Wise thrilled to be contributing for Sox

It was the ninth inning, and DeWayne Wise was getting loose on the on-deck circle Sunday night at Wrigley Field.

Not satisfied with a 7-1 lead and imminent sweep, an inebriated Cubs fan unloaded on the White Sox' 30-year-old center fielder.

"Hey, Wise, go back to Triple-A,'' the fan babbled. "Go back to the minor leagues. Get out of here. Go back to Charlotte.''

Wise ignored the abuse, but deep down it probably was music to his ears.

A week earlier, he was toiling in obscurity at Class AAA Charlotte, the Sox' top farm team. Funny how things work out.

"In early March, I didn't even have a job,'' Wise said.

Originally drafted by Cincinnati (fifth round) in 1997, Wise showed enough promise to get brief looks with the Blue Jays, Braves and Reds from 2000-07, but there wasn't much demand for his services during the off-season.

"I couldn't find anything,'' Wise said. "It was pretty discouraging.''

Wise was preparing to sign with the Somerset (N.J.) Patriots in the independent Atlantic League. Fortunately, he still had ties with Buddy Bell.

Taking over as the White Sox' director of minor-league instruction this season, Bell remembered Wise from their days together in the Reds' system.

"He called and invited me to the White Sox' minor-league camp,'' Wise said. "Thankfully, Buddy gave me a chance.''

And - as he showed against the Cubs over the weekend - Wise is making the most of it.

After sitting out the series opener, Wise got the start in center field Saturday. His 2-run homer put the Sox in front 4-1 in the fourth before the Cubs stormed back with 9 runs in the bottom of the inning. Wise also walked twice and earned another start Sunday night.

The journeyman outfielder again was one of the White Sox' few bright spots in the 7-1 loss to the Cubs, going 2-for-4 with a stolen base.

Considering where he was at the start of the week - or where he was at the start of March - Wise had a difficult time containing his emotions.

"Hitting the home run (Saturday), at Wrigley Field in a big game between the two Chicago rivals, it was just awesome,'' said Wise, who had last homered on Oct. 3, 2004, when he was with the Braves. Coincidentally, that one also was at Wrigley Field.

"I was so pumped up, I don't really even remember running around the bases,'' Wise said. "Obviously, it's been quite a week for me. It's been a blessing.''

The obvious question now is, how long is Wise going to remain with the Sox?

The left-handed hitter was up with the White Sox from May 23-31 when second baseman Juan Uribe was on the disabled list with a strained hamstring. Wise went 0-for-5 before being designated for assignment.

While he was free to sign with another major-league team at that point, Wise returned to Charlotte and waited for another shot with the Sox.

"I loved it the first time I saw him,'' said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "That's why he's back here.''

Guillen had a talk with Wise when he was sent down at the end of May.

"I told him he could have gone to another team,'' Guillen said. "I don't lie to my players. I said, 'Listen, I think you can be back here soon, and we can use you. I'm not your agent, you can do whatever you want, but you've got a good shot here to be back in Chicago.''

Wise remembered those words when he was batting .319 at Charlotte while outlaying Jerry Owens.

When Paul Konerko went on the disabled list last week with a strained left oblique muscle, Wise got another chance to play. He has gone 5-for-12 in his second tour of duty with the Sox.

Wise probably is going to be sent down again when Konerko returns, but he will only be a phone call away.

"It's just a matter of getting a chance to show what you can do,'' Wise said. "The first time I was here, I didn't get much of a chance to play. Now there is more of an opportunity for me, and I'm trying to make the most of it.''