How's this for a surprise? Anderson in mix for leadoff spot
A week ago, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen channeled TV broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson when asked if outfielder Brian Anderson was going to make the 25-man roster.
"Yes!" Guillen said.
There's little doubt the 27-year-old Anderson has value as a late-inning defensive replacement, a role he capably handled last season while batting .232 with 8 home runs and 26 RBI in 109 games.
But with the regular season opener just one week away, Anderson continues preparing for a new - and surprising - assignment: leadoff man.
"Nothing's set in stone yet," the affable Anderson said at the Sox' training camp in Glendale, Ariz., last week.
True, Guillen is still trying to decide between Anderson, Jerry Owens and Dewayne Wise as his No. 1 hitter.
And while continuing to douse rumors about a trade for a more proven leadoff hitter like Juan Pierre, Gary Matthews Jr. or Melky Cabrera, Guillen is seriously considering a platoon situation at the top of the order.
That could work out well for Anderson, who bats right-handed. Owens and Wise are left-handed.
"If I have to do it and it makes us better, I will," Guillen said of going with two leadoff hitters.
The White Sox played a Cactus League game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and left-handed starter Doug Davis on Sunday. Anderson was in the leadoff spot, and he raised his spring average to .283 after going 2-for-4.
"I'm just excited about going out there and playing and kind of transitioning," said Anderson, just a career .212 hitter against left-handers. "In the games I do lead off, I want to go out there and work on stuff. If I do end up getting hits and being productive, great. But I really want to settle into that leadoff spot and do the best I can.
"Kind of think about how well Orlando Cabrera did last year. Just try to be like him by staying up the middle and not trying to come out of your shoes ever in certain situations. Just try to be a leadoff hitter."
Owens entered camp as the favorite to nail down the job, but he's batting .230 in the Cactus League.
Wise started out hot, cooled off a bit and is heating up again. A 2-for-3 showing against the Diamondbacks Sunday boosted Wise's spring average to .302.
Guillen said the competition is likely to go down to the final day of camp.
"I'm definitely excited," said Anderson, the Sox' first-round draft pick in 2003. "As for my role, I don't even think they know what they're doing yet, so you can imagine where we're at. Obviously, there are set-in-stone guys, the contract guys. But other than that, I think everybody's just kind of excited to find out what's going on."