(670 The Score) As good as shortstop Tim Anderson has been in recent years, the White Sox believe he has another level that he could ascend to in short order.
“He can be as good as any shortstop playing,” manager Tony La Russa said. "He is probably really close to being that now. The coaches and I were just talking about him, and Joe (McEwing) was explaining his story to some people visiting. He said Tim had only played baseball one year in high school and one year in JUCO and now he is here this quickly performing at the top level he does. Tim gets better every year.
"His ceiling is at the top. He wants to be the best, and he wants to be the best for all the right reasons. Everything about him is plus, plus, plus. That motivation alone to be the best will make him better.”
Anderson, 28, walked the walk in 2021, earning All-Star honors for the first time while hitting .309 with 17 homers, 61 RBIs, 94 runs, 18 steals and an .806 OPS in 123 games. His goal is to now improve on that.
“It's not just about talking about things,” Anderson said. “It is part of a plan. As long as you know your (stuff), you can go out and get results every day. You eventually through hard work and ups and downs know what you can do. I know how good I can be. You just need the time and experience to figure it out. I am not out there talking all of the time, but when you ask a question, I will tell you what I think is real. My work is all a part of a plan. I know how great I can be if you give me time. That is, I believe in myself and my teammates.”
Anderson’s exuberance and infectious personality has also made him one of the leaders in the White Sox’s clubhouse.
“When you are tapped into your own energy base, you will be surprised as to how that makes other people around you better,” Anderson said. “You just learn to be open and honest. When you see the people around you keep it real, you will see everyone relax and get better. Just keeping it super-real.”
Anderson and the White Sox are coming off a season in which they won the American League Central by going 93-69 before falling to the Astros in the AL Division Series.
“First of all, we didn't lose anything last year,” Anderson said. “It was never our championship to claim. We did bring to the fans and the city something that hadn't ever happened (two consecutive trips to the playoffs). Now we are to the point where we look to try to build off of that. Can we keep the same vibes going? Can we keep the positive energy? Can we do what we did last year? We have to do the work now and forget about what we did last year. Nothing will be given to us. Winning a championship is a process. Nothing is guaranteed. The goal is to keep going, and we understand we have a window. The goal again is to keep going and take advantage of this time.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.