TA relaxed about playoffs: 'Have fun with it'

HOUSTON -- Three letters define the current exciting state of Tim Anderson’s baseball career.

Some would guess those letters as M-V-P. But the real answer is F-U-N, a point reinforced by the White Sox shortstop many times over the past three seasons. It’s not always an easy goal to achieve when success for a hitter, as an example, is defined by getting hits in just three out of 10 at-bats, but Anderson seems to have found a happy balance.

“You play so many games that you try to forget about it. You can't really change what happened,” said Anderson during his media session Wednesday. “We are playing a struggling game, but it's OK to be happy about it.

“The biggest thing is to keep pushing. It's easy to get discouraged in this game, but you've got to keep your mind right and just compete and have fun. And the rest of it, you don't really worry about anything else.”

Anderson has become a leader on the American League Central champs not only through his exceptional play on the field, but also through his clubhouse demeanor. The only thing more entertaining than Anderson’s on-field play, as an example, is when the White Sox or Major League Baseball decides to mic him up for a game.

Whereas José Abreu is the stoic clubhouse presence, as described Wednesday by closer Liam Hendriks, Anderson is the one who brings the energy on a daily basis. It’s a noticeable difference in the entire team, and not just the offensive attack, when Anderson is absent for any sort of extended period of time.

That aspect of Anderson’s overall being has become more noticeable across baseball. Then again, nowhere is it appreciated as much as Chicago.

“The energy he brings is something you don’t see from the other side as much,” Hendriks said. “You see the loud and boisterous and think, ‘That guy is a bit of a [jerk],’ and you play with him and you’re like, ‘Nah, he does it all.'

“He picks guys up when they are a little down. He makes sure to motivate guys when they need that. It’s the intangibles that he brings to the table that keep everybody loose and ready to play at all times.”

In Anderson’s last at-bat against Hendriks (during a Game 2 loss at Oakland in the Wild Card Series last season), he singled to center in the ninth. Hendriks shook his head with a smile as he mentioned Anderson will never let him live down that head-to-head victory.

Hendriks was not the only Oakland pitcher victimized by Anderson. He finished 3-for-4 in a Game 1 victory and then 3-for-5 in each of the next two games, making him the first player in AL/NL history with three hits in each of his first three playoff games. He’s also tied with Lou Brock (1968) for the longest playoff streak of three-hit games, a streak he can extend during Game 1 of the Division Series on Thursday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

Big moments seem to bring the best out of Anderson. Think Dyersville, Iowa, on Aug. 12 and Anderson’s stalk-off home run to right against Zack Britton and the Yankees.

“These are the moments you want to be in. This is what you play for,” Anderson said. “You've got to cherish these moments and enjoy them and have fun with it. At the end of the day, it's just a game. But you're competing at one of the highest levels, and it doesn't get more exciting than that, going out and competing at the highest level where everybody's tuned in. Overall, you just have fun, and I think the rest will take care of itself.”

Life is more fun for any player when he tops the .300 mark for three straight seasons, as Anderson has done, including winning the Major League batting title in 2019. It’s also more enjoyable when you have 30 home run/30 stolen base potential and have worked your way into becoming a solid defensive presence.

Whether he has four hits or goes 0-for-4, though, Anderson doesn’t change. He’s a star and a leader for the White Sox more about because of who he is than what he does on the field.

“I’m just going to continue to do what I've been doing the whole season. It's just enjoy the moment, embrace this moment,” Anderson said. “This is a huge series, but you're going to try to keep it simple just like a regular season game and just have fun with it and go out and compete and try to be dominant.

“Try not to think about everything else that's going on on the outside. We just try to keep it simple and go out and compete and play as hard as you can. That's all you can do, just try to get a win.”