Swisher likely to fill leadoff spot with Owens' move to DL
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Jerry Owens is on the disabled list, leaving the White Sox with a hole in the leadoff spot.
Pablo Ozuna is scheduled to bat first when the Sox open the season Monday at Cleveland, and manager Ozzie Guillen on Wednesday said Nick Swisher would move to the top of the order after that.
"After (the opener), I think I will stick with Swisher to lead off for good,'' Guillen said. "I will put Swisher there no matter if it is a lefty or righty pitching.''
Swisher, a switch hitter, combined to hit 57 home runs the past two seasons with the Oakland Athletics. But the 27-year-old left fielder also drew 197 walks in 2006-07, the fourth-highest total in baseball.
On the mend: Jerry Owens' one and only goal this spring was winning the starting job in center field and opening the season as the leadoff hitter.
That dream was dashed Tuesday when Owens landed on the 15-day disabled list with a slight tear in his lower right adductor.
"It's disappointing, but at the same time you have to take the positives from it,'' Owens said. "I feel I had a good spring, just getting the at-bats that I got. I think it benefited me.
"This injury is unfortunate, but it's in the past and there's nothing we can do about it now. I'm looking forward to rehabbing and getting it stronger than it was before I got hurt and getting to Chicago as soon as I can.''
Owens could be back as early as April 8, assuming rest heals the injury and he doesn't need to go on a rehabilitation assignment.
"It's kind of hard to tell right now,'' said Owens, who batted .361 in 10 Cactus League games. "I've had groin injuries before, with the last in (2004). I was put on the two-week DL and I was fine after that, and I felt like I hurt it worse then than now.
"That's what I'm working toward, as soon as my DL time is up, being back on that field.''
Dealing with it: Third baseman Josh Fields is trying to keep a positive outlook after being demoted to Class AAA Charlotte.
"It was tough, especially I felt like I deserved to be in the big leagues,'' he said. "It didn't happen. But it doesn't matter. Wherever I go, I'm going to play hard and try to get back up.''
Fields hopes this is the last time he has to wait his turn.
"You go through different things,'' he said. "In college (at Oklahoma State), I went through similar situations of coming in young with guys ahead. Whether or not it prepares you, hopefully I'm not preparing to go through it again.''
Fields was asked if being sent to Charlotte has started sinking in. "I don't have too much to say to that,'' he said.
Up for grabs: The Sox have one roster decision to make before breaking camp today.
Ehren Wasserman and Nick Masset are competing for the final bullpen spot, and they both are scheduled to pitch today against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Wasserman is 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in 10 Cactus League outings. Masset, who is out of minor-league options, is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in six games (4 starts).
Brewers 12, White Sox 10
White Sox' record: 10-17-3
At the plate: Jim Thome hit a pair of 2-run homers off Milwaukee starter Ben Sheets. Alexei Ramirez hit a grand slam off Sheets in the second inning. A.J. Pierzynski hit his first Cactus League home run.
On the mound: Starter Gavin Floyd pitched 5 innings and allowed 6 runs on 9 hits. Octavio Dotel took the loss, allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits and a walk in 1 inning.
Next: Nick Masset starts against the Diamondbacks today in Tucson.
-- Scot Gregor