What Chicago White Sox players had to say about Tuesday’s roster upheaval
By Kevin Henry
The importance of Tim Anderson to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago manager Pedro Grifol emphasized the importance of having Anderson, who slashed .298/.327/.404 in 47 at-bats before his injury, back in the lineup.
“We go as he goes,” Grifol said. “He’s a table setter. He’s Tim Anderson. He’s a big part of what we do here and who we are.”
While Grifol was happy to have Anderson back (along with infielder Hanser Alberto and speedster Billy Hamilton as a potential pinch runner), he was adamant that Tuesday’s moves were not intended to be a panic move after the slow start.
“They weren’t intended to shake the team up. They were intended to make us better,” Grifol said. “We feel like these changes make us better.”
Veteran infielder Elvis Andrus agreed, calling Anderson, “pretty much the DNA of this ball club.” The 34-year-old Andrus has been Chicago’s primary shortstop with Anderson on the injured list, but is glad to move back to second base with Anderson’s arrival.
“I’m happy that he’s back. My legs and my arm are happy he’s back,” Andrus said. “He means a lot. When you have a leadoff guy who can do it all, it impacts the whole lineup. It makes things easier for the rest of us.”
So can these roster moves coming on the heels of Sunday’s come-from-behind win be enough of a spark to get the White Sox going again? Andrus said it’s very possible.
“Games like that (Sunday’s win), I’ve seen where it takes teams to another level,” Andrus said. “We start getting the main guy to the team and you put that together, that’s a good mix.”