The hitting coach is part instructor, part mental skills coach.
Much of what Marcus Thames does is encourage and lift up for those who are down.
On a White Sox team last in baseball in too many categories to mention, many of them on the offensive side, Thames has patted a lot of backs this season.
Even the great talents need it, like All-Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. After batting .264/.315/.542 with 38 homers and 80 RBI in 2023, Robert is down to .216/.271/.390 with 14 homers in 86 games.
The OPS+ of 86 pales to 130 from a year ago. Robert hadn’t homered in his last 20 games entering Monday’s game against the Guardians.
In 2023, his best season, the bar was set high. A second hip flexor tear dismantled any hopes of a repeat, and after missing two months of the early season, Robert’s return has looked nothing like ’23.
Expanding his strike zone and losing confidence became a thing.
“Just have to let him know how freaking good of a player he is and get him to trust himself,” Thames said. “Swing at good pitching and finish strong.”
Robert acknowledges his faith in self took a hit. It’s been evident at times in his body language.
“Yes, there are certain times when you lose confidence in yourself, at the plate especially,” he told the Sun-Times through translator Billy Russo. “But next year is going to be a fresh start and a new year. It will be helpful to have that, and to turn the page.”
Whether Robert, who is slated to make $15 million, $20 million and $20 million in the next three years of his contract, is doing it with the team that signed him to a $26 million bonus in 2017 or elsewhere will be one of the bigger Sox storylines in the offseason. A rebuilding plan for a team that has lost a staggering 213 games in the last two seasons might involve dealing their best pitcher, Garrett Crochet, and their most valuable position player in Robert.
Robert knows this. He processed the possibility before the July 30 trade deadline and answers questions about it calmly and collected.
“I don’t even think about it,” he said. “Whatever will be, will be.”
But would he like to stay with a rebuilding team?
“My mindset and desire is to be here,” he said. “But if I’m not, I know I’m going to play baseball.”
General manager Chris Getz on Monday was asked about the possibility of Robert being dealt.
“I know this isn’t the year that he was hoping to have,” said Getz, who would have more trade value at his disposal had Robert backed up his 2023 season with a similar campaign. “He’s certainly shown flashes this year. However, he hasn’t been as consistent as he was a year ago. He has brought the defensive prowess he brings to the table. Offensively, I know he’s working on being more consistent. We just need to get him back to being Luis Robert and we’ll figure out what’s best for Luis and the White Sox later.”
“I never want guys chasing home runs,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said Monday. “I’d much rather him be putting together good games where he’s having hits and using the whole field.
“For him it’s continue to build confidence, have consistent at-bats and make hard contact.”
Staying healthy has been Robert’s greatest challenge, and knowing he played 145 games last season assures him his offseason workout plan is the right one.
“I will keep doing my same routine,” he said. “I was healthy last year, and have done that for many years now, so I don’t think I have to change. Keep doing what I’ve been doing.”
Which team he is preparing for will be something to watch in the coming months.