Will Sox be better in ’16? Vet on it
Team is counting on veteran additions to change culture
SAN DIEGO — The 2016 White Sox are a year older, and they are wiser. Will they be better? A greater veteran presence can’t hurt, and the Sox’ Opening Day roster has an influx with Jimmy Rollins, 37, Todd Frazier, 30, and Austin Jackson, 29, playing key roles.
The new catching tandem of Alex Avila, 29, and Dioner Navarro, 32, has 18 years of combined of ma- jor-league experience.
The entire pitching staff, save for Mat Latos, 29, taking Jeff Samardzija’s place in the rotation, is returning from 2015, each one supposedly a bit more savvy with another year of experience. The average age for Sox pitchers is 29.
Rollins, the 2007 National League MVP shortstop who has been to the postseason six times in his career, might not be the player he was in his prime, but the Sox say they have more savvy, guile and baseball acumen at a position that demands it. Even Tyler Saladino, one of the young guys at 26, has been given high marks for his intuitiveness, positioning and decision-making since he was a rookie last year.
Rollins says there is much to be said for players who “know how to win.’’ Avila appeared in 34 postseason games over four seasons with the Detroit Tigers, and Navarro has been to the playoffs with three teams. Jackson played in 40 games over four postseasons with the Tigers (2011, ’12 and ’13) and Cubs (2015), and Frazier played in the 2013 National League Division Series and the 2014 NL wild-card game with the Cincinnati Reds.
That type of experience is significant, Rollins said.
“I don’t know what it was like [in the Sox’ clubhouse] last year, but I hear we’re in a better place already,’’ he said, “and we have guys that have played on winning teams, and you need that. It’s important to have guys that know what it’s like to win.’’
The Sox know what it’s like to lose, coming off three consecutive years of bad records — 76-86 in 2015, 73-89 in 2014 and 63-99 in 2013. Since they won the 2005 World Series, they’ve made the playoffs once. And lost in the opening round.
A losing culture crept in, and measures were needed to snuff it out.
“When you know what it’s like to win,’’ Rollins said, “when someone or things are going the other way — when you’re not doing things that are conducive to winning — it stands out, and you make a correction because you know better. But if you’ve never been in that situation, you’re just kind of like, ‘Well, maybe this is what it is.’ And I’ve been on both sides. We have players that want to win and that have won, so if things start to go a little left, we can break the step.’’
Manager Robin Ventura welcomes the culture change in the clubhouse, with Frazier replacing Conor Gillaspie at third base, Avila and Navarro supplanting Tyler Flowers behind the plate and Jackson moving Adam Eaton from center field to the corners. Rollins adds an upgraded leadership element over Alexei Ramirez, as well.
“We have different people,’’ Ventura said. “There are different personalities and maybe a different vibe with the club because there are older, veteran, seasoned guys.
“Even though the coaching staff is trying to help the younger guys . . . the younger guys were trying to survive. There was an element of [unproven players] trying to help your team win and everything, but at the same time, they were trying to survive and stay in the big leagues. And that doesn’t always work.’’
Rollins, Jackson, Avila and the rest of the veterans have established themselves and made good livings. They just want to win now.
“These guys don’t have that [survival mode] going on in their brain, so it’s just an easier conversation, or with a drill or anything that’s going on, it happens quicker,’’ Ventura said.