Sox' Owens to open season on DL
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The White Sox had their fill of Scott Podsednik's strains and pains the last three seasons, and they are hoping to avoid a repeat history with Jerry Owens.
Coming into training camp favored to win the starting center field job while assuming Podsednik's leadoff spot, Owens has been hampered by a strained right groin since the Feb. 25 intrasquad game.
Not wanting to deal with a Podsednik-type situation, the Sox placed Owens on the 15-day disabled list after Tuesday's Cactus League win over the Colorado Rockies. The move is retroactive to Sunday.
"I don't want to deal with this during the season,'' said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "One day he's sore, one day he's not. We have 3, 4 guys that can play center field and I don't want to push (Owens) if he's hurt.''
An MRI on Tuesday revealed Owens has a slight tear in his lower right adductor.
According to Sox trainer Herm Schneider, the 27-year-old outfielder needs 7-10 days of rest and he should be ready to play in two weeks.
With Owens on the shelf, the White Sox will open the season with three options in center field -- Alexei Ramirez, Brian Anderson and Nick Swisher.
Owens played 10 Cactus League games and batted .361. On Sunday, he tripled against Kansas City Royals starter Zack Greinke and aggravated the injury.
"I kind of felt a little something rounding second base,'' Owens said. "It could be just scar tissue breaking up. It's still a little bit sore.''
With Owens on the DL, Anderson and Carlos Quentin are both expected to make the 25-man roster.
Uribe gets the nod: Pablo Ozuna is expected to start at second base when the White Sox open the regular season at Cleveland on Monday.
But Juan Uribe is going to get the bulk of the playing time at second, based on his solid play in spring training. Uribe went 2-for-4 Tuesday, boosting his Cactus League average to .388.
"I think Uribe earned it,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I'm going to give him the most playing time at second base. We have people behind him, so if he doesn't do what he's supposed to do, he'll be replaced.''
Hall yes: White Sox GM Kenny Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen had a big question Tuesday morning, and Toby Hall had the right answer.
Slowed by the same sore right shoulder he dislocated a year ago, Hall told Williams and Guillen he is 100 percent.
Paul Phillips was reassigned to minor-league camp Tuesday, so Hall is on the 25-man roster as the backup catcher to A.J. Pierzynski.
"That was the direction of the conversation this morning, making sure that before we start going down the path of sending guys out and giving guys information, making sure that he is OK,'' Williams said. "Not just for duty on days that A.J.'s playing, but in the event that he has to go on three days in a row or come into a latter part of the game in a moment's notice. He's getting stronger.''
Hall said he feels better than he did before injury the shoulder last spring and understood Tuesday's line of questions.
"Think about the injury that I had,'' Hall said. "We want to win. When someone asks you that, you have to be honest and tell them you are ready to go. That's what I've been doing, going out there every other day and playing. I told them I can play every day and play all nine.''
White Sox 5, Rockies 2
White Sox record: 10-16-3
On the mound: In his final exhibition start, Mark Buehrle pitched 6 innings and allowed 1 run on 4 hits. The left-hander finished with a 2.14 ERA. Bobby Jenks and Mike MacDougal each pitched 1 scoreless inning.
At the plate: Carlos Quentin was 2-for-3 with 1 RBI, raising his spring average from .290 to .324. Juan Uribe and Alexei Ramirez had 2 hits apiece. Orlando Cabrera (.196) was 0-for-4.
Next: Gavin Floyd starts against the Brewers today in Tucson.