Sox still in search of their leadoff man
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - There was a rare Jerry Owens sighting Thursday.
Just about an hour after desperate manager Ozzie Guillen talked about auditioning two unlikely candidates - Brian Anderson and Josh Fields - at the top of the order, Owens led off the White Sox' Cactus League game against the San Francisco Giants by drawing a walk against Matt Cain.
Owens proceeded to steal his first base of the spring, and he came home on Jermaine Dye's double.
Did Owens finally realize it's time to turn the key and shift into drive? Based on his final 2 at-bats - a lazy flyout to left field and a similar fly to center - maybe not.
The season opens April 6, and Owens and his .222 spring average clearly are not ready to go. The same probably can be said about Dewayne Wise, whose average has dropped from .391 to .281 during an 0-for-9, 5-strikeout slump. Maybe that's why Guillen is trying to send a message. Or maybe he's actually serious about using Fields and Anderson at the top of the order.
"It's hard for us to figure out who's the one right now," Guillen said while even throwing rookie second baseman Chris Getz's name into the leadoff mix.
"We talked about it," the Sox' manager said of Getz. "But that's a lot of pressure to put this kid in that spot. I expect those guys we have in mind (Owens and Wise) to step it up and start doing their job."
Since both Owens and Wise hit left-handed, Guillen was asked who would be the "ideal" No. 1 hitter against a tough left-handed starter.
"It would have to be between (Anderson) and Fields," he said. "I think Fields can take a lot of pitches. We're not looking for a lot of speed; we need a guy that can get on base.
"What we're looking for in the leadoff spot is a guy to get on base and get things going. That's the guy that's going to get more at-bats during the game, and that's important for me."
Earlier in camp, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said he'd be open to going outside of the organization to find a reliable leadoff hitter. The Los Angeles Dodgers' Juan Pierre is available, but there's no chance the Sox are interested in his contract - $28.5 million over the next three years.
Guillen said the leadoff problem was discussed in depth Wednesday morning.
"No, I don't think so," Guillen said when asked about a possible trade. "Not right now. I think we have good enough talent here. Finding leadoff hitters, they're not around. I don't care who you're looking for.
"There aren't that many teams that have a good leadoff hitter. I don't see anything out there. The guys that can be leadoff hitters have a job and another guy (likely Pierre) is making a lot of money. I think we have to find out which one it's going to be here."
Fields has a career .303 on-base percentage, and Anderson is even worse at .277. That's why it sounds like Guillen is reaching for something that isn't there.
"We'll see how we play," Guillen said. "I'm not afraid. I already talked to them about it; I asked Brian and I asked Josh and I think they're willing to do whatever we want them to do. This is an idea out there; we might not do it.
"Right now we have something in mind and we're still waiting for Wise and J.O. to step it up. Right now it's pretty tough. Wise is swinging the bat better than all those guys, but we need a guy up there as soon as possible because I need to see what kind of lineup we have."
Right now the White Sox have a gaping hole at the top.
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