Headlines of June 2, 2015 “Lots of options for White Sox at pick No. 8” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Abreu, Avisail need fan support in All-Star voting” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Here's the catch: Tyler Flowers, struggling for Sox” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Time for Cubs, White Sox to make their moves” … Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “Series preview: White Sox at Rangers” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Sloppy play 'embarrassing,' but says White Sox can still win AL Central” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times “Kenny Williams admits 'embarrassing' start for White Sox, remains optimistic” … ESPN.com “White Sox: Adam LaRoche embraces challenge of learning DH role” … Dan Hayes, CSN “’ Adam LaRoche Tries to Adjust” … Michal Dwojak, Sports Journal “White Sox-Rangers Preview” … Associated Press, FOXSports.com

Lots of options for White Sox at pick No. 8 With extensive pool of talent to consider, team may prioritize college arms By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | June 1st, 2015

CHICAGO -- The 2015 will take place from Monday, June 8, through Wednesday, June 10, beginning with the Draft preview show on MLB.com and MLB Network on Monday at 5 p.m. CT. Live Draft coverage from MLB Network's Studio 42 begins at 6 p.m., with the top 75 picks being streamed on MLB.com and broadcast on MLB Network. MLB.com's exclusive coverage of Day 2 begins with a live Draft show at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, with exclusive coverage of Day 3 beginning at 12 p.m. on Wednesday.

MLB.com's coverage includes Draft Central, the Top 200 Draft Prospects list and Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of over 1,700 Draft-eligible players. Every selection will be tweeted live from @MLBDraftTracker, and you can also keep up to date by following @MLBDraft. And get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.

Here's how the Draft is shaping up for the White Sox, whose first selection is the eighth overall pick.

In about 50 words

The 2014 Draft served as an important part of general Rick Hahn's reshaping program. With Carlos Rodon, Spencer Adams and Jace Fry taken at the top, the team added three potential impact hurlers. The White Sox can use this year's Draft to further solidify the core of the organization, even without second- and third-round picks.

The scoop

Since they signed free-agent closer David Robertson and left fielder Melky Cabrera, the White Sox don't have a pick between No. 8 and No. 112, which lands in the fourth round. That said, they aren't worried about being able to add important pieces throughout the three days, thanks to the detailed research spearheaded by director of amateur scouting Doug Laumann and assistant scouting director Nick Hostetler.

"One of the things our guys have done real well over the last several years is finding value a little bit lower," Hahn said. "We would like to have as many picks as possible, but we made decisions this past offseason that picking up David and Melky served a more immediate and important need in our opinion than the second and third picks in this year's Draft." As for the White Sox top pick at No. 8, look for them to target college pitchers. But they still have a pool of eight to 10 players that they are surveying, including position players.

First-round buzz

The 2014 Draft had three fairly clear-cut choices at the top in Rodon, Tyler Kolek and , with Aaron Nola close behind. That made for a pretty narrow focus for the White Sox at No. 3.

At No. 8 this year, the White Sox are looking at a much bigger group. That includes Aiken, who couldn't agree to terms with the Astros last year after being taken No. 1 overall, and then had surgery in late March. One player of special interest is left-handed hurler Tyler Jay, who pitches for the University of Illinois and played prep ball at Lemont High School, located just 45 minutes from U.S. Cellular Field.

MLB.com columnist Jim Callis has Missouri State right-hander Jon Harris landing with the White Sox in his latest mock draft. With the seven picks above them far less certain than in past years, right-hander Carson Fulmer, right-hander , shortstop , shortstop , Daz Cameron and shortstop Brendan Rodgers are also in the mix.

Money matters

Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team has an allotted bonus pool equal to the sum of the values of that club's selections in the first 10 rounds of the Draft. The more picks a team has, and the earlier it picks, the larger the pool. The signing bonuses for a team's selections in the first 10 rounds, plus any bonus greater than $100,000 for a player taken after the 10th round, will apply toward the bonus-pool total.

The White Sox have been assigned a pool of $5,347,500, ranking them 25th overall. That number is down from $9,509,700 in '14, which stood as a franchise high coming off a 99-loss campaign. The value assigned to Chicago's first- round pick is $3,470,600; the value is $508,000 at 112th, the team's next pick in the fourth round. In '14, the White Sox had their first 10 picks all slotted over $141,000.

Any team going up to 5 percent over its allotted pool will be taxed at a 75 percent rate on the overage. A team that overspends by 5-10 percent gets a 75 percent tax plus the loss of a first-round pick. A team that goes 10-15 percent over its pool amount will be with a 100 percent penalty on the overage and the loss of a first- and second-round pick. Any overage of 15 percent or more gets a 100 percent tax plus the loss of first-round picks in the next two Drafts.

Shopping list

Adding Brett Austin through the 2014 Draft and Jhoandro Alfaro as a free agent from Colombia deepens the White Sox catcher pool. They still don't have a clear-cut backstop of the future, so that position figures to be a target, as does pitching, pitching and more pitching.

Trend watch

Rodon ended a stretch of three straight position players selected with the White Sox first pick. Outfielder Courtney Hawkins in 2012 and right-hander Kris Honel in 2001 represent the most recent high school position player and pitcher, respectively, taken with the team's first selection.

Rising fast

Shortstop committed 53 errors over parts of two Minor League seasons after being selected 17th overall in the 2013 Draft. But Anderson has worked hard to improve his defense, and his offense at the lower levels has proven to be dynamic. Entering Monday, Anderson had a .311 average with 19 stolen bases for -A Birmingham, although he had struck out 46 times and worked just five walks over 215 plate appearances. Anderson could force his way to the big league level at some point in the 2017 season, if not '16. Don't forget right-handed pitcher Tyler Danish, the team's second-round selection in the 2013 Draft, who at 20 years old is already a part of Birmingham's starting rotation.

Cinderella story

When asked for Minor League surprises, White Sox director of player development Nick Capra mentioned Jordan Guerrero, who has opened the 2015 season with a 6-0 record and a 1.24 ERA over eight starts for Kannapolis. The 15th-round selection in the '12 Draft and the team's 27th-ranked prospect produced a 6-2 record with a 3.46 ERA last season for the Intimidators. The southpaw has relief potential at the Major League level, but he also could develop into a back-end starter.

In The Show

Chris Sale, who topped the 2010 Draft class, is one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. Rodon went from North Carolina St. to the White Sox rotation in one year, while Gordon Beckham, the eighth overall pick in the 2008 Draft, returned to the South Side as a utility infielder in 2015 after being traded to the Angels last season.

The plan is to sustain the team's ongoing rebuilding process, or to reshape it by infusing players from their Minor League system each season. The White Sox will continue to rely on players such as Jake Petricka (second round, 2010), Chris Beck (second round, 2012) and Micah Johnson (ninth round, 2012), who have seen big league time this season.

The White Sox recent top picks

2014: Rodon, LHP, White Sox

2013: Anderson, SS, Double-A Birmingham

2012: Hawkins, OF, Birmingham

2011: Keenyn Walker, OF, Class A Winston-Salem

2010: Sale, LHP, White Sox

Abreu, Avisail need fan support in All-Star voting By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | June 1st, 2015

CHICAGO -- The White Sox did not have a player in the Top 5 of any position in the latest voting results cast from the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot, announced Monday, nor did they have an outfielder in the Top 15.

That absence stems in part from the White Sox offense ranking last in the American League in home runs, runs scored and OPS during the first two months of the 2015 season. But the team certainly does have viable All-Star candidates in first baseman Jose Abreu and right fielder Avisail Garcia.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones -- using the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, July 2, at 10:59 p.m. CT. For the first time, voting is exclusively online, where fans may submit up to 35 ballots. Fans may also receive the ballot by texting VOTE to 89269 (USA) or 101010 (Canada). Or text VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. Up to five messages. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info.

Following the announcement of the 2015 All-Stars, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2015 Esurance MLB All- Star Game Final Vote for the final player for each league's All-Star roster. On Tuesday, July 14, watch the 2015 All-Star Game live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2015 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of All-Star Week festivities. The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

Abreu, 28, is looking for his second All-Star appearance in two seasons after being selected to play in Minnesota in 2014 during his AL Rookie of the Year campaign. Abreu is hitting .282 with eight homers, 29 RBIs, eight doubles, two triples and an .821 OPS through 46 games.

Garcia, 23, missed much of the 2014 season with an avulsion fracture and torn labrum in his left shoulder suffered while diving for a fly ball in Denver. But Garcia was able to work his way back to play 38 games after Aug. 16, which prepared him for the 2015 season. Through 41 games this year, Garcia has hit .323 with four homers, seven doubles, 18 RBIs and an .805 OPS.

Here's the catch: Tyler Flowers, Geovany Soto struggling for Sox Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune | June 1, 2015

HOUSTON — White Sox catchers Geovany Soto and Tyler Flowers each had -scoring hits in two victories over the Astros over the weekend, a rare boost from the club's catching corps and one the Sox need to see more of this season.

Few Sox players met overall expectations as the team went 23-26 in its first two months entering a three-game series against the Rangers on Tuesday, but Flowers and Soto have gotten off to particularly rocky starts.

In 30 starts at catcher and 36 games overall, Flowers is hitting .198 with seven extra-base hits, 11 RBIs, five walks and 36 . In 19 starts and 25 games overall, Soto is hitting .208 with five extra-base hits, nine RBIs, three walks and 21 strikeouts. Both rank at the bottom of Sox hitters in batting average, ahead of just rookie second baseman Carlos Sanchez (.185) and utilityman Emilio Bonifacio (.196)

"(Flowers) seems to be pulling off (the ball)," manager Robin Ventura said. "A lot of it is making sure you stay through the middle and just trying to make contact. It's stuff we're working on. You have to find something to make him confident in what he's doing when he goes up there."

Soto has a 0.1 WAR, according to FanGraphs, while Flowers' WAR is minus-0.4. Baserunners are 20-for-27 on stolen-base attempts against Flowers and 10-for-12 against Soto. Flowers has four passed balls, and Soto has four errors and four passed balls

Flowers, who typically catches left-hander while Soto catches right-hander , entered the year as the starter. Soto hasn't wrested that title from him yet, though he came up with the winning two-run double Friday against the Astros.

"You're trying to keep them all fresh, and we'll see as we go along where that goes," Ventura said. "When Tyler is swinging it well, he gives us a threat, but right now it hasn't been that way. I don't know if either guy is super hot. If one guy gets a hit, you consider him hot. At this point, you continue moving forward."

Ventura said earlier in May that catchers' ability to produce offensively can be complicated by the other demands placed upon them, and the Sox continue to praise Flowers and Soto for their work with the pitchers. Flowers wasn't going to use that as an excuse.

"Plenty of guys do it," he said. "It's part of the gig. I think there is some leeway for a catcher that if you do your job defensively, you're not expected to hit .300 with 20-plus homers. So if you have that balance, you're fine. I'm not quite at that balance yet, but I believe I can get there."

Flowers did extra work on his hitting Saturday during his day off and said he felt better at the plate on Sunday, when he was 1-for-4 with an RBI single. He had gone 0-for-8 with an RBI and three strikeouts in his previous two games. "I think it's starting to turn," he said. "I'm trying to keep it simple, put balls in play, hit the barrel. It's kind of been a tough stretch the last couple of weeks. I don't think I've been doing as bad as the numbers suggest, but that's the way it goes sometimes. You don't always find holes. It's kind of a bad stretch, but I feel like we're on the right track."

Good day: Flowers said he enjoyed helping veteran pitch his first shutout since 2011 on Sunday. The two are among the longest-tenured Sox players.

"I was thinking about it from the fifth inning on," Flowers said. "When Robin came out in the last inning, I told John, 'Stay in this. We're one pitch away.' We did exactly what we wanted to do to end the game (on a double play)."

Roster move: Minor-league catcher Rob Brantly was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and optioned to Double-A Birmingham.

Time for Cubs, White Sox to make their moves Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune | June 1, 2015

With the Cubs off to Miami to start a nine-game road trip and the White Sox heading to to end their 11-game road trip, this is one of those rare stretches in which Chicago is baseball-free the next four days.

But this doesn’t mean you’re exempt from paying attention until after the Stanley Cup Final.

In fact, this could be one of the most important weeks for the Cubs and Sox as they try to make a move in their respective division races after hovering around .500 for a while.

Here’s what to look for in the upcoming week:

The Cubs have raised expectations to levels that may be unsustainable, considering how many key players (Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro, , Addison Russell, Hector Rondon, etc.) never have been through an actual pennant race before.

But this is what happens when you hire a , whose ability to make his players believe in themselves is one of the reasons why the Cubs dumped their former manager, good ol' whatsisname.

Maddon said at his introductory news conference at the Cubby Bear: “I’m going to be talking playoffs next year,” and he doubled down Sunday after the walk-off win over the Royals left them at 26-22.

“So let's see how June plays out and we can make some determinations after that,” Maddon said. “But I am not going to back off. I really believe we're a playoff-caliber team and that's our goal.”

If that’s truly the goal, beating up on teams like the Marlins is mandatory. Miami won two of three against the Mets over the weekend, but this is a team with only one real lineup threat in Giancarlo Stanton, and one that starts no-names Jose Urena and Brad Hand the first two games before the Jon Lester-Dan Haren finale.

The Marlins haven’t improved since general manager Dan Jennings took over for Mike Redmond as manager two weeks ago, and until they get back Jose Fernandez and Henderson Alvarez, they figure to flounder.

After Miami, the Cubs travel to Washington for a four-game series against the Nationals, who put on the disabled list with neck issues. The Cubs played well against the Nats at Wrigley Field last week while losing two of three, and probably would settle for a split in Washington, all things considered.

Walk-off wins make everyone feel warm and fuzzy, but remember the Cubs were only 14-14 in May, despite the return of the old Jon Lester, who went 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA and 1.17 WHIP and should be a Pitcher of the Month candidate. The Cubs’ bullpen has been an ongoing point of concern, and with two starters banished there (Edwin Jackson and Travis Wood) it’s still in a state of flux. Set-up man Pedro Strop posted a 6.59 ERA in the month after 11 scoreless appearances in April, while closer Hector Rondon had a .500 ERA in May. That can't continue if the Cubs are real contenders. At this point would it be a stretch to consider using Justin Grimm (1.00 ERA) as closer and give Rondon a less stressful inning to work?

Meanwhile, the Sox have a much-needed day off after playing six games in three cities over five days and flying from Toronto to Baltimore to . They managed to win four of those six games, including two of three against the first- place Astros.

Every time the Sox lose two in a row, Sox fans call for Robin Ventura's head. Then they win a few games and look like the team most expected. No one said being a Sox fan is easy.

Back-to-back gems by Jeff Samardzija and Chris Sale started off their current mini-run, and the Sox also got strong outings by Carlos Rodon, Jose Quintana and John Danks. Sale said the starters feed off each other, pointing to Samardzija’s outing in Toronto.

“I think we all do,” Sale said. “You don’t want to get outdone. I mean, we’re competitors, so any time he goes out there and has a strong one, you want to follow that lead. It goes the exact opposite, too. If I have a bad one, ‘Q; is right behind me to pick me up. That goes for all of us. You always want to be the guy extending those.”

It’s increasingly looking like the Sox's offense isn’t going to come out of its two-month rut, putting the onus on the five starters. They’re facing a revived Texas club that got a big boost last week from the return of , whose expiration date seemingly has been extended since he was dumped by the Angels last month after his latest relapse.

Since starting out 8-16, the Rangers have gone 18-9 and won 10 of their last 12 heading into the Sox series. Fortunately for the Sox, third baseman Adrian Beltre suffered a thumb sprain and is headed to the disabled list, taking one of the Rangers’ biggest weapons out of their lineup.

As poorly as the Sox have played the first two months, they’re only 3 1/2 games worse than the Cubs, who’ve gotten their fan base excited thanks to the performances of stars such as Bryant, Rizzo and Lester. Those six walk-off wins help, too.

Sox fans still are in a wait-and-see mode, hoping the first two months were a mirage.

It’s a new month, and the crosstown rivals don’t play each other until July 10-12 at Wrigley Field, the final series before the All-Star break.

As Maddon said, let’s see how June plays out.

Series preview: White Sox at Rangers Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune | June 1, 2015

All games on WSCR-AM 670.

Season series: First meeting. Rangers 4-2 in 2014.

Tuesday: 7:05 p.m., CSN-Plus, CLTV.

RH Jeff Samardzija (4-2, 3.84) vs. RH (4-3, 4.70).

Wednesday: 7:05 p.m., CSN.

LH Chris Sale (4-2, 3.66) vs. RH Nick Martinez (4-1, 2.03).

Thursday: 7:05 p.m., CSN.

LH Carlos Rodon (1-0, 3.45) vs. RH Yovani Gallardo (5-6, 3.88). Who's hot: Adam LaRoche is 10-for-30 with two home runs and six RBIs on the road trip. Third baseman Gordon Beckham is 9-for-30 with a double, a and four RBIs on the trip. The Rangers' is hitting .367 with two home runs, two doubles and six RBIs over his last seven games. Martinez has allowed five total earned runs over his last three games.

Who's not: Alexei Ramirez is hitting .100 with a double, two RBIs and six strikeouts over his last eight games. Catcher Tyler Flowers is hitting .176 with two RBIs and five strikeouts in his last five games. Lewis gave up nine earned runs in 22/3 innings in his last start against the Indians.

Sloppy play 'embarrassing,' but Ken Williams says White Sox can still win AL Central Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times | June 1, 2015

Ken Williams saw the same thing you saw the first two months of the season: Bad defense, poor baserunning and inconsistency from the lineup and starting rotation.

“To say we haven’t clicked on all cylinders would be an understatement,’’ the White Sox executive vice president said Monday. “It’s been sloppy. At times it’s been embarrassing.’’

But there is enough baseball left in June, July, August and September to leave Williams believing the Sox, at 23-26, are far from dead and buried in the American League Central. And you’d better believe it, too, Williams advised, if you are part of the Sox organization.

“The good news is we have a lot of baseball players with a lot of heart, we have the talent and we believe we have the drive in these guys to ultimately win the division,’’ Williams said.

“I said during that this team was built for the long run and would grind from Day 1 to 162 and I still believe that.’’

The Sox woke up on the first day of June alone in last place, a place few expected them to occupy after general manager Rick Hahn and Williams patched up the roster with several splashy moves over the winter. But here they are, seven games behind the surprising (and perhaps overachieving) (30-19), [29-19], [28-24] and [24-26].

That’s a lot of teams to climb over.

Williams has no doubt it can be done.

“Absolutely,’’ he said. “If anyone in that uniform or anybody around here says it isn’t [attainable] let me know their names. They don’t belong here.’’

Bad defense has troubled Williams more than anything. He was instrumental in bringing in Vince Coleman as a coach to improve the baserunning, but that has also been an eyesore.

“We just need to stop making so many mental mistakes,’’ Williams said. “When you preach aggressiveness and you have a bunch of guys who want to win, they want to be the one to make that great next play, that great next base-running move to get from first to third and score that go-ahead run. The exuberance sometimes gets the best of them. We have to sometimes lay back and let things come to us rather than push the envelope. There’s a fine line, and we haven’t settled into a rhythm of the game just yet. But we better do it quickly.’’

Williams firmly stands behind Robin Ventura, a surprise hire before the 2012 season when he was general manager. One good week in September of 2012 would have given the Sox the AL Central title and made Ventura AL Manager of the Year, he said. “People make incorrect assumptions about Robin’s will to manage, number one, and his intensity,’’ Williams said. “Those who question it, I can assure them this man wants to be in the dugout, wants to win, wants to improve and has improved.

“He hasn’t gotten any dumber. He has a lot more managerial savvy in him.”

Ventura has made decisions that have opened him to second-guessing, Williams said, but that isn’t unique to him.

“Name your Hall of Famer in the dugout– you’re going to second guess that guy,’’ Williams said.

When the Sox returned home following a four-game sweep in Minnesota that left them with an 8-14 record on May 3, Williams met with general manager Rick Hahn and Ventura to discuss “what was on my mind about individual players. To my delight [Ventura] had already addressed the issues three days before. And that’s what you want from your manager. I can assure all the fans, with he and his coaching staff, nothing slides. If we can’t get the most out of these guys, I firmly believe that we’ve got to change the mix of the guys we have in uniform and on the field – not necessarily change the mix of the coaching staff.’’

Ventura’s calm appearance that is often equated with nonchalance will be viewed as “a steadying force” when the Sox win, Williams said.

“People out there who think he’s not on top of his game and that these coaches are not putting in the effort, intensity and the dialog in trying to win — they are way off base,’’ Williams said.

It was reported that Ventura was asked to be more hands-on with certain players but Williams said “there was a conversation that could be turned around to say that was the directive but it was more the line of question to see just how accountable we were making everyone. Each player, each coach. It’s self-evaluation.

“We asked Robin and the coaches, ‘What can we do in management in terms of more information, analytics in regards to positioning, lineups, personnel. What can we do to make us better? To single out one aspect misses the whole of the conversation.’’

As embarrassing as the 99-loss season of 2013 was, followed by 89 defeats in 2014, this season presents a different sort of chagrin because the Sox were expected to be good.

“We have a lineup that no matter who the pitcher is should compete and battle one through nine and do some damage,’’ Williams said. “We have a little speed at the top and the bottom, a little power in the middle and some good average hitters and base runners. We just haven’t put it all together yet.

“The defensive side has been the source of most of my angst because that’s the thing you can control the most in this game. Catch the ball and throw it where it needs to be thrown and make the right decisions. That has shown signs of getting better, up the middle and on the corners. [Gordon] Beckham has been a steadying force to the infield, it’s nice to have him in the lineup wherever it is. Again, it’s not because we don’t have the talent and ability. We just haven’t put it together yet.’’

Kenny Williams admits 'embarrassing' start for White Sox, remains optimistic ESPN news services | June 1, 2015

Kenny Williams is optimistic that the last-place Chicago White Sox can still win the AL Central despite their "embarrassing" start to the season.

Williams, the team's executive vice president, acknowledged to the Chicago Sun-Times that the White Sox have been disappointing following their offseason overhaul.

"To say we haven't clicked on all cylinders would be an understatement," Williams told the Sun-Times on Monday. "It's been sloppy. At times it's been embarrassing." The White Sox (23-26) enter Tuesday's game with the in last place in the AL Central, but Williams thinks they still have what it takes to win the division.

"The good news is we have a lot of baseball players with a lot of heart, we have the talent and we believe we have the drive in these guys to ultimately win the division," he told the paper. "I said during spring training that this team was built for the long run and would grind from Day 1 to 162 and I still believe that."

The White Sox have scored an AL-worst 179 runs and have hit just 32 home runs, the lowest total in the league. Chicago's pitching staff also has struggled to a 4.15 team ERA, the fourth-worst in the league.

But Williams cited Chicago's poor defense as a specific reason for his frustration. The White Sox have committed 35 errors, the fourth-most in the AL.

"The defensive side has been the source of most of my angst because that's the thing you can control the most in this game," Williams said. "Catch the ball and throw it where it needs to be thrown and make the right decisions. ... Again, it's not because we don't have the talent and ability. We just haven't put it together yet."

The White Sox went 73-89 last year following their 99-loss season in 2013, prompting Williams and general manager Rick Hahn to acquire three former All-Stars -- Jeff Samardzija, David Robertson and Melky Cabrera -- and veteran slugger Adam LaRoche last offseason.

Williams believes those newcomers, along with Chicago's existing core that includes Chris Sale, Jose Abreu, Jose Quintana and Adam Eaton, should perform well enough for the White Sox to contend for the postseason.

"We have a lineup that no matter who the pitcher is should compete and battle one through nine and do some damage," he said. "We have a little speed at the top and the bottom, a little power in the middle and some good average hitters and base runners. We just haven't put it all together yet."

White Sox: Adam LaRoche embraces challenge of learning DH role Dan Hayes, CSN | June 1, 2015

He has struggled at designated hitter so far but that only makes Adam LaRoche want to embrace his new position even more.

Despite two days off to play first base in the absence of Jose Abreu, LaRoche is eager to improve as the White Sox DH. LaRoche -- who has hit five of six home runs this season while in the field -- has a .203/.338/.268 slash line and 11 RBIs in 148 plate appearances as the team’s DH. But rather than ask White Sox manager Robin Ventura to play him more often at first, LaRoche wants to improve at the spot on for which he signed.

“I enjoy it,” LaRoche said. “It’s different. It’s almost like a new challenge now because it has been a struggle. So now I want to do it even more just to prove to myself that I can figure this out.”

LaRoche knew he’d see more time at DH when he signed a two-year, $25-million deal with the White Sox in November. The club made it clear they wanted to keep Abreu in the field because he’s signed through 2019 and they believe he needs to keep playing to improve. Even though it’s a challenge, LaRoche understood it was coming.

“Somebody has to do it,” Ventura said. “And he knew that when he signed on, that was going to be his and that’s where he gets the mentality of he’s going to be able to handle it and do it. It’s a challenge for most guys that do it.”

Ventura said the key is to stay busy while in the dugout.

“The biggest thing is to be occupied like you would be on the field, that your mind is occupied with what is going on in the game,” Ventura said. “When you stop watching the game and go in and do something else, your brain can go somewhere else. I’ve done it before and you try and stay engaged in the game like you would if you were playing in the field so you don’t feel as much like maybe you’re a third base coach, or you’re a guy in the video room and go back out and hit. You have to stay engaged.”

LaRoche stays busy by talking to his coaches and watching the game.

Depending on how he feels at the plate, LaRoche spends some game time in the indoor batting cages, having someone throw or flip or hitting off the pitching machine. He rarely watches video.

“For the most part just watching the game,” LaRoche said. “I think you see individual things you wouldn't see when you're out there consumed with the game. You just see little stuff and you're sitting next to the coaches half the time seeing their philosophies and different approaches. It's different.”

One thing LaRoche has seen is that Abreu is a better defender than he expected. LaRoche praised Abreu for his soft hands and knows both need to be in the lineup for the White Sox to succeed. That’s why he’s so open to the challenge, though Ventura understands it’s always going to be difficult.

“Unless you’re just broken down and can’t play in the field, there’s something physically wrong with you, not too many other guys just want to hit and not play the field,” Ventura said. “So it’s a challenge for Adam or anybody else on the team. And it is a position, and somebody has to do it.”

Chicago White Sox’ Adam LaRoche Tries to Adjust Michal Dwojak, Sports Journal | June 1, 2015

The designated hitter is a position that is subject to heated debates by die-hard baseball fans. Some argue that the position holds no value and shouldn’t even be thought of being brought to the . Others argue that it provides a great position instead of having to watch pitchers at the plate, something that differentiates the American League from the National League.

While fans argue, players hold their own beliefs that they’ll share from time to time. The greatest challenge the position holds is when a player changes league through a trade or free agency.

This is the situation the Chicago White Sox’ Adam LaRoche is in. He’s played first base for most of his career but faces challenges with the designated position in his first year with the White Sox.

“I enjoy it,” LaRoche told reporters. “It’s different. It’s almost like a new challenge now because it has been a struggle. So now I want to do it even more just to prove to myself that I can figure this out.”

LaRoche signed with the White Sox during the offseason in November and agreed to a two-year, $25 million contract. He had made a difference for the for three seasons and only played for one American League team — the in 2009 — since joining the majors in 2004 when he made his debut for the .

In the 47 games LaRoche has played this season, he’s started at the designated hitter position 36 times and 11 times at first base. Jose Abreu has held the position at first base after his rookie season that ended with him winning the A.L. Rookie of the Year Award.

LaRoche has struggled at the plate almost one-third into the season. He’s hitting .236 with six home runs, 22 RBIs and 37 hits. The designated hitter also has a .365 on-base percentage and a .395 .

Despite the struggles, LaRoche has improved at the plate during the past seven games. Abreu missed two straight games with a swollen right index finger and has provided LaRoche with an opportunity to improve. He’s hitting .370 in the last seven games with six RBIs and 10 hits. He’ll look to continue the success when he returns back to the designated hitter spot. “You see individual things you wouldn’t see when you’re out there consumed with the game,” LaRoche said. “You just see little stuff and you’re sitting next to the coaches half the time seeing their philosophies and different approaches. It’s different.”

White Sox-Rangers Preview Associated Press, FOXSports.com | June 1, 2015

Josh Hamilton probably can't expect to start too many games on the bench over the next two weeks with Adrian Beltre out during that span for the Texas Rangers.

Jose Abreu is eager to get back into the lineup to help out the Chicago White Sox.

Hamilton and Abreu figure to return to their respective club's lineups Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game set in Arlington.

Beltre will miss at least two weeks with a sprained thumb that he also cut while sliding into second base Sunday. He had been showing signs of emerging from a slump, batting .293 with 16 RBIs in May after hitting .205 with two RBIs in the season's first month.

Texas will purchase the contract of top prospect from Double-A Frisco prior to this game. The 21-year-old Gallo hit .314 with nine homers and 31 RBIs in 34 games for Frisco.

''He'll be in the lineup a majority of the time he's here,'' general manager said. ''We called him up with the intent that he's going to play.''

Hamilton was Sunday's hero with a pinch-hit, two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 4-3 win over Boston. He went 5 for 11 with two homers and two doubles in the four-game series - his first at home since returning last week.

''It feels like old times,'' Hamilton said. ''It really does. It's a lot of fun. Coming back home and having some good games against Boston and then having a game like today reminds you of some good times for the Rangers.''

Abreu has missed the last two games for Chicago (23-26) with an injured right index finger, though he feels he is responding well to treatment.

"I think the treatment the last two days and today have worked well for me," Abreu told an interpreter on MLB's official website. "I think with (Monday's off-day) and one more day of treatment, I will be ready to play in Texas."

Abreu, who leads the White Sox with eight homers and 29 RBIs, is 2 for 6 against Rangers starter Colby Lewis.

Lewis (4-3, 4.70 ERA) has posted a 0.92 ERA in winning his last four starts over Chicago and yielded one run over 14 1-3 innings in two victories last year.

The right-hander has an 11.93 ERA over his last three outings and looks to bounce back after surrendering 10 runs over 2 2-3 innings in Wednesday's 12-3 loss at Cleveland.

Melky Cabrera is 3 for 6 off Lewis and Conor Gillaspie is 3 for 7.

Gillaspie went 2 for 4 with two RBIs in Sunday's 6-0 victory at Houston. Chicago captured two of three in the series and improved to 4-4 on its 11-game trip.

"The way we played, grinding stuff out, has been nice on this road trip," manager Robin Ventura said. "These are some tough teams and we're still keeping our heads up and getting after it." Ventura will start right-hander Jeff Samardzija (4-2, 3.84), whose only experience against Texas (26-25) came when he went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two September starts for Oakland. Hamilton has two homers in six at-bats in this matchup and AL batting leader Prince Fielder is 3 for 8 with one home run.

Samardzija went 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts in May, yielding an unearned run in seven innings in Wednesday's 5-3, 10-inning win at Toronto.

Texas took four of six from Chicago last year.