Carefree Swisher gets things going

CLEVELAND -- Nick Swisher doesn't appear to have a care in the world.

The White Sox' new left fielder is like a walking energy drink, and his infectious spirit already has perked up the clubhouse.

While Swisher was expected to bat sixth or seventh -- hardly a shock considering he hit 57 homers and drove in 173 runs with the Oakland Athletics the last two seasons while playing his home games at the cavernous Coliseum -- the 27-year-old outfielder is in the leadoff spot to start the season.

"I'm all for it,'' Swisher said. "The cool thing is (manager) Ozzie (Guillen) told me not to change my style. I'm trying not to. And if they want me to keep hitting leadoff, great. As long as I'm getting on base, I've got some bad-(bleep) guys hitting behind me.''

Jerry Owens was expected to open the season as the White Sox' leadoff man, but the center fielder is on the disabled list with a partially torn right adductor.

While Swisher can put up power numbers, he also knows how to take a walk. That's why the switch hitter was elevated to the top of the order.

So why did he swing at the first pitch he saw from Indians starter C.C. Sabathia on Monday and swing at the first pitch from Fausto Carmona on Wednesday?

"On Monday, I was just nervous,'' Swisher said. "It was my first game with my new team and I just pulled the trigger. But you know, every day is going to be different. I'll be taking a lot of pitches one day and hacking the next. Just try to get on base and score some runs.''

Owens update: Jerry Owens could be back as early as Wednesday, when the White Sox play a home game against the Minnesota Twins.

When Owens is activated, he's not a lock to return to the leadoff spot.

"I don't know,'' Ozzie Guillen said. "We'll see how we're playing. Obviously, having a guy who can run a little bit in the leadoff spot is an ideal situation, but like I said before, I don't want a guy who can fly and all of a sudden never gets on base.

"The plans out of spring training were, the way Jerry was playing, having him lead off and having Swisher back somewhere where he can help us is going to make our lineup a little bit stronger.

"In the meanwhile, we're going to wait and see. When Jerry is ready to play, then we'll make the decision. Obviously, when Jerry comes back and starts playing with us, I think he should be the leadoff guy.''

Role over: Bobby Jenks is entrenched as the White Sox' closer, but Ozzie Guillen said the rest of the bullpen should be ready for any situation.

"When you're up, you're up,'' Guillen said. "It's easy. When you're up in the third inning, close the third inning. Up in the fourth, close the fourth. When I was playing, nobody had a role.

"Everyone was when they're there, they're there. 'Oh, my role is to get lefties out.' Your role is when you're on the mound, get whoever you're facing, get them out.

"That role thing, closer, eighth, seventh, somebody came up with that stupid thing to protect their butt. I'll go by my gut feeling and do what's best for the ballclub and go with the best guy.''