Ozzie Guillen is
keeping Nick Swisher in the leadoff spot, which is a big sign in his growth as a manager. He did remember what he said earlier during spring training, because he basically said it again:
"You have a leadoff hitter who can run, that's a plus," Guillen said. "But to be a leadoff hitter, you've got to get on base. You can't steal first.
"I'd rather be a guy who gets on base. [Swisher is] hitting [.261] and all of a sudden he gets on base six times in a row by walks, and we need people on base when you have [ Orlando] Cabrera and [ Jim] Thome behind you. You get on base, you're going to score a lot of runs."
This has further repercussions, because it lessens Jerry Owens' importance in the lineup. Hopefully Swisher can keep playing a major-league-adequate center field, which will keep Carlos Quentin in left. Right now, the at-bats those two are taking are leading to further good at-bats down the line.
If you need proof, look at Jim Thome's walk against Matt Guerrier in the seventh inning of
Monday's game. Guerrier had walked only two Sox in his previous 39+ innings against them -- Thome's made it three, and five batters later, Joe Crede had his fifth career grand slam.
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Minor league round-up:- Toledo 11, Charlotte 4
- Josh Fields went 1-for-4 with a walk, strikeout and RBI.
- DeWayne Wise had a pair of doubles, while Brad Eldred drove in two.
- Rob Bell was shelled for seven runs in four innings
- Adam Russell was the only Knights pitched unscored upon, striking out two in a perfect inning.
- Birmingham 2, Tennessee 1
- Brian Omogrosso pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out six.
- Jon Link closed it out with a perfect ninth, striking out two.
- Victor Mercedes had half the Barons' hits and the only RBI, as Birmingham benefited from three errors.
- Asheville 4, Kannapolis 1
- Johnnie Lowe pitched five decent innings (three hits, two runs), but didn't receive much support.
- Following a dynamite debut, Hector Santiago struggled, giving up three hits and walking three over an inning of work.
- Logan Johnson and Jim Gallagher had two hits apiece; Jose Martinez drew three walks.