Almost time for Sox to 'bear down' on key positions
PEORIA, Ariz. - He's nearly 2,000 miles away, but general manager Kenny Williams hears the questions and criticisms coming from White Sox fans back in Chicago.
When are you going to get a real center fielder? Who's going to play second base? What about the backup catcher and the bullpen? How can there be so many holes on the roster with just over three weeks to go before the Sox open the regular season against Kansas City?
"Seems like everybody has been saying we have holes, especially when you look at second base and center field," Williams said. "We haven't said it. We've got guys. We just have to determine what the best fit is for the club.
"I think because we have multiple candidates at each position, maybe that's why there's a perception that we have holes. There aren't holes."
The Sox have already been in training camp for a month, but Williams said serious evaluations have yet to begin.
"I don't really even start to bear down on things until about (March) 20th," he said. "Don't get me wrong, there's obviously evaluations going on from Day 1. But the variables of your evaluations changes, in particular when the pitchers get their arm strength built up and they work out whatever kinks they need to work out and start mixing in a few more breaking balls, start snapping them off a little harder.
"I'm always cautiously optimistic because that's my nature, but you can already see that the work from our scouts, and the plan of attack to try to build a new core as we're competing for a championship, we're not far off target."
Considering the season is not far off, either, here is a closer look at some of the White Sox' key positions:
Second base
It's going to be tempting - really tempting - for the Sox to break camp with Gordon Beckham as their starting second baseman.
The organization's top prospect is batting .364 in the Cactus League, and 7 of his 8 hits have gone for extra bases.
Beckham has clearly been brilliant, but Chris Getz has been pretty good himself, and Getz is going to be tough to beat out.
Should Getz falter, the White Sox can always bring Beckham up from the minor leagues.
It looks Brent Lillibridge is going to win the utility infielder job, with Jayson Nix opening the season at Class AAA Charlotte.
Center field
Dewayne Wise had another big day at the plate Friday, and he continues pulling away from Jerry Owens in the battle to fill the Sox' leadoff spot.
He's a classic journeyman, but Wise has two big backers in his corner - Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen.
Williams has been known to make a trade or two in spring training. If he makes a deal before the end of camp, it's likely to be here.
Backup catcher
Cole Armstrong could probably handle this role, but he was having a tough spring (0-for-7) at the plate before hitting a 2-run homer late in Friday's lopsided win over the Padres.
There are two more strikes against Armstrong: Like workhorse starter A.J. Pierzynski, he bats left-handed, and he has no major-league experience.
That tips the scales in favor of Corky Miller, who is batting .500 (6-for-12) and has been a reserve with the Reds, Twins, Red Sox and Braves.
Bullpen
The White Sox are going to break camp with seven relievers, and Bobby Jenks, Scott Linebrink, Matt Thornton and Octavio Dotel are locks.
Williams is again rumored to be interested in signing free-agent Will Ohman. If that happens, D.J. Carrasco and Clayton Richard are likely to fill out the bullpen.
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