Fisk catches on with Sox
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has been trying to get Carlton Fisk to come to spring training and serve as a guest instructor for years.
Maybe it will happen next spring.
The Sox on Tuesday announced Fisk has agreed to become a team ambassador. The Hall of Fame catcher also will be a member of the White Sox speakers bureau, joining a group that includes Minnie Minoso, Ron Kittle, Bill Melton and Bill "Moose" Skowron.
Fisk, who played with the White Sox from 1981-93, will be welcomed back during a pregame ceremony at U.S. Cellular Field next Thursday.
"It truly is a special feeling to be back with the White Sox organization,'' Fisk said in a statement. "I am thrilled about having the opportunity to represent the team and visit with fans who are second to none in baseball.
"The reunion also will give me the chance to be around so many of my former teammates who are still with the organization.''
Manager Ozzie Guillen was Fisk's teammate, as were general manager Kenny Williams, first-base coach Harold Baines, hitting coach Greg Walker and bench coach Joey Cora.
"I think it's great,'' Guillen said of Fisk's return. "It's about time. I asked Pudge a lot of times to come meet us in spring training, but he's been busy with a lot of different things. To us, it's an honor to have that guy. Pudge is a legend.''
Fisk broke into the major leagues with the Red Sox and played for Boston from 1969 to 1980. The 11-time all-star was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000 wearing a Red Sox cap.
"In my opinion, I think Pudge belongs more to the Chicago White Sox than he belongs to the Boston Red Sox because of the many years he played for us, and he finished up his career here,'' Guillen said. "He was like our father. He's got a lot of friends in this organization that work in this organization right now.
"To us, it's something nice. Hopefully we can get him on the field once in awhile and have a good time with us.''
The White Sox retired Fisk's uniform No. 72 in 1997 and unveiled a sculpture in his honor in 2005.
Wass up?ŒEhren Wasserman was called up from Class AAA Charlotte last July and quickly became a favorite of manager Ozzie Guillen while going 1-1 with a 2.74 ERA in 33 relief appearances.
Despite a solid spring, Wasserman opened this year with Charlotte again, but the right-hander hasn't been the same pitcher since coming up from the minor leagues April 27.
Wasserman has given up 8 runs on 9 hits over his last 3 outings. The 27-year-old has a 30.38 ERA. Guillen said Wassermann currently is not in danger of being shipped back to Charlotte.
"I don't want to lose confidence in this kid,'' Guillen said. "I'm going to put him in some tough situations.''
Minor matters: Outfielder Jerry Owens was 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts in Class AAA Charlotte's loss to Syracuse on Tuesday. Owens' average dropped to .228.
Ray King, a 34-year-old reliever signed by the Sox to a minor-league contract Sunday after being released by the Washington Nationals, pitched 2 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits.