Wise is the man in Center

Those of you who read UmpBump regularly are aware of my gripe with the Center Field situation in the South Side of Chicago. For the past four years, General Manager Kenny Williams has repeatedly tried to find a talented middle outfielder with little to show for it.

This season, the Sox have opted to give the job to Dewayne Wise, a career minor leaguer, who beat out perennial prospects Jerry Owens and Brian Anderson, as well as the young Chris Getz. How did Wise win the job? By flashing intangibles like energy level and desire.

Joe Cowley of the Sun-Times reports:

According to general manager Ken Williams, finally deciding on Wise had to do with desire. Considering the way the 31-year-old Wise has fought to stay in the game, it was a no-brainer at the end of the day.

“For a few years, we told Jerry what we expected in terms of the energy level and the attitude for the leadoff position,” Williams said. “When you’re at the top of the lineup in the order, you got to have some fight. I’m not saying Jerry doesn’t have it, but it’s not up to where we want it to be, obviously.

What’s most disappointing is the end of Owens’ career as a South Sider. I will include myself amongst those that thought he’d be able to turn the corner and become the leadoff/center fielder Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen have longed for. Alas, his being waived is a sad culmination to a tenure that never really purported greatness, but sure set expectations high for the Sox.

But “energy level”?! I’m as guilty as anyone for believing in the intangibles. Yes, desire is awesome! And energy level rocks! But you know what might be great? A center fielder with, oh, I don’t know, an ability to get on base! In over 900 minor league games Wise has an OBP of .310. That’s freakin’ terrible!

As it stands, the White Sox starting outfield has Nick Swisher penciled in left, Jermaine Dye in right, and rookie Jerry Owens in center field. Two of those slots are locks, while one is the variable that has given Sox management headaches the past three offseasons.

Brian Anderson (above left) used to be the next center fielder for the ChiSox, but he lost the job after a full season of offensive inconsistencies in 2006. While GM Kenny Williams tried to fill the CF void with a veteran presence last year, and after being snubbed by the free agent market this year, Owens has been the leading candidate to take the starting center field job in 2008 mainly due to his qualities as a lead-off hitter. Plus he’s put on 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, and his attitude has reassured the Sox about having him patrol center.

But a slight tweak in his groin, as well as newcomer Carlos Quentin’s persistent soreness in his surgically repaired shoulder, has given Anderson a second chance at regaining what was once his.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Anderson has been on a tear:

Not only is Anderson batting .381 in the Cactus League, he leads the Sox in home runs (3) and on-base percentage (.480), and he also has played the best defense of any outfielder.

Based solely on performance, Anderson deserves a spot on the White Sox’ 25-man roster, maybe even as a starter.

Too bad this resurgence comes two years too late. Both manager Ozzie Guillen and Williams expect Owens to be the starting Center Fielder, but Anderson is making them think real hard about their expectations.

“The first spring we gave the job to him and he didn’t take advantage of it,” Guillen said in recounting the past. “I think this year he’s making big, big strides. He’s making a lot of people open their eyes.

“That’s what we expected from him the last three years.”

[...]

“Anyone can have a good week,” said White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker of Anderson. “We need someone to have a good year.

“During the past week, this is the best I’ve seen BA. But he has to maintain it. We are looking for consistency.”

UmpBump readers know that center field has been a weak spot for the Sox; more so due to the negative impact on the lineup while Williams has tried to find a suitable candidate. So it’s an intriguing dilemma that Anderson, a player highly touted for his defense, but that fell short with his bat when given the role, is making a push with his offensive numbers to get the job one more time.

It’d be interesting to see if Anderson makes the 25-man roster as a backup to Owens, or as a starter. The thing is, Owens fits with what Guillen wants to do this season and it would take more than Owens’ groin to make Ozzie change his mind about center field.

And yet, with a little less than two weeks before the regular season, it’s all in Anderson’s hands to make that happen. So far, he’s on pace to give the Sox a tough time finalizing the outfield.