http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune....pring-training/

 

PHOENIX - Here's the White Sox's lineup for Thursday's game against Arizona and sinkerball maven Brandon Webb:

 

1. Wise cf

 

2. Getz 2b

 

3. Quentin lf

 

4. Thome dh

 

5. Dye rf

 

6. Konerko 1b

 

7. Betemit 3b

 

8. Ramirez ss

 

9. Miller c

 

Marquez p

 

Dewayne Wise gets the leadoff assignment as manager Ozzie Guillen starts his regular position players in familar positions. Look for Getz to start more in the second spot.

Look for Getz to start more in the second spot.

 

Good. All set to slide into the leadoff spot if and when the other options puke out.

Good. All set to slide into the leadoff spot if and when the other options puke out.

It's really sad that we'll likely have to wait until then.

It's really sad that we'll likely have to wait until then.

 

Given the way the CF's are hitting, it's possible that it could be by April 6th.

It's really sad that we'll likely have to wait until then.

i honestly have 0 idea what more this kid has to do this spring to earn the leadoff spot

 

Post a obp over .400 - check

Hit over .300 - check

Walk more often than striking out - check

Flash well above average speed running the bases (ie legging out a double, going 1st to 3rd) check

Hit both lefties and righties - check

 

but nah nevermind, we'll look at Wise and Lillibridge at leadoff the last 2 days, because, ya know they have a combined 1 BB and 30 Ks and both have obps under .300 this spring to go with sub .260 obps in their major league careers

 

having guys with such brutal obps at the top of the order will cost us so many more outs over the course of the season, which is why i want CF to be brian, batting 9th

Edited March 26, 200917 yr by daa84

Getz also has an inside the park homerun, it doesn't get much more speedy/grindy than that. We'll just have to wait until May, then Getz and [hopefully] Alexei can be thrust into their new slots in the lineup. It's good to get Wise all this work in the leadoff spot, a year from now the Long Island Ducks/Portland Beavers can thank Ozzie for keeping him fresh. And you just know Brent Lillibridge -- since he just HAS to make the 25 man roster -- will get more than a few starts at 2B/SS/CF in the leadoff spot this year, he's just too damn fast and short to hit anywhere else.

Its funny that Owens is consistently talked about as this speed demon that tears up the basepaths and Getz is CLEARLY faster on the field than Owens is. There isnt a player on the team that gets from the batters box to 1B faster than Chris Getz.

Obviously, if Wise fails and Owens is no longer viewed as a viable option, then they'll have no other choice but to play Anderson everyday (or prematurely give up on Ramirez at SS and bring up Beckham, which seems as likely as Betemit playing CF instead of Wise). It seems everyone has been waiting for that for the last 2-3 years, just like Sox fans patiently waited for KW to admit that Aaron Rowand might be more than a fourth outfielder. Now I'm not going to dare to project Aaron Rowand's numbers from 04-08 on Brian Anderson for his next five seasons, but we just have to cross our fingers and hope for the best.

 

There's going to be a tremendous amount of pressure on both Wise and Anderson if they are hitting in the leadoff spot. If the team struggles out of the box and they are forced to go to Getz, that puts even more pressure on Getz than there would be if they just started batting him there now.

 

Unfortunately, it seems that they're being set up for failure. OTOH, the organization has really babied Anderson along the last couple of seasons hoping he matures and gets some more confidence up at the plate. He'll have nobody but himself to blame if he hits .225 this season.

Edited March 26, 200917 yr by caulfield12

I absolutely refuse to believe that Owens, Wise, Anderson, or Lillibridge will hit leadoff once the regular season starts. I think that Ozzie is just giving these guys every chance to succeed (or conversely fail convincingly) by giving them as many ABs as possible. Maybe I'm refusing to see reality, but I cannot imagine any of those four hitting leadoff come April.

I've heard some rumblings, I believe Levine mentioned it, that Anderson is definitely on the roster and they are just deciding who to platoon him with. Is that how you guys feel the situation has played out?

It's not really rumblings, Ozzie has pretty much come out and said that Anderson will make the team being the only right/elite defender of the bunch an given that the other 2 candidates blow ass you'd figure Brian would see his fair share of playing time in CF. (25% of the PA in a straight platoon)

I absolutely refuse to believe that Owens, Wise, Anderson, or Lillibridge will hit leadoff once the regular season starts. I think that Ozzie is just giving these guys every chance to succeed (or conversely fail convincingly) by giving them as many ABs as possible. Maybe I'm refusing to see reality, but I cannot imagine any of those four hitting leadoff come April.

While I was/am hoping this is correct, it really makes no sense from a White Sox standpoint. Its obvious, and has been for longer than this spring training, Owens, Wise and Anderson are not anywhere near major league caliber everyday leadoff guys. They aren't even in Orlando Cabrera's neighborhood. Its best they find the right man for the job and use the next week and a half for some experimenting. Its ridiculous Getz hasn't lead off yet. Why do they let Lillibridge leadoff? Would he have any less pressure than Getz? Why do the White Sox need to start every game off with a strikeout? The whole thing makes zero sense. KW got a little humbled by 2007. After Danks, Floyd and Quentin came up aces in 2008, he thinks he know more than everyone else again. If Wise/Owens and BA platoon and leadoff, and Corky Miller is the back up catcher and Williams is a specialist out of the pen and Lillibridge gets significant playing time, KW will be humbled again. I still think a trade will be made. A trade has to be made.

It's not really rumblings, Ozzie has pretty much come out and said that Anderson will make the team being the only right/elite defender of the bunch an given that the other 2 candidates blow ass you'd figure Brian would see his fair share of playing time in CF. (25% of the PA in a straight platoon)

Cool, thanks for the update, I've been busy this week and didn't catch the Ozzie quotes. There's no excuse that he's not in CF at the end of EVERY game when the Sox have a lead

marquez up with everything ....and probably pitching himself to AAA

First time seeing Marquez pitch...he has no room for error, as his velocity is right at 90 mph. Really hope he starts off in AAA and not on the MLB squad.

marquez up with everything ....and probably pitching himself to AAA

No way. He's the second coming of Jon Garland.

No way. He's the second coming of Jon Garland.

 

After the Masset-Jenks comparisons that were made, I'm just going to ignore comparisons made by the front office.

God damn it.

 

HUZZAH!

After the Masset-Jenks comparisons that were made, I'm just going to ignore comparisons made by the front office.

Jerry Owens = Rudy Law?

 

 

Wise thrown out by a mile trying to get a triple. This team is a terrible base running team so far. Oh, and Wise is faster than Owens.

Wise thrown out by a mile trying to get a triple. This team is a terrible base running team so far. Oh, and Wise is faster than Owens.

Still waiting for Jeff Cox to leave his mark on this team or perhaps he has?

Oh, and Wise is faster than Owens.

 

Glad I wasn't the only one that thought so.

Wise thrown out by a mile trying to get a triple. This team is a terrible base running team so far. Oh, and Wise is faster than Owens.

Lillibridge may steal 40 bases according to KW. I never realized they figured out a way to steal first base.

Lillibridge may steal 40 bases according to KW. I never realized they figured out a way to steal first base.

 

The real question should be if Lillibridge should start in AA or AAA. He was overmatched in AAA last season.

Still waiting for Jeff Cox to leave his mark on this team or perhaps he has?

Razor Shines was a great 3rd base coach. I know they said he didn't have baserunning teaching skills which is what got Cox the job. He apparently is lacking in that area as well.