Owens trying to make Sox sit up and take some notice
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Jerry Owens cupped his ears during the off-season and listened for ringing endorsements from the White Sox.
Instead, Owens heard about the Sox' failed bid to sign Torii Hunter. That was followed by similar news on Kosuke Fukudome and Aaron Rowand.
Finally, Owens' ears really perked up when the White Sox acquired Nick Swisher in a trade from the Oakland Athletics and announced he was likely to spend the bulk of his playing time in center field.
"Thanks,'' the Sox clearly seemed to be telling Owens over the winter, "but no thanks.''
Taking the news more as a challenge than an affront, Owens went to work before reporting to spring training. He spent five weeks in Tampa, Fla., honing his skills with Derek Jeter, Ryan Howard and other major-leaguers.
Owens also added 10 pounds of muscle, and possibly a few more with his full head of hair.
When he reported to camp last week, the 27-year-old outfielder carried himself like he still was the main man in center.
"I couldn't help but take it personal because I felt like I can hold it down out there,'' Owens said of the White Sox' decision to look elsewhere for help.
He also predicted 65 stolen bases if given the opportunity to play every day.
Last season, Owens came up from Class AAA Charlotte in early July and batted .267 in 93 games as the leadoff man. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder finished strong, hitting .340 in September, and his 32 stolen bases led all major-league rookies.
It was a solid half-season for a team that desperately needed an infusion of speed, but the "wow'' factor never seemed to register with Owens.
In Monday's intrasquad game, Owens started living up to his pledge of coming to spring training and forcing the Sox to take notice.
The left-handed hitter led off the bottom of the first inning with a bunt single, and he scored when Orlando Cabrera followed with a double off Tomo Ohka.
The bunt hit earned verbal approval from two spectators, general manager Kenny Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen.
In the second inning, Owens blooped another single to left field, but he was pulled from the scrimmage as a precaution after tweaking his groin running the bases.
"I was attempting to steal and (Cabrera) put the ball in play,'' Owens said. "I just stopped real quick and turned around. I was OK, but Ozzie didn't want to take a chance.''
In past training camps, Owens' health never seemed to attract much attention. Maybe Monday's interest in a minor flare-up is a sign his stock is rising.
Starting in center field opposite Owens on Monday, Swisher also went 2-for-2.
Swisher is a proven performer who is going to play every day for the White Sox. He has been targeted to play center field, but Swisher always can shift to left if Owens forces the issue.
Guillen again said Owens is going to get a long look this spring.
"This kid did a pretty good job for us last year, and all of a sudden he's back in the mix,'' Guillen said. "He deserves a legit opportunity to be back on the club and play every day. It's going to be a battle every day, and that's the type of game we're going to need from the top of the lineup.''
It was only an intrasquad game, but Owens viewed Monday's performance in a serious light.
"It's an opportunity for me to continue to show them what I can do,'' he said. "My goal in spring training is to show them I can play that role as a leadoff hitter. I'll take this just like I would take a regular-season game. It's about competition, especially right now. There's only one way to play in my mind.''