GM talks with Guillen about 'verbiage'
Trying to defuse the blow-up doll controversy wasn't the only thing on general manager Kenny Williams' to-do list Tuesday.
Williams also met manager Ozzie Guillen before the White Sox' victory over the Minnesota Twins at U.S. Cellular Field.
Before Sunday's game at Toronto, Guillen launched into a profanity-laced tirade that received national attention.
"The one thing I worry about with regards to some of what has come out is (Guillen's) gotten an opportunity, I think he has a great opportunity to have a voice, not just in baseball but in sports," Williams said.
"And I worry sometimes that the language that he chooses to use sometimes misses the mark on the intent of the message.
"So that's what I caution him about -- if you have a message to put out there, whatever that message is, even if it is only with the intent to defer some of the pressure from the players, you know, make sure people are of the mind-set to listen to it.
"And I think if you turn people off by the content or the extent of your verbiage, I think you can run some danger in losing that message."
Dropping down: The slumping Nick Swisher was moved from the leadoff spot to No. 6 in the lineup Monday. After going 0-for-3, Swisher was dropped to No. 7 Tuesday.
The switch hitter was 0-for-4 against the Twins, dropping his average to .196.
"Johnny Bench once said that a slump is like a great bed -- it's hard to get out of," Swisher said. "I know myself, I'm in that bed and I'm fighting like (heck) to get out of it. Hey, sometimes these things happen."
Swisher batted second and third with the Oakland Athletics last season.
"I never really felt too much pressure in that leadoff spot," he said. "We tried it out. I didn't exactly do what I wanted to do. But you know, hey, if he (manager Ozzie Guillen) needed me back there some other time, I'll be more than happy to go back.
"I think where I am in the lineup right now, until I get back rock-and-rolling again, I can totally understand the move."
Owens watch: The offense finally showed some life Tuesday night after a rough road trip. Should the White Sox' bats start slumbering again, expect center fielder Jerry Owens to be brought up from Class AAA Charlotte.
"Once Jerry Owens gets a few more at-bats underneath him, we can slide him into the mix in some way, shape or form, and then Ozzie (Guillen) has another weapon to use," GM Kenny Williams said.
Owens missed almost half of spring training with a partially torn right adductor. After going 1-for-4 Tuesday, he is batting .267 at Charlotte.