Adam Dunn Addresses Media At Spring Training

‘Twas a rare (from what I’m told) rainy day here in Glendale, so not a whole lot was happening at White Sox camp, though Adam Dunn completed his physical and then spoke to reporters afterward.

Turns out he’s one of the old school guys who doesn’t do much, if any, baseball activity during the winter. He had just taken about 15 minutes of batting practice when he came in to talk to us, and we quickly learned it was the first time he had swung a bat since the 2010 season ended:

"Umm…let’s see…yeah, I don’t pick up [a bat]. I’ve tried it both ways. I’ve started hitting around Thanksgiving. It works better for me because I’m going to get into bad habits when I’m hitting by myself. You just kinda come a few days early and lube it up. You’ve got 40 days out here. It usually takes a hitter about two weeks."

"This is not my first year to do that. I’ve done it since ’05, ’06. It just seems to work better for me. You’ve got 40 days to get ready. Spring training means nothing other than get ready for opening day."

Dunn on this year’s team and expectations:

"No disrespect to teams I’ve been on, but this is a complete team and these guys have proven it. They were a great team before I got here so hopefully I can just put them over the edge.I don’t avoid [pressure]. I embrace it. I have extremely high expectations for myself. If people don’t have high expectations for me, I’m not doing something right. I embrace the pressure, I embrace the role, and I’m definitely going to put a lot of pressure on myself."

On his first time in the American League/his role as designated hitter

"That’s going to be something that I think is going to be my biggest challenge during spring is to find out how I’m going to keep myself warm and in the game, not being in the field. It’s definitely going to be an adjustment but I’ll talk to some people who have done it and we’ll figure it out some way. If I can but a bike in the dugout, I will. I don’t know how to go about it. I don’t know what other people do.I love playing. Whenever I have an off day, it’s good to have, but by the third inning I’m ready to rock again. I’m not very good on the bench and that’s another thing I’m worried about with DH-ing, so I’m gonna have to find something to do."

Dunn is a very friendly guy so he’ll adapt quickly to clubhouse life with the Sox. His locker is in between Jake Peavy and Matt Thronton, with A.J. Pierzynski  nearby.

Other quick notes from day three:

• Ozzie is all about Dunn not swinging in the offseason. “That’s how I did it. It’s easier,” he said.
• Omar Vizquel showed up in great shape. If he wasn’t balding, dude would look about 20.
• Ozzie backed off slightly on his projected lineup from yesterday. He’s not married to the Rios, Dunn, Konerko idea quite yet, though I think that’s the best way to put them out there.
• Not sure if I already noted that Brent Morel came to camp early, but he was in today, maybe even yesterday.
• John Danks’ younger brother, outfield prospect Jordan Danks, is in early, too.