If Carlos Quentin is healthy and ready to go, it seems like putting Swisher in center is the way to go. While the defense would be less than stellar, Swisher and Quentin (another patience-power guy) would make an already dynamic White Sox lineup that much better. Unfortunately, Quentin has been slowed by a shoulder injury in spring training, so he may not even start the season on the opening day roster.
Without Quentin, Swisher moves to left field, and the Sox will trot out one of three young, more natural defenders in center.
If it was up to the Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley, the job would probably go to Jerry Owens.
If speed kills, Owens is a serial killer. He is a true leadoff hitter, with Kenny Lofton-like potential. Besides adding 10 pounds of muscle during the offseason, his confidence is sky-high. A tweaked groin has slowed him down a bit, but he should be fine.
As the fine gentlemen at South Side Sox point out, the Lofton comparison is quite absurd. But I’m not sure a constant ripping of Owens is fair. Look, we get Owens has no power, as his .700 OPS will show. But if Owens wins the centerfield job, he’ll surely be batting leadoff, and he’s not all that terrible at doing what leadoff hitters need to do: get on-base. If he gets on at the .361 clip he did in AAA last season, then the Sox should be alright. Of course, Owens posted that number in the minors as a 26-year old, so maybe it’s hard to see how much improvement he can gain in the majors.
For his part, Owens is talking like he could get the job, but he’s facing surprisingly stiff competition from Brian Anderson and Cuban newcomer Alexei Ramirez.
Cowley points out that Anderson is bashing at an all-time high this spring, and it’s worth nothing that BA always been a TUP favorite. But remember people, Brian Anderson always does well in spring. We’ll see if it translates to the games that count, or if Ozzie will even give it the opportunity to.
Ramirez is the dark horse for the job and is quickly becoming the golden boy for the coaches. While his long term future may be at second base, Ramirez played centerfield for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic, and he impressed there in his first start earlier today.
"Every time we play this kid at any position, he goes out there and looks better than what we thought," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He talked to me about it and said he'd like to play center field. He's a good center fielder. Before spring training is over, you will see him a couple more times to see how he feels."
To me, it would seem like the ideal situation is still an outfield of Quentin-Swisher-Dye. Swisher won’t be Rob Mackowiak Bad back there, and that outfield should be productive and is fairly young. If Quentin can’t go, I wouldn’t be opposed to giving Owens a chance. Owens hitting leadoff pushes Swisher back from the two-hole to hitting sixth or seventh. Ramirez should probably start in the minors, though, as Ken Rosenthal points out, the Sox would be uniquely equipped to handle him on the major league roster (even in a utility role) because of Contreras and Ozzie. As for Anderson, well, as soon as his first 0-4 game comes, Ozzie is just going to put Pablo in there anyways, so, really, what’s the point?
Note 1: Because the bubonic plague is sweeping through Bartlett at the moment, the p-cast is pushed back another week or two…
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Comments
I agree Swisher was a great pick up as he adds a little more personality to a somewhat bland clubhouse (why should A.J. and Ozzie get all the quotes.) He also can play multiple positions (all three outfield and first.)
The question is can he get to everything in center? He's not slow but he's not exactly Torii Hunter, either. I suppose he's like Aaron Rowand with ankle weights.
Owens, if he can get on base is probably the best option at this point even though he throws like my Aunt Shirley.
"Unfortunately, Quentin has been slowed by a shoulder injury in spring training, so he may not even start the season on the opening day roster."
That's his entire career right there. I've always liked Anderson too. He's the best defender they have for CF and he gets on-base. If he could get his head right and just hit a bit, he is the perfect CF for the Sox.
I'm totally unsold on Jerry Owens. Especially considering there will be more pressure on him this year than last year, when they had no playoff aspirations.
Good post!
Ricky, question for you.......as much as I really dislike the man and everything he has done, why don't the Sox look at taking Barry Bonds. As much bad press as he gets, he is still arguably one of the best hitters in the game.
I'd be all for it if they didn't have Thome. Bonds is terrible in the field (i would say about 10x worse than Podsednik ever was), so you don't him having to chase down fly balls. But yeah, he's awesome, if the Sox didn't have an established DH already i'd be cool with it.
Ricky, I love how you were swept up by Moneyball and all, but if I am not mistaken, bunting guys over and the hit and run have won ozzie more championships than beane's style of "play for the longball." So before you bash ozzie's way of playing, notice that the Sox have more wins over the last three years than Oakland, and they play in the most difficult division in baseball.
Barnes I'm sick, I can't put up with your shit right now.
I think Swisher was a great deal for the Sox. As you pointed out, his plate presence is good and I've always like the way he can turn on a pitch. Not to mention that he's a fans player and will fit in nicely with the rest of the roster. For Sox fans, I hope that Owens isn't another Corey Patterson. I think the biggest asset is going to be Quentin. Don't know a whole heck a lot about the guy, but I remember he was one of AZ's hottest prospects (with Chris Young) on that program "The Show" on HDNet (2005?). The Sox may have given up Chris Young, but may reap the long-term benefits from Quentin. It still hurts to see Steve Stone with the White Sox..