While general manager Rick Hahn speaks in more guarded, measured tones about how the Sox will do in 2020, manager Rick Renteria isn’t backing down from trumpeting his expectation for them to do more than play meaningful games in September.
‘‘I’m not afraid of talking about high expectations and winning,’’ Renteria said Thursday. ‘‘I know most people think you are putting your own head in a noose. . . . If we do our job and we go about preparing and the actions and performances come to fruition, we should be on top of the victory column in terms of wins and losses.’’
Renteria said he would be disappointed if the Sox don’t make the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
‘‘I expect us to compete and be in the conversation for postseason play,’’ he said.
Defense mustn’t rest
The Sox were one of the worst defensive teams in the majors in 2019, and Renteria knows that aspect of their performance must improve.
Renteria mentioned left fielder Eloy Jimenez and shortstop Tim Anderson, two of his top offensive players, in his discussion about defense. He thinks both can and will improve by working at it.
‘‘A lot of it is just confidence, and now it’s going to be awareness of when to try to make a play, when to try to force something, things of that nature,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘The talent is there for these guys, and I think we will be a much improved team [defensively].’’
Who’s batting first?
Renteria said he doesn’t know whom his leadoff hitter will be just yet, but he knows it’s probably too soon for rookie center fielder Luis Robert, he said.
He mentioned utility player Leury Garcia and Anderson, the reigning American League batting champion, as possibilities, but they drew 21 and 15 walks, respectively, last season.
Garcia, a good bet to start the season at second base before prospect Nick Madrigal gets called up, was Renteria’s primary leadoff man last season. He batted .279/.310/.378.
‘‘He’s obviously not an on-base guy, not a high-average guy, but he’s just a good player that does a lot of different things and somehow always impacts in a positive way,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘We’ll look at all those ways in terms of how we’ll structure the lineup.’’
Tickets!
Left-hander Aaron Bummer, infielder Danny Mendick, right-hander Michael Kopech and broadcasters Steve Stone and Jason Benetti were among those calling fans about season tickets from Guaranteed Rate Field.
‘‘Making that personal connection makes it more thrilling and exciting,’’ Mendick said.
‘‘The fans run the show, honestly,’’ Bummer said. ‘‘We wouldn’t be doing this without them. You can feel their excitement.’’
Bummer is expected to play a key role in the Sox’ bullpen on a team that is ready to take the next step.
‘‘I’ve been here kind of since the beginning of the rebuild, and it’s finally that day where we’re starting to talk about today,’’ Bummer said. ‘‘It’s not necessarily, ‘Wait till next year,’ or wait, wait, wait.
‘‘You look at all the new faces and can’t help but smile and realize how special this may be.’’