White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was very eager Thursday to start spring training, even with the likelihood of not having Jim Thome as the designated hitter in what aims to be a more versatile lineup.
”Nobody is a bigger Jim Thome fan than me,” Guillen said at U.S. Cellular Field.
”But in the meantime, (Thome’s departure) gives this ballclub an opportunity to give more people more at-bats and to be flexible in different ways.”
Guillen said Mark Kotsay, Andruw Jones, Paul Konerko, Omar Vizquel and Carlos Quentin can serve as the DH.
”To me, it’s easier and we get more production with the team we have now that way.”
Guillen pointed that only a few teams, such as Boston (David Ortiz) and Cleveland (Travis Hafner) have full-time DHs. That’s one possible reason why Thome remains available as a free agent.
”Fans, they’re not going to be happy about something,” Guillen said.”Or a question mark as to why we don’t have a big left-handed hitter. We did for a couple years. The ballclub we had in the past didn’t create that many runs.
‘(Obviously) we’re going to play different. We’re not going to wait for guys who can hit 30 home runs. I hope not. I hope they don’t come to the mentality that we need pop.”
Guillen promised the Sox would employ a style that realizes less on home runs and is willing to sacrifice the power in late-inning situations.
”How good are we going to be? I’ll take my chance,” said Guillen, alluding to the lack of questions surrounding open jobs in spring training. ”It was fun for me, because I kept you guys busy.”
Guillen compared this off-season to the one that preceded the World Series title season in 2005 with so many moves.
”I’m not going to say we’re going to win, but it worked,” Guillen said. ”I think the direction we’re going is the right one.”
Guillen welcomed the switch of Gordon Beckham from third base to second and looks for more leadership from shortstop Alexei Ramirez and Beckham.
Guillen also got positive feedback from Alex Rios, who will benefit from a full spring training with his new team after struggling during the final two months.
”From the first day in spring training, we have to create how we’re going to play during the season,” Guillen said. ”I’m not going to wait until the last week of spring training. No, you’re going to see in the first day bunting and hit-and-run.
‘You’re going to see stuipd things from the manager, crazy things from the manager. You’re going to wonder what Ozzie is doing, but we’re going to see what we can work with.”
Guillen also issued a warning for his players to remain in shape.
”I think A.T. (conditioning coordinator Allen Thomas) is going to have a lot of problems because everyone has to stay on the top of conditioning,” Guillen said. ”He’s got to have a whip. Maybe it’s my fault. We let a lot of things happen and we look back and someone is out of shape.”
Guillen wasn’t pointing fingers directly at closer Bobby Jenks, who expressed his objection to Guillen saying last October that Jenks needed to report in better condition.
”I was surprised what happened,” Guillen said, referring to Jenks’ reply to comments made by general manager Ken Williams and Guillen about his health.
”We want the best from him. If Bobby is in the best shape he can be, he can help us.”
Guillen said he talked in stern tones to rookie Miguel Cabrera in 2003 when they were in Florida about the need to lose weight.
”I got in his face,” Guillen said. ”I said, ‘bro, if you want to be a better baseball player, you got to lose all that weight.’ Sometimes the truth hurts.”
Guillen reiterated that Jenks remains the Sox’s closer ”until he can’t be my closer.”
Read the original article from Tribune News Services.