Wise gets the call, Owens suffers another set back
When spring training opened, Jerry Owens arrived at the White Sox' camp and confidently declared he could be the full-time starter in center field while stealing 50 bases.
But after straining his groin in the first intrasquad game, Owens never was able to get himself completely healthy and the 27-year-old outfielder opened the season at Class AAA Charlotte.
The Sox called up another outfielder from Charlotte, DeWayne Wise, when second baseman Juan Uribe went on the disabled list in late May.
Wise got the call again on Tuesday after Paul Konerko landed on the DL, and Owens promptly suffered another injury in Game 1 of Charlotte's doubleheader against Richmond.
The White Sox didn't know enough about Owens' injury on Tuesday night to comment.
Regardless, manger Ozzie Guillen said, the 30-year-old Wise deserved to get the call.
"He was playing good in the minor leagues, from what I hear," Guillen said. "It was between him and Owens, and I think he was playing better than Owens. That's the reason (general manager) Kenny (Williams) called him up."
Wise was batting .319 with 9 home runs, 23 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 55 games for Charlotte. Owens is hitting .258 with 1 homer, 15 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 59 games.
Wise started in center field and batted ninth against the Pirates Tuesday.
Manuel returns: After firing Willie Randolph early Tuesday morning, the New York Mets promoted bench coach Jerry Manuel to manager on an interim basis.
Manuel managed the White Sox from 1998-2003. He was named Al Manager of the Year in 2000 after leading the Sox to a 95-67 record.
"Jerry Manuel, when he was here, he had a couple good years," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Then the players stopped performing for him and he got fired. But you don't win manager of the year just because. I think Jerry Manuel has a great opportunity right now to get back on the map and do a good job."
Paul Konerko, Mark Buehrle and Joe Crede are the only three remaining White Sox who played for Manuel.
"It's good for him," Buehrle said. "It's been so long ago. (Manuel's) the type of manager who really didn't come out of the clubhouse. He was totally different from Ozzie. Obviously, it's good for him to get another chance."
Buehrle was asked who he preferred playing for.
"It doesn't really matter who the manager is to me," Buehrle said. "To be honest, I kind of like Ozzie because he's kind of part of the team. On the plane rides, he comes back and says hi to everybody. He doesn't sit up in his office or in the front of the plane, so I kind of like Ozzie's style."