Notes: Davis welcomes relocation

[greasywheels121]

Notes: Davis welcomes relocation

Catcher hopes trade brings fun back to the game

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

 

MINNEAPOLIS -- When Ben Davis was traded from Seattle to the White Sox on Sunday, the first question from his wife, Megan, was if he knew anyone currently playing on the South Side.

"I said that I know they are having fun, and that's basically something I'm not used to," Davis said prior to Wednesday's second game at the Metrodome. "During the last couple of years, we have run into stretches in Seattle where it was tough playing.

 

"But these guys come to the yard to have fun and they expect to win and that makes it a lot easier. I came in yesterday and those guys made me feel real welcome. It seems like a great bunch of guys."

 

Davis, a 27-year-old reserve catcher in his seventh Major League season, was the less-publicized portion of the trade that sent catcher Miguel Olivo and top prospects Jeremy Reed and Michael Morse to Seattle for Freddy Garcia. At the time of the trade, Davis was playing for Tacoma, Seattle's Triple-A franchise, after hitting .091 (3-for-33) with no home runs and two RBIs in 14 games with the Mariners.

 

It's hard to imagine the Major League free fall for the second overall pick by the Padres in 1995's First-Year Player Draft. It's even harder to understand when looking at Davis' .294 average in 153 at-bats, with five home runs and 32 RBIs, before the All-Star Game in 2003.

 

He batted only .140 in 93 at-bats with one home run and 10 RBIs during the second half. Davis' swing got a little long during that time, but he would have liked a little more playing time to work through the problems.

 

"The first half was great, but I didn't play as much after the All-Star break," Davis said. "I can't put my finger on it, and I really don't know why that happened. But I feel that the more I play, the better I play.

 

"It came down to playing time. I love to play. I was fortunate enough to be given this career, and I love playing baseball. Playing time for me over there was scarce, and that made it tough to handle."

 

Playing time also could be a problem facing Davis in Chicago. Manager Ozzie Guillen wouldn't commit to throwing Davis into the fray this weekend against the Cubs, saying that he wanted to give Davis time to get acclimated to the pitchers and the team.

 

Davis could be the odd-catcher-out if the White Sox decide to go with two, instead of three. For now, those issues aren't worrying the switch-hitting backstop. He's more interested in the chance to move from worst to first.

 

"From my standpoint, I'm very happy about it," said Davis of the trade. "It was a frustrating 2 1/2 years over there. But it's going to hopefully be a great move for me personally. Going to a first-place club is ... We all like to win, and being on a first-place club makes it that much better.

 

"They have a loose club. They play the game the right way. If they lose, they put it in the past and don't dwell on it. They get after it the next day."

 

Leading the way:  Maybe Magglio Ordonez will have to fight for his right field job once he gets healthy. While that idea is slightly exaggerated, Timo Perez has done more than an adequate job as the featured starter in right field during Ordonez's absence.

 

Perez entered Wednesday hitting .381 with nine RBIs over his last 16 games, starting 11 of those. The left- hander opened each of the first two Twins' games with a hit, and both hits eventually led to first-inning runs.

 

Guillen mentioned that Jeff Torborg, the former Expos and Marlins' manager who Guillen coached for, always was interested in acquiring Perez. But it was White Sox general manager Ken Williams who came up with the idea to add him during the spring in a trade with the Mets.

 

"Kenny said Timo Perez was available and do you guys like him?" Guillen said. "I said, 'Wow, get him as soon as you can,' but it was Kenny's idea. He's a veteran player, and he knows what he has to do.

 

"He's going to get quality at-bats and will catch the ball in the outfield. He's a good pinch-hitter and I feel comfortable with him. I feel it's a plus what he's doing right now. To go and perform the way he is, I'm real happy with him."

 

There's also no surprise for Guillen that Perez has been solid defensively, with a plus arm in right. But it's the absence of Perez's speed that had Guillen sarcastically stunned before Wednesday's game.

 

"Timo used to run a little better," said Guillen with a smile. "He's a good baserunner. The speed just isn't there."

 

Who's on first? This weekend's series against the Cubs once again illustrates Guillen's dissenting vote against Interleague Play. With Ordoñez continuing to rehab his left knee, set to miss his 34th straight game if he doesn't play in Wrigley Field, Guillen will be without two of his top hitters with the designated hitter removed.

 

There's a chance that Paul Konerko could be at first base all three games when facing the Cubs, with Thomas probably not getting a start Thursday afternoon against Minnesota prior to the series.

 

"I'm afraid to put Frank [at first] without a game, but then we're going to miss Frank for three days," Guillen said of his first-base quandary. "We'll see. We'll talk to him. We will see when we get to Chicago how we're going to do it.

 

"We'll have to figure out the lineup. He can play there. It's just up to Frank if he wants to be there or not."

 

Konerko entered Wednesday's game tied for fourth in the American League with 19 home runs and had knocked in 11 runs over the last four games. Thomas leads the American League in on-base percentage (.447) and walks (62), although he is 7-for-36 over his last 12 games.

 

Change in the schedule: The White Sox-Phillies game which was rained out on June 10 has been rescheduled for Monday, Aug. 30 at 1:05 p.m. CT. The game follows a seven-game road trip in Detroit and Cleveland and takes the place of an off day before a six-game homestand. The rescheduled contest, to be televised by WCIU-TV, gives the White Sox 27 straight days with games. The move had to be approved by both teams and the player's association, because no team supposed to play more than 20 days in a row.

 

Sunday's game at Wrigley Field against the Cubs will start at 7:05 p.m. CT. The game against the Mariners on July 11 at U.S. Cellular Field, originally listed as TBA, will begin at 2:05 p.m. CT. It's the last game before the All-Star break.

 

Down on the farm: Left-handed pitcher Arnie Munoz, right-handed pitchers Jeff Bajenaru and Matt Smith and catcher Carlos Maldonado all were selected to the Southern League All-Star team.

 

Munoz, now pitching for Triple-A Charlotte, has a 7-2 record with a 2.05 ERA in 13 starts. He struck out 68 in 74 2/3 innings. Bajenaru has 12 saves and a 1.16 ERA in 30 games, while Smith has a 1.22 ERA in 38 games. Maldonado has five home runs and 29 RBIs.

 

Mike Bell and Ryan Hankins had three hits apiece, including a home run for each, but Charlotte dropped an 8-3 decision to Scranton in 10 innings. Jose De Los Santos went 4-for-4 with two RBIs in Bristol's 13-2 victory at Elizabethon.

[YASNY]

Good. We'll finally get to see the results of the Phillies YNOT.

[SoxAce]

Jose De Los Santos went 4-for-4 with two RBIs

 

 

That's a kid I think who can be a surprise.

 

Saw this earlier and I'm glad Davis and Garcia are getting fresh starts on the southside. Davis to me can be like Barrett is right now with the cubs. Both had crappy years with their previous teams but Barrett came to a new team and is really having a good year with the cubs. Both were also considered good players with bright upsides. IMO, Davis does the same with us this year and the next.

[SuperSteve]

Great read...I am liking Davis. Timo is playing well. And, damn, 27 straight days of games.

[BridgeportHeather]

27 games without a break??? That's quite tough!!! Thankfully the Twins are gonna have a downright murderous schedule come August, which is jam-packed with games against the AL West, because we're gonna need all the extra help we can get. No matter who your opposition is, when you play that many games in a row without breaks, it can get tough...especially on the pitching! Let's hope our bullpen will be able to survive.

[Gene Honda Civic]

reschedulement --I've got to use that one in a sentance sometime this week.

[greasywheels121]

reschedulement --I've got to use that one in a sentance sometime this week.

Haha I learned it from our president!

[dasox24]

   

 

That's a kid I think who can be a surprise.

Yeah me too, and I think I read that he's only 19, so it's not even like he's some 22 year old tearing up rookie league.

[SoxAce]

Yeah me too, and I think I read that he's only 19, so it's not even like he's some 22 year old tearing up rookie league.

He is 19, and I believe he played 3b today. He's batting .519 I think right now (even though it's still early) is still outstanding. I just hope he keeps it up.