It looks like White Sox outfielder Jerry Owens is going to start the season on the DL. For Brian Anderson, it is time to step up.
At this point, you have to think this is the last kick at the can for Anderson, at least in terms of his career with the White Sox.
He's had back-to-back lost years. He had a chance to win the job in center field for the long haul in 2006. Despite showing considerable defensive prowess, he blew that opportunity by hitting .225 and piling up the strikeouts.
Last year, he spent most of the season at Charlotte and missed significant time the second half of the year with torn ligaments in his wrist.
Worst of all, Anderson has been dogged by questions about his work ethic and commitment to baseball. In addition, some of his comments in the press have not endeared him to GM Kenny Williams or manager Ozzie Guillen.
These days, Anderson says he is a changed man. He claims to have worked harder than ever over the offseason. There's no question the results have been good this spring.
Anderson has been one of the Sox better hitters in Arizona. He's posted a .344 batting average and hit four homers in 21 games. That's good.
Can it carry over into the season? I sure hope so, because with Owens nursing a pulled groin muscle, the Sox badly need Anderson to contribute both offensively and defensively this first month of the season.
Owens isn't even as good as Joey Gathright of the Royals.
Evidently, BA isn't going to get a chance. Ozzie says Nick Swisher is going to be the CF. So, who's he going to put in LF? Quentin, I suppose.
Seems like the best option right now would be Swisher in LF and BA in CF. The Sox seem to be getting in the habit of sacrificing defense for offense.