CHICAGO -- When Carlos Quentin speaks, it has become a bit of a media event of late.
Well, maybe it's not an event carrying the broad scope of the first press conference for Ken Griffey Jr. after coming over to the White Sox. But when one of the prime American League Most Valuable Player candidates breaks from his intense pregame regimen to speak, reporters quickly gather around to listen.
One of those instances took place on Monday afternoon, prior to the start of the White Sox six-game homestand. And one question in particular for Quentin dealt with the young outfielder being somewhat reluctant to discuss his on-field excellence in 2008.
With a Major League-best 34 home runs entering Monday's series opener against Seattle and with Quentin having reached base an incredible 14 times over his last four games, this media scrutiny only will increase. So, is he ready?
"I'm prepared for anything right now," Quentin said. "This is what I do. This is baseball. You prepare yourself for what you are going to experience. I don't know how to say this, and I want to say this in the right way.
"There are a lot of things in life more important than attention. So when I say I'm prepared for whatever happens in this game, I say that having experienced lows in this game, like every player, and you experience good things. I'm not going to be frightened by anything, if that's what you are saying."
Quentin has no reason to be frightened, because, in all honesty, his focus stays almost exclusively on baseball. He opened action against Jarrod Washburn on Monday with a .292 average and 95 RBIs to go with the lofty homer total, not to mention a .395 on-base percentage and a .582 slugging percentage.
Whatever routine Quentin has followed this season, it has worked far better than anyone but Quentin or White Sox general manager Ken Williams would have expected. Quentin has stayed with the same basic stance for most of the season, producing results noticed by people in and out of the organization.
"I've seen enough to know he's a real threat," said Oakland designated hitter Frank Thomas. "It's weird that he generates so much power out of the stance he has, but he's strong. He looks like a great young power hitter."
"As far as I'm concerned, Quentin has been the American League MVP," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski added.
Talk of Quentin's almost unparalleled MVP credentials came up during Monday's interview session. As Quentin has done during his infrequent previous chats, he turned the attention to the team's success.
"Obviously you dream to do something like that in your career," said Quentin of the MVP Award. "You want to set a goal to be the best. Something like that is far from my mind. I hear it mentioned once in a while, but I kind of laugh and push it off to the side.
"It's not something you go out there thinking, 'I'm going to win that' or do something like that," he added.
Instead, Quentin seems content to continue his high level of production, with little concern paid to the attention he receives. Quentin has homered in five of his last nine games and is hitting .404 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in his last 16, so that attention figures to increase.
That increase won't become a distraction for Quentin.
"I'm going to be fine. How's that?" Quentin said. "I'm pretty straightforward and honest. I say what's on my mind. I just have things that I have to do. I have a job, and it's playing Major League Baseball. It's my first and foremost priority."
