Chicago Tribune: White Sox not left empty-handed

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White Sox not left empty-handed

They're stuck with slumping sluggers, but Sox still can find ways to light fire under offense

Moves to pull the White Sox out of a season-long hitting malaise?

 

Paul Konerko has a full no-trade clause, Jim Thome also has no-trade rights and manager Ozzie Guillen is signed through 2012.

 

And while a high-level difference of opinion as to the capabilities of this year's Sox surfaced after Sunday's third straight loss to Tampa Bay, general manager Ken Williams pleads for patience while stressing the faith he has in the team he retooled last winter after a 90-loss season.

Williams has repeatedly stated there are no better players available than the veteran hitters the Sox currently possess. And Williams, unlike a fed-up Guillen, envisions an offensive turnaround as long as the Sox's leadership remains upbeat and the veterans stay calm in the wake of a two-month malaise.

 

After all, the Sox (30-26) remain in first place in the American League Central despite a tumultuous seven-game trip that saw shortstop Orlando Cabrera and Guillen have a public disagreement before mending their relationship. Then the offense stagnated after a brief renaissance.

 

Nevertheless, after making wholesale lineup changes 21/2 weeks ago, Guillen is faced with making more changes to an offense that has too often failed through the first two months.

 

Here are some possibilities:

 

Move Alexei Ramirez up in the order

Ramirez is a quick learner and the fastest of the Sox's position players. He has displayed great instincts, such as delivering an opposite-field single in a 12-inning win May 26 at Cleveland and bunting for a single with two outs in the eighth inning of Sunday's loss.

 

Batting leadoff might be asking too much because he swings wildly at times. But he's good enough to consider putting in the second spot, at least against tough left-handers.

 

Give Brian Anderson more at-bats

That might mean sitting Nick Swisher, but Swisher is in a 2-for-14 funk and hitting .201 two months into the season. Swisher admittedly has put too much pressure on himself, especially after an impressive start in the leadoff spot.

 

Anderson is the Sox's best defensive outfielder, so there would be an upgrade. As with Ramirez, he adds speed to a pedestrian lineup.

 

Anderson appears comfortable in his part-time role but might flourish with more at-bats. He made the most of a start Sunday, ripping a double and scoring the Sox's third and final run.

 

Rest Jim Thome and Paul Konerko

Thome gave the Sox a spark Sunday by hustling out a leadoff double in the tenth. He continues to work as hard as any of the Sox's struggling starters. A lineup featuring Anderson in center and Swisher at first with Konerko as the designated hitter gives the Sox more speed.

 

Sitting for a while could give Konerko time to rest his sore right thumb. He has only 12 extra-base hits—the same number as leadoff man Orlando Cabrera.

 

Ramifications

Juan Uribe's time will be cut with Ramirez keeping the second base job as long as he continues to hit. This could be a challenge for Uribe and the Sox's staff to keep Uribe sharp; he has been a full-time player since 2005 and is not known for his patience at the plate.

 

Pablo Ozuna's status is also murky, as Ozuna has only 44 at-bats—one more than backup catcher Toby Hall. The Sox put Triple-A Charlotte infield prospect Chris Getz in the outfield last week to expand his versatility.

 

This is Williams' team, but it's Guillen's lineup. So some form of change appears imminent.

[TCQ]

I liked a lot of this but had a suggestion. When resting Thome and Konerko why not let toby hall get a few starts at DH, at least against lefties. He has been hitting the ball in limited chances and i know he wont bat well over three hundred for the year but let the hot bat play and give the anemic konerko and thome a break.

[Vance Law]

I liked a lot of this but had a suggestion. When resting Thome and Konerko why not let toby hall get a few starts at DH, at least against lefties. He has been hitting the ball in limited chances and i know he wont bat well over three hundred for the year but let the hot bat play and give the anemic konerko and thome a break.

 

I think you don't want your only 2 catchers in the game w/ one of them at dh. If AJ gets injured or ejected, we don't have a catcher.