April 19--The White Sox offense may have been sluggish during a six-game trip, but manager Robin Ventura said he saw veteran newcomers Todd Frazier and Jimmy Rollins do little things that helped the Sox jump out to a winning record.
"You can find something to help you win a game," Ventura said. "Whether it has been (Frazier) making some plays in Minnesota, Jimmy's baserunning the other day or little things that help you get over the hump."
The defensive improvement brought about by adding Frazier, Rollins and Brett Lawrie in the infield, Austin Jackson in center field and moving Adam Eaton to right is notable, given the Sox were third-worst in the majors last season with minus-39 defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs. Entering Monday, they ranked fourth with nine defensive runs saved.
"They've been around a little bit," Ventura said of the additions. "They get a feel for something, maybe they've played against somebody and they can take a step that we don't necessarily see from the dugout.
"That's as important as us knowing all the information. They have the information, they can make adjustments and they're not afraid to try."
A good pain: Lawrie has heated up at the plate with a seven-game hitting streak entering Monday. He was hitting .393 with three doubles, a home run and three RBIs during the streak, and Ventura said Lawrie is showing he brings more than just an energetic personality.
"If he couldn't play, he'd be a pain in the ass in a lot of ways," Ventura said. "But he can play, and I think they respect the way he plays and the way he shows up and does stuff. That's just as important as him being a little crazy and energetic and all that. He can play -- that's what validates him."
Warm-up with Fire: In spring training, the Sox began kicking around a soccer ball to see how long they could keep it in the air, and they have continued it as a warm-up before some games.
Fire players Joey Calistri, Eric Gehrig and Michael Stephens joined them Monday for a pregame kick-around.
"I don't have any good skills in soccer, but it's fun," Frazier said. "It gets you loose. You see how these guys are, they're professionals. We wondered how good they are, and they're just so smooth in everything they do with their feet."
