Schuster: White Sox Need Bounce Back From Key Players
By David Schuster -
GLENDALE, Ariz. (CBS) - If the White Sox harbor any hopes for rebounding from a terrible season last year they will need bounce back years from Jake Peavy, Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham. Rios and Beckham showed up at camp on Saturday and were quick to admit they know they have to be much better for the upcoming campaign.
Beckham, who hit just .230 last year, really wants to turn the page.
"Listen, we all remember last season, no doubt, and I don't mind talking about it, but this is a new year with new coaches and we have a new attitude," he said. "I'm not going to dwell too much on last year. I'll remember it but wont dwell on stuff that didn't go my way. I'm just going to work as hard as I can and try to enjoy it. I think sometimes I take this way too seriously. I want to do so well for this team, for the team and for myself that sometimes it gets too much of me. So, I plan on being just a little bit more care free."
Rios, who hit just .227, was even more pointed.
"I'm very excited and positive for the upcoming season," Rios said. "I don't have any doubts on my skills. I know that I can produce so it's just a matter and not clouding my mind with things like mechanics which I was worrying about last year. It's a matter of see the ball and hit the ball for me and that's what I'm trying to accomplish."
Rios admitted he never could get back on track last season once things started going wrong.
"It was early in the year and I couldn't get out of it," he said. "It was a disappointing year for me and for the fans but I know I can come back. You have to have fun playing this game and not worry about anything. Just play the game right and have fun while doing it"
Rios said he also hopes to play center field or maybe right but left field is rather foreign to him having played there just once back in 2010.
For more White Sox spring training coverage from Glendale, Ariz, click here. Find all of David Schuster's spring training blogs here and follow him on Twitter (@schumouse).
