Dewayne Wise is officially the Chicago White Sox opening day center fielder and leadoff man. This news is bittersweet to Jerry Owens, who has yet again failed to secure a job that was all but his for the second consecutive spring.
The hope was that Owens would be able to secure and add some much needed speed to the top of the lineup, but it has faded away with Owens being placed on waivers as of Monday.
This decision still leaves the Sox with a large question mark at the top of the order. Wise is an average defender with speed and a decent arm. But what the Sox really needed to find this spring was a bat. Wise has some pop to his bat, but doesn't seem to have the contact numbers the Sox wanted out of that spot.
With the unproven Wise leading off, the Sox are still left with many questions left to answer through the first few games of the season. If Wise works out, General Manager Ken Williams continues his quest towards another World Series title. If not? Sox fans are going to be in for a long season.
Manager Ozzie Guillen wanted to have the majority of his lineup settled heading into the last week of Spring Training, until Owens is claimed off waivers, the team is settled at 27, with only the backup catcher's position still up for grabs.
Wise won the job over Owens and Brian Anderson, who will fill the role of defensive specialist and come into lineups against tough lefties.
- Login to post comments