Dunn: "This Is A Complete Team"
The Chicago White Sox were a good team last season, now it might be solid. Adam Dunn got an early start in spring training and feels like the White Sox are complete this season.
Adam Dunn and his 4-year-old son, Brady, walked into the Chicago White Sox clubhouse Friday afternoon, four days early.
Brady ran up to jersey No. 44, perplexed, and asked his dad why his jersey was so small.
"Little guy's got it now," Dunn explained, talking about Jake Peavy, setting his things down at the adjacent locker, where a more adequately sized No. 32 jersey was hanging.
Though he's indifferent about which number he wears, this will only be the second season in his career that Dunn will wear No. 32 instead of 44. He also wore it in 2008 with Arizona.
The "Big Donkey" was the White Sox's big catch from the free agent pond this offseason and is poised to make a huge splash in the AL Central.
"No disrespect to teams I've been on, but this is a complete team and these guys have proven it," Dunn said Saturday. "They were a great team before I got here so hopefully I can just put them over the edge."
The coveted left-handed slugger signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the White Sox in December. Dunn is playing on his fourth different team in as many years, but this his first stint in American League.
Manager Ozzie Guillen has said he plans on using Dunn in the field a couple times per week, but primarily as the team's designated hitter.
"My biggest challenge during spring is to find out how I'm going to keep myself warm and in the game, not being in the field," Dunn said of the role. "It's definitely going to be an adjustment but I'll talk to some people who have done it and we'll figure it out some way."
Dunn's anticipated power production from the left side fixes a glaring weakness of last year's team, a void that dates back to Jim Thome's departure in 2009.
"I have extremely high expectations for myself," Dunn said. "If people don't have high expectations for me, I'm not doing something right. I embrace the pressure."
Before speaking to reporters Saturday, Dunn has a short batting practice session, his first time swinging since last season.
"It works better for me because I'm going to get into bad habits when I'm hitting by myself," he said. "You've got 40 days out here. It usually takes a hitter about two weeks."
Guillen acknowledged it would take time to get to know Dunn and how he prepares, but supported his approach.
"I like when the players do that," he said. "They don't do as much in the offseason and then come to spring training ready to work. That's the way I did it. It's easier."
As for the batting order, Guillen has considered the different options and combinations but had yet to settle on one.
"The first day we start games here I want everybody in the lineup," he said. "See how they look and get a chance to see how we'll play them."
Fondly recounting his days as a leadoff man, Dunn decided that ship has probably sailed, but much like his jersey number, he isn't too concerned about where he's placed in the lineup.
"I love playing," he said. "I don't really care, as long as I'm in there."
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