April 10--KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The White Sox took a long road to make it to their home opener Friday at U.S. Cellular Field. The Royals made it feel even longer.
With the Sox's 4-1 loss to the Royals on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium, the Sox dropped to 0-3 to open a season for the first time since 2003.
After a trip that took them from Phoenix to Charlotte to six days in Kansas City against a Royals team that appeared to pick up where it left off in October, the Sox arrive in Chicago in need of a big boost.
"They just played better than us for three games," said Sox left-hander John Danks, who was saddled with his first career loss in 17 starts against the Royals. "... We have too much talent in here to keep playing like this. We'll do better."
With the four earned runs Danks allowed in 5-2/3 innings Thursday, Sox starting pitchers posted a 7.56 ERA through the first three games of the season, which Ventura said, obviously, "needs to get better." But the offense, hampered by stellar Royals defense and a windy day, also scored just one run Thursday for the second game in the series.
Ventura said the plan, of course, is to grow into a better team as the season goes on, but he said it can take time for a rebuilt club to jell. That includes a lineup and defense with three new starters and six new pitchers settling in with their coaches and catchers.
Sox center fielder Adam Eaton, an Ohio native, said it makes him think of the Cavaliers early in LeBron James' return.
"I'm not comparing us to the Cavs, but it does take a little longer to mesh with all the new faces," Eaton said. "Hopefully we can be a little bit like them and mesh at the right time."
One question the club must address is who can help lead the club out of such funks. The Sox lost captain Paul Konerko to retirement last year, but Ventura said he thinks the team has the leaders it needs to grind through rough patches, including 12-year major-league veteran Adam LaRoche.
"He has been on good teams, has been through pennant races and the ups and downs," Ventura said. "We have the guys who can do it. Paulie, that part always will be missed because he was here for a long time ... but we have guys who bring similar things."
Ventura said it's also important for the Sox to focus on their work -- and not what others are saying about the team failing to meet initial expectations that came with a busy offseason.
"Stuff on the field matters," Ventura said. "It's not perceptions right now. We have a lot to prove. It's one thing to have it on paper, and it's another thing to play well."
The Sox hope an arrival in Chicago -- and the three-game series against the struggling Twins -- will be the medicine needed for a turnaround.
"We'll be fine," Eaton said. "There's no freaking out in here, just a little frustration right now."
ckane@tribpub.com
