Three players battling out starting spot at 2B for White Sox

Fourth in a series

Editor's note: As the countdown continues toward the April 6 opener for the White Sox, Daily Herald Sports Writer Scot Gregor will offer his analysis of each position on the team and the key issues facing the club this season.

Q. What's your breakdown of the current logjam at second?

Gregor: Often times, players go into spring training expected to compete for a starting job even though they have little or no chance.

That's not the case with the White Sox at second base.

There are three legitimate competitors at the position - Chris Getz and newcomers Brent Lillibridge and Jayson Nix. All three are intriguing candidates, but none has made much of a mark as a major leaguer.

Getz, one of the Sox' top prospects, batted .302 at Class AAA Charlotte last season and looks like a player who can capably fill the No. 2 spot in the order.

Lillibridge has gotten a big build-up since coming over from Atlanta in the Javier Vazquez trade. Like Getz, he's a hard-nosed player, but Lillibridge still has a lot to prove after batting .200 in 29 games with the Braves last season.

Nix, a free agent who used to play for the Rockies, looks to be the darkhorse.

Q. Regardless of who wins the job, how different will the play at second be from last year?

Gregor: The White Sox rolled the dice with Alexei Ramirez in 2008 and really cashed in.

A natural shortstop, Ramirez took to the new position from Day One and earned Gold Glove recognition.

Don't expect Getz, Lillibridge or Nix to field second base with similar flair. Ozzie Guillen doesn't. The Sox' manager is just looking for the eventual starter to make all of the routine plays and turn double plays with Ramirez, who has moved over to short.

Q. Last year, Ozzie seemed so high on Getz. What does he see in the kid?

Gregor: Ozzie sees a kid who gives maximum effort and squeezes out every ounce of his ability.

Getz had a chance to get a head start on the upcoming season when he was called up from Class AAA Charlotte last September, but the 25-year-old infielder was sidelined with multiple fractures in his left wrist.

Getz tried playing through the pain in the minor leagues, which tells you something about his approach to the game.

Q. Tim Beckham's more of a shortstop, so does Ramirez's presence there mean he's going to have to find a new position?

Gregor: GM Kenny Williams views Beckham as a "championship-type player," and his potent bat is tempting to the Sox right now.

But last year's No. 1 draft pick needs some higher level minor-league experience, and Beckham's ETA is 2010.

With Ramirez locked in at shortstop, Beckham is going to have to play either second base or third.

• Got a question about the White Sox for Scot Gregor? Visit his blog, Chicago's Inside Pitch, at dailyherald.com to share your questions and comments.