Sox won't push OFs Owens, Quentin
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Three weeks of spring training remain, and the White Sox are using the cushion to make sure two young outfielders, Jerry Owens and Carlos Quentin, are healthy.
Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said Owens is going to be sidelined for "a couple days'' as the center fielder continues nursing a strained right groin.
Owens injured himself in the White Sox' first spring intrasquad game, but he's made four Cactus League appearances and is batting .385 (5-for-13).
"Jerry Owens is going to be held back a couple of days because he's sore,'' Guillen said. "I don't like the way he was running the bases his last time out there. The key for him is his legs, and we have to keep those legs fresh. Right now, we don't like what we see from him, and there's no reason for him to go out there and hurt himself again.''
Quentin had surgery on his non-throwing (left) shoulder in October to repair damage to his labrum and rotator cuff. His team at the time, the Arizona Diamondbacks, didn't think the left fielder would be ready to play until April.
Acquired by the Sox in a Dec. 4 trade, Quentin has played in three Cactus League games, batting .273.
Originally scheduled to start against the Rockies on Wednesday, Quentin was scratched before the game.
"It's not a big deal,'' Guillen said. "This kid is going to be here for good. I think he was creating bad habits with his swing and it led to some soreness, but he'll be fine. If it was the start of the season, he could play. But rather than have him push it and lose one more week, we are holding him back.''
Quentin understands the decision.
"They wanted to make sure I'm at full strength, so I think that's right on,'' he said. "It's basic soreness. The doc took another look at it, just to see where I was. The strength is all there. It's just standard soreness that comes with this sort of surgery.''
On the Mark: In his second spring start Wednesday, Mark Buehrle breezed through 4 scoreless innings and allowed just 1 hit.
"My sinker the first couple of innings wasn't where I wanted it to be,'' said Buehrle, who hasn't allowed a run in 6 Cactus League innings. "The last couple of innings, it got better. I would say if there's anything I need to work on, it's keeping my sinker down.''
Buehrle is expected to be the White Sox' starter on Opening Day, but Ozzie Guillen said he'll probably wait until next week to make it official.
Staying alive: If Carlos Quentin is healthy, he's expected to be the Sox' backup outfielder. If he's not, Brian Anderson is making a strong bid for the job.
Anderson hit a 2-run homer against Colorado on Wednesday, and he's batting .370 in exhibition play.
"Anderson's playing well,'' Ozzie Guillen said. "He's not out. He's in the mix, and if he keeps playing the way he's been playing, obviously, he's going to earn a spot. The only thing about Brian, hopefully he takes this game the way we thought he could and he starts his career.''
White Sox 5, Rockies 2
White Sox' record: 5-4
At the plate: Brian Anderson hit a 2-run homer in the ninth inning to break open a close game. Alexei Ramirez (.471) was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jermaine Dye (2-for-2) hit his first home run, a solo shot in the third inning.
On the mound: Starter Mark Buehrle pitched 4 scoreless innings. Octavio Dotel allowed 1 run on 2 hits in 1 inning.
Next: Gavin Floyd starts against the Rangers today in Tucson.
-- Scot Gregor