With time quickly running out in the exhibition season, it looks as though the only White Sox rookie likely to make the Opening Day roster is outfielder Julio Ramirez.
While Chris Singleton is assured of a spot as the fourth outfielder, Ramirez’s performance this spring has edged him past infielder-outfielder Jeff Liefer in the competition for the final roster spot.
Ramirez went hitless in three at-bats against Arizona ace Randy Johnson in the Sox’s 5-1 victory Monday, but he tripled in his final at-bat to leave him at .342 for the spring. He has impressed the Sox brass with his hitting, speed and outfield defense, putting him in prime position with April 2 closing in.
The 23-year-old Dominican native, acquired from Florida for Jeff Abbott last winter, didn’t seem to have much of a chance at the start of spring in the crowded outfield picture.
But Liefer is hitting .259 and fighting off nagging injuries, while McKay Christensen was injured early and has received only five at-bats. Now that Harold Baines’ bat has begun to heat up, it appears Baines, Tony Graffanino and Singleton have jobs locked up. That leaves Ramirez battling Liefer for the final spot and the tale of the numbers suggests it’s his job to lose.
White Sox manager Jerry Manuel is familiar with Ramirez from Manuel’s days as third-base coach for the Marlins. Ramirez also was scouted and signed by Jesus Alou, the brother of Felipe Alou, for whom Manuel coached in Montreal.
Jose Valentin, who played well in his first game at third base Monday, will be the starting center-fielder in April. But even if Ramirez makes the team, Manuel hasn’t given up on Singleton.
“We’re going to try to play everybody as much as possible,” Manuel said. “Chris could play center, or play left late [in games] or pinch run, start in left. That could be a part of our strength. We just have to keep everybody happy.”
But how can Manuel make sure that everyone is happy?
“You couldn’t write it if I told you,” he replied.
Timing’s everything: After missing the first two weeks of Cactus League play with a sore right quadriceps, Ray Durham is hitting .364 with seven RBIs in only 22 at-bats. Durham poked a grand slam on Monday off left-hander Johnson, a dominant pitcher whom Durham has handled well in the past. He was 7-for-15 against Johnson when he pitched for Seattle.
“It was just a matter of me getting my timing back,” Durham said. “With [Johnson] going, that could’ve been the best thing that has happened to me all spring. If you don’t have your timing against him, you don’t have a chance. I think I’m back.”
Most of Durham’s power comes from the left side. The switch-hitter finished with only four home runs off left-handers last year, as opposed to 13 off right-handers.
Sox files: The first televised home game is Friday at 2 p.m. on WGN-Ch. 9, when the Sox play host to the Cubs. David Wells will start. . . . Boston minor-league pitcher Mike Rupp was acquired Monday as the player to be named in last summer’s Jesus Pena deal. Rupp, 23, was 6-4 with a 3.78 earned-run average in Class A. . . . Frank Thomas is hitting .167, but Manuel said he’s not concerned. “I would be concerned if he didn’t have the year he had last year,” he said. “But he continued to make adjustments throughout the season last year.”
