Ozzie Guillen’s emotions are similar to those of Hall of Famer Earl Weaver, but the White Sox manager doesn’t like to wait for the three-run homer despite the Sox’s past reliance on power.
So when Guillen promised last week that fans might see some “crazy things” this spring, he at least will have the comfort of experimenting with plenty of options.
“I think this lineup is probably the deepest we’ve had,” said Greg Walker, who has been the Sox’s hitting coach since the middle of the 2003 season with the likes of sluggers Frank Thomas, Carlos Lee, Magglio Ordonez and Paul Konerko.
“We’ve had more power in the past, but this is a more athletic team and a lineup that Ozzie has wanted.”
To offset the 50 home runs Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome hit last season, the Sox acquired left-handed hitter Mark Teahen and believe they upgraded at the leadoff spot with the acquisition of Juan Pierre.
They also are banking on comeback seasons from Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios, as well as steady improvement from 2009 rookie sensation Gordon Beckham and Alexei Ramirez.
“We’re well-balanced, and that’s the way it should be,” Beckham said. “You shouldn’t have to lean on one or two guys to win a game.”
The hope is Pierre and Beckham will give the Sox a solid 1-2 punch at the top of the order, a healthy Quentin can regain his 2008 form (36 home runs, .394 OBP) and a more relaxed Rios can rediscover the stroke that saw him produce 90 doubles with Toronto in 2007-08.
That would allow Guillen to keep Teahen, who has been susceptible to strikeouts, lower in the batting order with flexible A.J. Pierzynski available to hit anywhere, as he has during the last two seasons.
Against tough left-handers, the Sox can insert Omar Vizquel at the leadoff spot and Andruw Jones can spell Mark Kotsay at designated hitter.
The shift from power — especially with Thome, 39, and Dye, who turned 36 Thursday, gone — was virtually essential.
Last year, the Sox tied with the Mariners for last place in the American League with a .258 batting average. They ranked 10th in on-base percentage (.329) and hit 104 of their 184 home runs with the bases empty — which loomed large with an 8-59 mark in games in which they scored three runs or fewer.
They also batted .265 with runners in scoring position — four points below the league average.
Konerko, the lone power hitter left with tenure, could have more run-producing opportunities from cleanup if the top of the order produces and Rios forces opponents to pitch to Konerko.
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mgonzales@tribune.com
