Expect business as usual from the heart of the Sox order
As the White Sox begin filing in for training camp today in Glendale, Ariz., they're still not sure about the top of the batting order.
That's not a good sign, but the Sox are confident Jerry Owens can get the job done in the leadoff spot - assuming he stays healthy.
The White Sox also believe either Chris Getz or Brent Lillibridge can emerge as a productive No. 2 hitter. The duo are expected to battle for the starting job at second base this spring, with a third newcomer, Jayson Nix, also in the mix.
After that, the Sox can roll out Carlos Quentin, Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez, A.J. Pierzynski and Josh Fields.
The White Sox' offense is going to be younger this season, but many of the faces remain the same. The philosophy should also be familiar, with a slight twist.
"The middle of the lineup is the same," Konerko said at SoxFest late last month. "I don't think he (manager Ozzie Guillen) is going to ask Jermaine to lay down any bunts, or Jim (Thome)."
The Sox have hit 200 or more runs for seven straight seasons, tying them with the current New York Yankees for the major-league record.
But since winning the World Series in 2005, the White Sox have often been guilty of relying too much on the long ball.
"The team in '05, we hit a ton of home runs," Konerko said. "But I always felt like that team went into every game saying: 'This is going to be a 2-1 game and we have to execute bunts, all that stuff.' And sometimes we would hit home runs and win and maybe blow a team out. But it felt like the mindset of that team was we're the type of team that plays small ball, even though we hit a ton of home runs.
"Last year and the year before, it seems we weren't as good at that. We relied a little more on, 'Hey, let's try to get a couple guys on and one big home run will give us a 3-run lead. I think some of those guys we're going to have at the top of the lineup are going to change that, bunt and do all that kind of stuff.
"But I think the overall mindset of the team has to be, 'This is going to be a 1-0, 2-1 game and we have to scrap.' If you can beat that through your players' heads, and you wind up hitting a bunch of home runs, that's great, too. But it's more of a mindset."
The White Sox were counting on Owens to use his bunting skills and pure speed to solidify the leadoff spot last season. Instead, Owens couldn't stay healthy in spring training and didn't join the Sox until being called up in September.
In 2007, Owens played in 93 games for the White Sox and stole 32 bases.
Like Owens, Getz and Lillibridge enter camp with plenty of question marks.
Both players have performed well in the minor leagues - Getz batted .302 at Charlotte in 2008 and Lillibridge hit a combined .281 while stealing 42 bases for Class AA Mississippi and AAA Richmond in 2007, when he was in the Atlanta Braves' system.
If Owens and either Getz or Lillibridge show enough in spring training, the Sox might finally be able to apply some pressure at the top of the lineup.
Dye is all for the likely infusion of new blood.
"On paper, it looks like we're getting younger," Dye said. "But I think the guys that are going to be moved in on this team to help lead us to a championship, I think they're still good enough to come right in and help us. They've proved, whether it be in the minor leagues or other teams they've played on, they're ready to come help this team win."
Veteran relief pitcher Scott Linebrink agrees with Dye.
"We won the division last year and we've got the core back," Linebrink said. "The components that we've got, it'll be good. And adding some speed will definitely change the dynamics of our offense and the output. We certainly know how to hit the home-run ball, but to see some guys in there that can maybe steal some bags and manufacture runs, I think that'll be good."