Cox takes over at third base, Nieves in bullpen for Sox

As they begin preparing for the 2008 season, the White Sox still have plenty of work to do when determining the makeup of the 25-man roster.

But the Sox filled the two holes on their coaching staff Tuesday, when, as expected, they named Jeff Cox third-base coach and Juan Nieves bullpen coach.

Cox, 51, replaces Razor Shines, who was fired after one season. Nieves, 42, replaces the popular Art "Cave'' Kusnyer, who was reassigned to a minor-league position, primarily because of health concerns.

Cox is the key addition, considering the White Sox want to get back to playing solid situational baseball.

"I'm tired (of) playing station to station,'' Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said Tuesday. "I'm tired to have to hit 200 home runs to get something going. I'm tired (of) striking out 700 times.''

Guillen isn't blaming Shines for the White Sox' poor offensive showing this season. He just thinks Cox is better suited to get the club back to playing "small ball.''

"He's the type of guy who's going to push these guys to play better, to run better,'' Guillen said. "And I think Coxie is going to bring something we miss: enthusiasm.''

Cox has 35 years of professional experience as a player, manager and coach. He spent the last two seasons as third-base coach with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he was on the Florida Marlins' coaching staff with Guillen in 2002-03. Guillen and Cox also coached together for the Montreal Expos in 2001.

"I know the man; I like the way he goes about his business,'' Guillen said. "It's not a friendship job. You bring the best people you can count on. Friendship gets you fired.''

Nieves has been a pitching coach in the White Sox' minor-league system for the past nine seasons.

"He works hard in spring training, and the relationship he has with (Sox pitching coach) Don Cooper is outstanding,'' Guillen said. "Now we have two pitching coaches in the big-league system.''

Guillen said Cox' impact will be felt in spring training, when the White Sox will have a field reserved for situational hitting and baserunning.

And the manager said every Sox player, including Jim Thome, Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye, will use the field. Guillen doesn't want his big three to start laying down bunts, but he does expect better results in clutch-hitting situations.

"You're going to see a lot of crazy stuff in spring training,'' Guillen said. "Hit-and-run when it's not a hit-and-run situation, bunting when it's not a bunting situation. Spring training is when you get mentally prepared.''

The White Sox appeared to go through the motions in spring training last year, and the lackadaisical effort spilled over into the regular season.

While stopping short of putting a "boot'' in front of next spring's camp, Guillen said the little things will matter.

"The time they're going to spend there will be quality time,'' Guillen said. "And we're going to be watching like a hawk.''