Quentin no question mark anymore
DETROIT -- It was the first trade at the winter meetings, and it elicited more shrugs than screams.
Welcome to the White Sox, Carlos Quentin.
Long considered one of the Arizona Diamondbacks' top prospects, Quentin was deemed expendable after struggling to stay healthy. On Dec. 3, he was traded to the Sox for minor-league infielder Chris Carter.
Considering he had surgery on his left shoulder in October to repair tears in his labrum and rotator cuff, the White Sox weren't even sure if the 25-year-old left fielder would be healthy enough to start the season.
"It was a significant surgery,'' Quentin said.
While he was slowed during the early and middle parts of spring training, Quentin finished up strong and has carried the momentum into the season. Starting his third straight game Saturday, Quentin was 1-for-4 with an RBI. He's batting .308 overall.
How long he stays in the lineup is unknown, but White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen likes what he's been seeing.
"Obviously, I had to deal with a little adversity,'' said Quentin, a Stanford product and the Diamondback's first-round pick in the 2003 draft. "It happens. It feels good to get here and have an opportunity to play and I'll take advantage of all the playing time I get. I'm just happy to be out on the field.''
Walking man: Nick Swisher leads the American League with 8 walks after drawing 3 against Tigers starter Dontrelle Willis Saturday.
Swisher was moved up to the leadoff spot when Jerry Owens went on the disabled list, mainly because he knows how to take pitches.
The last two seasons with the Oakland A's, Swisher ranked fourth in baseball with 197 walks.
"I haven't been feeling exactly the greatest up at the plate, so all I'm doing is just trying to get on any way possible,'' Swisher said. "It was my first time seeing Dontrelle and he's a big dude, and he's got that big funky leg kick and he's very deceiving. So my first at-bat, all I tried to do was make him hit the zone and I was fortunate and got a couple walks off him.''
Owens watch: Jerry Owens (adductor) is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, but don't expect to see the injured center fielder back with the White Sox anytime soon.
"It's going to be a while,'' said general manager Kenny Williams. "He hasn't played in a while, so he has to get back in game shape. He's got to get his stroke back. We have to assess where the team is at that point and whether or not that still is a fit or not.''
With Carlos Quentin playing well in left field and Nick Swisher more than holding his own in center, the Sox are still trying to find playing time for Alexei Ramirez and Brian Anderson.
"Right now, I like what I have,'' said manager Ozzie Guillen. "I don't want to get it in my mind when Jerry is coming back. I'm going to stay with the same club. If we need Jerry, we'll call him up and then we make the decision. But I can't worry about him right now.''