| Well, Chicago baseball is heating up already this | | | | I guess this leadoff thing has been the topic all |
| Spring. Just a few games into the season, and | | | | offseason and through the entire spring training, |
| one of last season's two playoff-bound Chicago | | | | maybe it's because the fans wanted a veteran |
| baseball teams is having a whole lotta shake-up | | | | guy in that spot, a natural leadoff guy that's had |
| going on. | | | | success on this level in that spot." |
| Fierty White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has | | | | Still, Wise and Getz, along with third baseman Josh |
| moved mostly untested but highly promising | | | | Fields (who, though confined to the bottom of the |
| second baseman Chris Getz into the leadoff spot | | | | order for now, apparently has learned how to lay |
| just a few games into the regular 2009 season. | | | | down bunt-singles to make up for his lack of |
| Although Getz made an oh-fer (0 for 4) in his | | | | brilliant hitting), are all touted as potential big |
| leadoff man debut against the Kansas City Royals | | | | offense for a Chisox team that spent the off |
| (which the Chisox lost 2-1, stranding men on base | | | | season offing some of its older veteran players |
| in the final inning), Guillen said he liked the way | | | | to add youthful energy to those who remained. |
| Getz took all four of his plate appearances and will | | | | Hitting coach Greg Walker says of Wise, Getz, |
| leave him in the leadoff spot for the foreseeable | | | | and Fields, "We're excited about them. We feel |
| future. Not giving Guillen a good look at the plate | | | | like what they do mechanically holds up and they |
| in the previous two games was what cost center | | | | are mentally strong kids, so they should be just |
| fielder DeWayne Wise the leadoff man spot. | | | | fine." And manager Guillen, who calls himself a |
| Speaking of his decision, the | | | | "defense guy", has also voiced the opinion that |
| always-straight-forward Chisox manager said of | | | | "When you got Wise, Getz, Quentin, and then go |
| Wise's final three plate appearances the day | | | | to A.J., Fields and Ramirez, you got more ability to |
| before, "I don't like it at all. I think he was trying | | | | do more stuff. I don't have to wait for Konerko, |
| to, I don't want to say intimidated, but just | | | | Dye, Thome to get hot to score some runs." |
| wanted to protect the plate. I want to get him | | | | On the mound, fireballing closer Bobby Jenks, who |
| out of there for a couple of days until he starts | | | | has been known to hit 100mph with his heaters, |
| to swing the bat better. When he starts to swing | | | | put aside worries from some that he was losing |
| the bat better or the way we think he swings | | | | his already legendary velocity by consistently |
| the bat, I'll move him back up to see what | | | | hitting 96 and 97mph in his appearances. so far |
| happens." | | | | this season. Still, he did give up the losing run in |
| The Chicago crowd certainly seemed to be in | | | | the form of a homer to non-power-hitter Coco |
| sync with Guillen's thoughts. They booed Wise | | | | Crisp of the Royals in the 2-1 loss. According to |
| roundly the previous games before he was | | | | Jenks, Crisp hit a "cutter that didn't cut." But Jenks |
| dropped from the leadoff spot after going | | | | is still plenty young, the season is plenty young, |
| 0-for-8. Wise himself is, well, none too wise about | | | | and nobody's perfect. |
| exactly why. | | | | Chicago baseball could see a playoff repeat |
| "I can't figure it out. I was at home last night, and | | | | appearance from the 2006 World Champions this |
| I was thinking about it. I was like, 'Wow, it's not | | | | season. We'll see how the off-season wheeling |
| just me that's not hitting.' I've kind of been the | | | | and dealing ends. |
| guy that's been singled out and taken all the heat. | | | | |