Will the White Sox center on Jerry Owens?
Seventh 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. How did Brian Anderson reach this point?
Gregor: For a player that has not accomplished very much in parts of four seasons with the White Sox, Anderson sure has some rabid fans in his corner.
Most of his supporters want Anderson to get another chance to play every day, and it could happen.
But manager Ozzie Guillen is a little leery because he still remembers what happened when Anderson was a regular in 2006 - a .225 batting average with 8 HR and 33 RBI in 134 games.
In fairness, Anderson had to perform under the pressure of replacing Aaron Rowand, one of the Sox' World Series heroes from the year before. And to his credit, the 26-year-old outfielder has hung in there the past two years while contributing when called on.
Anderson fits the profile of a player that could thrive if traded to a new team, but he is still in the mix with the White Sox.
Q. Could this be Jerry Owens' last good shot to win the center field job?
Gregor: Very possible. He's 28 now, so Owens can no longer be viewed as a promising prospect.
First and foremost, he needs to stay healthy. After that, the Sox will likely give Owens a full season to show he can handle the leadoff role. Predictably, a confident Owens has been insisting he can get the job done and make things happen.
He needs to show it on the field over the course of a full season.
Q. Is Dewayne Wise a better part-time player? Is he given much of a shot to win the competition?
Gregor: At this point last year, Wise was considering playing for peanuts in the independent Atlantic League or simply retiring.
Fortunately, the journeyman outfielder had connections with Buddy Bell - the White Sox' minor-league director - and he got a late invite to spring training.
Wise made the most of the opportunity, batting .248 with 6 HR and 18 RBI in 57 games for the Sox. He also stepped up in the playoffs, hitting a homer and driving in 5 runs.
Wise is not guaranteed of anything this time around, but he should win a reserve job with the White Sox and give the club a lift when he gets a chance to play.
Q. How likely is it that the winner of this battle turns out to be the leadoff hitter when the season begins?
Gregor: Very likely. Owens is the favorite to emerge as the starting center fielder, and he is a natural leadoff man. His bunting skills are much better now than they were in 2006, the same season Owens managed to steal 32 bases for the Sox in just 93 games.
Wise also has good speed and can handle the leadoff role. As for Anderson, he'd be more likely to hit at the bottom of the order should he emerge as the winner.
Q. Break down how you see this whole competition going.
Gregor: The White Sox know what Owens, Anderson and Wise can do.
They just need to know Owens can stay off the disabled list, and the outfielder did alter his training during the off-season specifically to remain healthy.
Anderson is probably a better defensive outfielder than Owens, but he bounces back and forth between hitting for power and playing small ball. The Sox would prefer he sticks to the latter.
• Got a question about the Sox for Scot Gregor? Visit his blog, Chicago's Inside Pitch, to share your questions and comments.