that project and hopefully it’s touching and hopefully it’s reached as many kids and as many people all over Chicago and hopefully all over the world. But it was such a powerful message and I was excited to do it when I heard about it.”
Anderson recently took part in a “#Players4BLM” video, which featured several current and former Black baseball players supporting the message of Black Lives Matter and “One team. One dream.”
Anderson hopes “to continue to motivate and inspire kids of my color and continue to play the game the way that I know how.”
Last season, he increased his batting average 95 points — the best season-to-season jump in franchise history. Now, manager Rick Renteria is looking forward to seeing what Anderson will do next.
“I’m very confident in the maturity that’s transpired over the last few years,” Renteria said Friday. “He’s worked extremely hard. I think, and I still believe, that this kid’s an All-Star quality type shortstop. When I see him working, I see some things that he does, and every day I’m impressed.
“I expect a lot out of Timmy. More importantly, Timmy expects a lot out of himself. I know he wants perfection, and he’s continuing to grow toward that.”
The shortstop is putting in the work to grow defensively after leading the majors with 26 errors in 2019.
“Nothing comes natural, nothing came natural,” Anderson said. “That’s a part of my game that’s definitely lacking. It ain’t too far behind, I’m getting to where I need to be. I’ll continue to work, I’ll continue to get better.
“I’m going to continue to learn the game. Each and every day, come to the ballpark ready. As I mature and as I grow, it’s going to continue to get better. You’ll see. As long as I continue to get better, continue to grow and continue to learn and work hard, (the defense) will come along as well.”
That approach led him to the batting crown. But repeating the feat in the shortened 2020 season isn’t the first thing on Anderson’s mind.
“Hopefully I can get a ring out of it, and if the batting title comes again, then cool,” he said. “I’m going to take it day by day and see what happens.
“I’m excited though. We’ll see what happens at the end of the 60 (games). Hopefully it’s not just 60.”