New White Sox Todd Frazier ready for ‘roar of the crowd’

GLENDALE, Ariz. — With a .346 average, a home run and six RBI in Cactus League games, new Sox third baseman Todd Frazier is more than ready for the season opener.

I’m ready to go,’’ Frazier said after going 2-for-3 against his former team in the Sox’ 9-7 split-squad loss to the Cincinnati Reds, his former team. “Everybody’s ready to go. You get that nervous energy, I love it. First day of regular season coming, you play in the cold, you’ve got goosebumps, and the nice brisk air, even though it’s spring. I can’t wait to hear the roar of the crowd. Everybody is 0-0. Everybody expects to win it all.’’

Frazier, a fan favorite in Cincinnati who came up with the Reds, was acquired in an off-season trade for three prospects. He had this game eyeballed, he said, it being his old team and all, and said he’ll play in the Cactus League finale against the Reds Wednesday in Goodyear. He says he has turned the page.

“At the end of the day, I’m a White Sox,’’ he said. “It was good to see them, but I’m trying to get ready for the season.’’

Frazier says he has fit in the Sox clubhouse “very easily.”

“Finding a niche is tough to do, but when you have professionals that come in here, new guys and old, you talk to the guys who have been here before,” he said. “You have to know your ins and outs of Chicago, the team, how we go about things and what the staff wants. Then you’ve got the new guys, veterans like Jimmy Rollins. He brings his prowess in. It’s been a fun spring. Everybody is ready to go. Everybody was ready to go last week. It’s going to be a lot of fun to see the different attitudes and the different way we go about things this year. I can’t wait”

Pen is locked in

David Robertson, Matt Albers, Zach Duke remained unscored on this spring by contributing a scoreless in apiece against the Reds. Nate Jones (nine strikeouts in six innings) also has a 0.00 ERA. Manager Robin Ventura said keeping an extra bullpen arm and going with 13 pitchers is not out of the question. The Sox have only one off day in April. “We’ve been discussing that, definitely,’’ Ventura said.

J-Rolling

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins added two more hits and an RBI, raising his average to .350 and RBI total to 12. “He’s come in in great shape and you see him move around out there, he’s a pretty agile person for his age [37],’’ Ventura said.

On deck

White Sox at Giants, 3:05 (890-AM), Mat Latos vs. Jake Peavy.