Fields to be demoted if he doesn't improve
Brent Lillibridge and his .162 batting average were dispatched to Class AAA Charlotte on Tuesday.
Is Josh Fields headed for a similar fate?
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said it's too early to pull the plug, but he clearly expects better at-bats from Fields.
"He's next," Guillen said. "That's it. There is no follow-up question. He's next. If he keeps doing what he's doing, I need somebody to do better at third base. I need better at-bats. When you're batting second and eighth and ninth, and you strike out the way he does, it's not good for him, it's not good for the ballclub."
Heading into Wednesday's game against the Twins, Fields ranked third in the American League with 43 strikeouts. And when he popped out in the second inning, Fields' hitting slump stretched to 1-for-24.
Maybe his RBI single in the fourth will get Fields going.
"As I've told Josh and all of our young players, don't play for the statistics," Sox general manager Kenny Williams said. "Play to win tonight's game. That's all I care about. Play to win tonight's game. He's the same guy who was the hottest guy in spring training, the hottest guy when the season started."
Coaching controversy? GM Kenny Williams disputed a report that he now has the final say on the future of the White Sox' coaching staff.
"Ozzie Guillen still maintains control of his coaching staff," Williams said. "As far as the negotiation is concerned, then I take over from that point."
Like Guillen, Williams gave Sox coaches Joey Cora, Greg Walker, Don Cooper, Harold Baines, Jeff Cox and Juan Nieves a strong vote of confidence and wondered why their futures have even become an issue.
"We got some very conscientious coaches," Williams said. "We can win 6-0, but there will be two to three guys who didn't perform well, and our coaches will agonize and try to figure out how they're going to get those guys better. That's part of the gig. It's a very underrated, unheralded position until it doesn't go right, and then everyone wants to point the finger."
Above the fray: Before breaking out against Minnesota on Wednesday, the Sox' offense ranked last in the AL in runs scored (150) and second-to-last in batting average (.245).
No wonder hitting coach Greg Walker's future has been such a hot topic.
"I'm not ready to say anything about it just yet," Walker said. "I'll let you know as soon as I decide to say something. Right now, I'm worried about the game today."
Still grounded: Carlos Quentin (sore left foot) is still sidelined, but the left fielder should be back in the lineup this weekend when the Pirates visit the Cell for a three-game interleague series.
"He said he feels a lot better today," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "(Thursday) is a day game and he's not going to play. Hopefully he comes back for the Pittsburgh series."