A hitch in Sox' lineup switch

[SSH2005]

http://suntimes.com/output/sox/cst-spt-sox261.html

A hitch in Sox' lineup switch

 

March 26, 2006

 

BY JOE COWLEY Staff Reporter

 

PEORIA, Ariz. -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has spent the first 42 years of his life telling it like it is. Second baseman Tadahito Iguchi has spent his professional baseball career following a strict Japanese code of respect between manager and player.

 

So when Guillen approached Iguchi earlier this week to get his honest opinion, the third-year manager knew he was likely going to hear exactly what Iguchi thought he should hear.

 

"The answer he gave me is the answer I want, but I want him to be honest about it,'' Guillen recalled. "I told him that I want him to help the team the most you can in whatever spot you need. He said, 'Whatever spot you put me, I will hit.'''

 

Very little has changed with Iguchi since he celebrated a World Series title with his teammates in Houston last October. Yes, he comprehends a bit more English, especially the swear words.

 

"You're in this locker room,'' Iguchi said about his progress with cursing.

 

But he still places a very high value on spending time with his family, he still talks about the importance of hitting .300 and he still makes sure not to cross a line with his manager -- whether he's telling Guillen truly how he feels or not.

 

That's the Japanese way.

 

"Players don't answer their managers back in Japan,'' former Sox reliever Shingo Takatsu insisted early last season. "In Japan, what the manager says is the law. You don't question it. It's very different from here.''

 

Especially when the manager is Guillen, and he's looking for a straight answer.

 

Iguchi once again became a focal point this week, when Guillen had a talk with general manager Ken Williams and decided to scrap the idea that became his brainchild this winter.

 

Guillen wanted to take advantage of the power and speed that Iguchi displayed in Japan, rather than handcuff him in the No. 2 spot of the batting order and "take at-bats away from him'' by having him do the dirty work that comes with sacrifice bunts and hitting to the opposite field to move a runner.

 

At the same time, by moving Iguchi to the sixth spot, it would also allow the Sox to move Juan Uribe to No. 2 and possibly add some discipline to his free-swinging style.

 

While Guillen saw Uribe handle the change, he saw Iguchi struggle to a 5-for-39 (.128 average) start. Not only did he struggle, he looked "uncomfortable'' at the plate.

 

"It's easier for me to move Iguchi if he is uncomfortable because I know that Uribe can hit anywhere and not care,'' Guillen said. "Uribe can hit ninth one night and hit leadoff the next day, and not care.

 

"Some people care more about which spot they're going to hit every day. Some people worry about who's hitting behind them. It's easier for Uribe to handle. The more stuff you put in [iguchi's] mind, I don't know how he's going to handle it.''

 

According to Iguchi, he can handle whatever decision comes his way. Friday was Iguchi's second consecutive game back in his No. 2 spot, and also the second consecutive day in which he insisted that it doesn't matter to him.

 

"Even if I hit sixth or seventh, I'm still going to try and have the same batting approach as if I was hitting second,'' Iguchi said. "As far as the comment Ozzie made, he's the manager and he's going to make the decisions.''

 

Iguchi's slow start was attributed to him tinkering with his mechanics when he first arrived in Tucson, which messed with his timing. He has since gone back to his old swing, but the results haven't changed.

 

Through his first two starts back in the two-hole, Iguchi was 1-for-9. Meanwhile, Uribe has been jumping all over the lineup and was hitting .273 after Friday's 2-for-4 performance.

 

"[My swing is] almost there,'' Iguchi said. "It's a lot better than where it was earlier. I'm not here to put up numbers in spring training. The goal is to be ready by Opening Day. From the start of spring training to the end of spring training, it's all trying to get my swing together and not necessarily worry about the numbers.''

 

Guillen will now keep Iguchi in the No. 2 spot through the remainder of Cactus League play. The target date for his final decision, however, is next week when the team plays its final two exhibition games in Atlanta.

 

"It hasn't worked,'' Guillen said of his trial run. "When we get to Atlanta, I will make the decision on if he will be second or seventh. When I make that decision, it will be for the rest of the year. It won't change.''

 

Not that Iguchi would complain to his manager that it should.

 

 

HITTING THE SAC

 

Tadahito Iguchi was one of two White Sox among the American League leaders in sacrifices last season. Here's a look at the top five (B-bunts; F-flies; T-total):

B F T

1. Juan Uribe, Sox 11 10 21

2. Coco Crisp, Cle. 13 5 18

3. Iguchi, Sox 11 6 17

4. Ronnie Belliard, Cle. 8 7 15

5. Chone Figgins, LAA 9 5 14

I wish more MLB players followed the "Japanese way" instead of acting like egomaniacal tools.