Smoke will start clearing today
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Ozzie Guillen is happy, bordering on thrilled, with the way the White Sox went through the early paces of spring training.
"I see a lot of good things,'' Guillen said. "Big hits, running the bases. So far, they've done everything we've asked them to do.''
Today the Sox will be asked to do much more as they play their first Cactus League game.
Last season's disappointing tone was established thanks to a 10-22 showing in exhibition play. It doesn't figure to get easier today for the White Sox, who have lost 10 straight games against today's opponent, the Colorado Rockies.
It's up to Guillen, general manager Kenny Williams and the Sox staff to sort out some big questions.
Let's start at second base, where Juan Uribe, Pablo Ozuna, Alexei Ramirez and Danny Richar (who has yet to report) are in the mix.
"We have an idea,'' Guillen said. "It depends. It's a key situation because depending on who's going to be the second baseman, then we make the decision about who's going to be in the outfield.''
Ramirez, who played in Cuba the last seven seasons, can also play center field as well as shortstop, his position for both intrasquad games. Ozuna can play left field, but the White Sox would rather keep him in the infield after the utility man broke his leg last season.
The Sox also have to make decisions at third base, center field and the final bullpen spot or two. All of the uncertainty will start clearing up today.
"I think the competition creates a good thing,'' Guillen said. "You will see (Jerry) Owens play center field, you'll see Brian (Anderson) play center field, you'll see all the guys play left field.
"We want to move the guys around to see what we have. To us, it's a pain in the butt to make lineups, to talk to (the media) about it, let people know what's going on.
"The more we play, the worse it's going to get, but in a good way, a positive way. We have the guys. It's just who is going to be there every day? That's the tough thing about it.''
Nice debut: After emerging as the White Sox' best starter last season, Javier Vazquez breezed through 2 innings in Tuesday's intrasquad game. The right-hander faced the minimum six hitters and had 3 strikeouts.
"I felt good,'' said Vazquez, who was 15-8 with a 3.74 ERA last year. "I've always prepared myself well in the off-season. I start throwing in mid-December and off the mound in January. I got a few bullpens under my belt in Puerto Rico and came in here to continue preparing myself for the season.''
Ready to go: Scratched from Monday's start in the intrasquad game with some shoulder stiffness, Mark Buehrle threw a side session Tuesday to prepare for his first Cactus League outing.
"I threw 40-50 pitches, a normal side day,'' Buehrle said, "I threw everything and I'll be ready Friday.''
Buehrle has thrown over 200 innings in each of the last seven seasons and he said the heavy load is something to consider.
"The older you get, the more you have to do,'' Buehrle said. "A couple of years ago, I would come throw and leave and come throw again. Now, you have to do all this arm stuff and maintenance stuff to get you ready for next start. I'm not worried about it."