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After the White Sox sprung the Gordon Beckham signing on everybody, I said I understood why the signing made sense, but I reserved the right to be annoyed.
After reading Beckham's quotes in Colleen Kane's story, which Gibby raised in yesterday's discussion, I exercised said right.
"I don't think I would have signed back here if it was the same team," Beckham said. "That's no offense to the guys they had, but they definitely have some guys that can really play this year. As I went out to L.A., it's fun to be on a team that is a really good team … and (I) helped them win games. That was important to me, and it kind of told me, 'Hey, I can still play; I can still do this.' I needed that confidence boost a little bit. I come back here, and I feel like a different guy."
Yet after reading and rereading the quote to make sure I understood it the best I could, I started to become enamored with just how awesomely detached it sounds for Beckham to refer to the 2013-14 White Sox as "guys they had," considering Beckham played 204 games and racked up 830 appearances for "those guys."
We've heard Beckham talk (and talk, and talk, and talk, and talk ...) over the last several years. While his affirmations have taken on a delusional bent due to sheer repetition, dissing teammates has never been part of his deal, so I can't imagine the intent is as bad as the result. But if we're to take this sentiment literally, then he might've undermined himself more than any other specific person, at least as far as his 2015 goals are concerned.
After all, Starting Second Baseman Gordon Beckham was one of "the guys they had" that couldn't really play, and he did his part to sink that edition of the White Sox. The Angels had Utility Infielder Gordon Beckham, and he helped them win ballgames. Sounds like the Sox should go with the second guy.
(By the way, Tyler Saladino is officially part of the second base battle.)
Terrerobytes
On the flip side, John Danks couldn't have spoke about Jordan Danks' on-and-off White Sox career any better:
"I think he had a fair shake," John Danks said. "He had his opportunities and at times didn’t take full advantage of them. Other times he was a victim of the business. That’s the way it goes. He understood that. He handled it better than I would have. You never like seeing guys you are close to get sent down, but when it’s your brother it stings a little more. But he had plenty of opportunity here and he’s grateful for that. I’m grateful as his brother to have had the opportunity for that."
Avisail Garcia changed some habits in order to drop some pounds:
As for what he wishes he could eat, Garcia went with beef, arepa (flatbread), pasta with meat and chicken.
"But I can't do it right now," said a smiling Garcia. "I don't want to go to the restaurant. I don't want to see chicken, beef or all that stuff. I want to see fish, salad, that's it. After the game, I have to go to my bed and sleep, because if I stay up late? Mmm, problem."
If he'd said "Ack!" instead of "Mmm," this probably was a "Cathy" strip at one point.
- You and Your Pitching Coaches - FanGraphs Baseball
- How Don Cooper helped bring Duke, Robertson to White Sox - CSN Chicago
Don Cooper received the second-most favorable rating from his team's fan base according to FanGraphs' poll (Pittsburgh's Ray Searage was No. 1). Stories like Cooper meeting with Zach Duke in a downtown Nashville restaurant and grilling him about pitch selections with his iPad help explain it. Not those specific circumstances, but that Cooper is established enough -- and personable enough -- to talk to non-Sox pitchers and convey an organizational approach.
(The money helps, too.)
- Rodon: Preparing as starter also works for relieving - whitesox.com
- Rodon going through 'surreal' experience with White Sox - CSN Chicago
- Penny's preference is starting over relief - Chicago White Sox Blog - ESPN Chicago
Carlos Rodon says the experience of starting in Cactus League games is more transferable to future relief work than the other way around. We also learn that he was a Marlins fan growing up in North Carolina, and now he's in spring training with one of his 2003 heroes, Brad Penny. I included that last story because it reads like three people talking past each other.
Doug Padilla: There looks like more opportunities in the bullpen than the rotation.
Brad Penny: Eh, I'd rather start.
Robin Ventura: He could probably do both, maybe?
Vince Coleman is already going to work with the White Sox's faster players, "showing some moves" to Micah Johnson and Carlos Sanchez over the weekend. He'll be working with Adam Eaton, too, although with Melky Cabrera and Jose Abreu hitting behind him, there's no need to force a steal.