Sox Williams invigorated by camp

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Excited and invigorated.
Those two words perfectly summed up White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams' feelings concerning the current state of the White Sox, who are in the early stage of their rebuild.
"It's one of the best teaching environments I've ever been in," said Williams, referring specifically to his team's current camp. "The way this coaching staff, the way [manager] Ricky [Renteria] has brought them together and used it as an opportunity to get back to basics of how we want to play fundamentally but have fun with it as well. The bonding exercise along with the talent we've been able to add from the front office …
"I sat both he and [general manager] Rick Hahn down the other day in Rick's office and shook both of their hands because this is one of the best environments I've been in with the sport. And I've been in professional baseball since 1982."
Williams has not been this excited about the White Sox future "in a long, long time."
"To see these guys in this clubhouse and on the back fields, to see the second wave of guys that will be coming after this first wave of prospects and to sit down and talk to Rick about the possibilities trade-wise we may have out there in the future, free agency, international signing-wise, we're in full go mode and it's exciting," Williams said. "A lot of us around here needed this kind of jolt.
"So yes, we were full-go in terms of all being on the same page wanting to get this done. We still have a ways to go."
Shortstop helps Moncada at second
Credit White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing for helping Yoan Moncada's defense at second base by working him at shortstop.
"Three or four days ago, Joey moved him over to shortstop to start taking some ground balls over there to get him back into his normal approach to fielding ground balls," Renteria said. "He was a little flat footed at second base.
"Then once he came over to second, it seemed like it flowed from one spot to another," Renteria added.
Moncada, MLBPipeline's No. 2 prospect in all of baseball, was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.
Shields focused on grounders
During his six scoreless innings against the Rangers on Tuesday, James Shields really worked his two-seam fastball in an attempt to get ground balls. That plan worked, with Shields recording seven ground-ball outs, and the White Sox turning two double plays.
But that ground-ball focus has nothing to do with the hitter friendly home ballpark where Shields pitches.
"I need to get more ground balls with my fastball," said Shields of his reasoning after allowing 31 home runs last season. "That's the goal so when we have runners on first I get the double plays. We have a good defense. These guys are really taking pride in their defense this year and as a pitcher you like that."