Todd Frazier: ‘No more excuses, it’s time to deliver’

Todd Frazier was in a relaxed mood before the White Sox opened a seven-game home stand at U.S. Cellular Field.

But he knows it’s time for the Sox offense to get serious.

“We know what we’re capable of and we really haven’t been showing it even though we’re 8-4,” Frazier said. “We’ve been winning games close, but it’s about that time. There’s no more excuses, it’s time to deliver — 8-4 is great, but we can definitely do better bats-wise.”

Frazier struck out four times in the Sox’ 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday, the third time in his career he’s fanned that many times in a game. He’s 4-for-25 in his last seven games, and his average has dropped to .163. Leadoff man Adam Eaton is hitting .356, Melky Cabrera is at .333 and Brett Lawrie is hitting .304. But below them, the highest average in Monday’s starting lineup against the Angels and former Sox lefty Hector Santiago is Jimmy Rollins’ .216.“Yeah, we’ll get going,” Frazier said. “Just one of those stretches. We’d rather have it earlier than later in the year. Everybody is upbeat. I’m upbeat. First 50 at-bats, you can just wash them out the door. Nothing you can really do now. Just attack it and go about your business.”

Frazier knows the pitching staff has more than carried its share of the load and that it’s time the hitters respond in kind. Acquired to bat fourth and provide protection for Abreu, he knows he’s a key component.

If it didn’t bother me, I’d basically be lying to you because it does,” Frazier said. “It bothers me a lot. It’s something you never want to go through in any profession. (Manager Robin Ventura is) probably right — maybe a little too much not thinking about the long run and just understanding my swing. I haven’t struck out four times in a long time. It happens.

“But you’ve got to figure out a way to get through that and we’ve been working with the coaches.”

Said Ventura: “I talk to him every day. He’s fine. He’s not, for me, somebody I worry about.”

Eaton is setting the table at the top of the order but nobody is cleaning up. Abreu and Avisail Garcia (.184) have has five RBI, Frazier six and Lawrie three. The pitching staff leads the American League with a 2.49 ERA and the bullpen (1.61) has the best mark in the AL. Carlos Rodon, tonight’s Sox starter, has made 10 staight quality starts dating back to Aug. 11 and is 6-3 with a 1.73 ERA during that span.

After winning the first four games of last week’s road trip, the Sox lost the last two by 7-2 and 3-2 scores.

“For us to have a road trip like we did and not hit it all that well, it shows the strength of this team,” Eaton said. “The starting pitching and back end of the bullpen has really stepped it up.

“We’re not worried at all. We know our pitching staff is good, and they’re showing that. We know we can hit and we will show that eventually.”