Regarding positions, Lillibridge has White Sox covered
Brent Lillibridge was sweating it out over the weekend at U.S. Cellular Field.
It actually was seasonably cool and a little rainy on the South Side, so the weather had no effect on Lillibridge.
Rather, it was the anxiety of playing yet another position.
With workhorse catcher A.J. Pierzynski unavailable Saturday and Sunday after being hit on the left wrist by a Bruce Chen pitch in Friday’s series opener against Kansas City, the White Sox were left with Tyler Flowers behind the plate.
Had something happened to Flowers, manager Ozzie Guillen would have had a tough decision to make. Given his amazing versatility, Lillibridge would have been the likely choice to do some emergency catching.
“I think A.J.’s going to be able to bounce back on Tuesday, so I don’t have to sweat about it anymore,” Lillibridge said after hitting a 3-run homer in Sunday’s 6-2 victory over Kansas City.
A natural shortstop, Lillibridge spent most of his early days in the majors at second base and center field.
Last season the 27-year-old utility man branched out with 25 games at second base for the Sox, six in center field, four at shortstop and three at third base. Lillibridge also played a game in right field and a game in left.
This year Lillibridge is thriving at a new position — first base. With Paul Konerko still unable to get on the field because of a sore left leg, Lillibridge has played five games at first.
He also has played all three outfield spots and made an appearance at second base.
Given the impressive display of versatility, why not try catcher? “I don’t think I’m going to ask Rawlings to send me any (catching) gear anytime soon,” Lillibridge said. “And the gear for the big boys, A.J. and Tyler, I don’t think that stuff’s going to fit me. No, I haven’t caught since Little League, and I don’t expect to any time soon.”
Pierzynski is expected to be ready to play in tonight’s big series opener against Cleveland, so Lillibridge can go back to one of his other five positions.
So much has been written and said about how certain players on this enigmatic White Sox team have played down to their career indicators.
Adam Dunn. Alex Rios. Gordon Beckham. Matt Thornton.
Lillibridge has gone the other way.
He made two straight highlight catches in right field to preserve a win for the Sox at Yankee Stadium in late April. He also robbed Oakland’s Coco Crisp of a game-tying home run during a June 11 win at the Cell.
The natural infielder quickly established himself as the Sox’ best defensive outfielder, and lately it looks like Lillibridge has been playing first base all his life.
“Lilly at first base, we’re asking this kid a lot,” Guillen said. “He wasn’t a first baseman and now he plays pretty good out there. He’s coming up with big at-bats and making plays when he has to make them. He’s playing very good out there.
“This kid can play every position now. I think he’s put himself in a great spot in baseball because now people find out he can play in the infield and the outfield very good.”
Lillibridge’s ability to play multiple positions is likely to lengthen his major-league career. But he also has to hit to play, and Lillibridge already has 10 home runs this year after hitting 3 total in his first three seasons with the Atlanta Braves and the White Sox.
Lillibridge also is batting .260, 66 points above his career average.
“It’s my first full season,” said Lillibridge, who was selected by Pittsburgh on the fourth round of the 2005 draft after a standout collegiate career at Washington.
“It’s been parts of four years and I haven’t really shown the consistency of putting good at-bats in every game, or even just when I’m in the game. I have to prove myself now.
“If I can just be consistent and continue to produce when I’m out there then I’ll get my opportunity, whether it’s here or somewhere else. I have to pay my dues. I have to show them I can play a full season and put numbers up and play great defense and then we’ll go from there.”
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