(670 The Score) No matter the subject, White Sox closer Liam Hendriks has always been willing his thoughts on the state of baseball.
Now, about a week after the White Sox landed in national headlines after manager Tony La Russa criticized rookie slugger Yermin Mercedes for not adhering to the much-debated unwritten rules of the game, Hendriks emphasized his belief that accepting change is crucial for MLB to grow.
"It's the same in baseball as in politics," Hendriks said. "At some point in time in everything, including baseball, things will change. You need to change with it or else the game will wither away.
"This is something we are going through now. Whether it's show-boating on home runs or the screaming after strikeouts … We are moving into a new generation of players and a new generation of fans. If we are going to stay relevant as a sport, we need to move and grow with it."
Hendriks believes players can seamlessly showcase their individualism so long as it's in the framework of a team concept.
"There have been times throughout history when people tried to set their own rules and for the most part ended up miserably failing," Hendriks said. "There must be guidelines, but it's also healthy for people to push the envelope. A lot of this stuff is governed in the clubhouse. There are no areas that can't be looked at."
Like star shortstop Tim Anderson last week, Hendriks praised the work of La Russa as well, agreeing that he and his players don't have to agree on every topic so long as they continue to have a healthy respect for one another.
"Tony is doing a great job," Hendriks said. "Tim put it perfectly – we are the bad kids who don't listen as much. At the same point, we still as a group and individually need that parental guidance. It's not like we go the other way that often. It's just we all will push that envelope a little bit to express ourselves. It works both ways. There have been times when we have not gone as far as Tony wanted us to go. Sometimes he helps pull us back, and many times we have perfect equilibrium as to what our objectives are. Whatever happens, I see us as being a tight family in there each day."
For his part, Hendriks is enjoying his first season in Chicago after signing a $54-million contract last winter. He has converted 10 of 12 save chances and posted a 2.37 ERA and 0.95 WHIP.
"My mind doesn't change regardless of financial obligations or what in the periphery is going on," Hendriks said. "I don't go out there worrying about my contract status. If I did, I would never get anyone out. I go out there to compete because of a pure pride thing, not what I am being paid. If you just try and be better, that is the goal. Worrying about the money would be the death of yourself as a competitor."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
