it's full speed ahead for the torpedo boat:
Juan Uribe looks to be the front-runner at the position, but the White Sox continue to be intrigued by the athletic possibilities produced by Alexei Ramirez. Pablo Ozuna has been tabbed as the team's utility infielder, and as for Danny Richar his late arrival to camp due to visa problems getting out of the Dominican Republic, coupled with back problems limiting him to four Cactus League contests, just might leave Richar as Triple-A Charlotte's second baseman to begin the 2008 season.
"Going to be tough for him," Guillen said of Richar, who finished 1-for-4 against Milwaukee on Monday. "Now I've got to give at-bats for Ramirez, Ozuna and Uribe. It's going to be hard for me to give him the at-bats he deserves.
...According to Guillen's analysis, Uribe has turned in a great spring with the bat, and the White Sox manager is satisfied with Uribe's defense at second. Guillen's primary worry about Uribe is whether he can carry out this success for a full season, as he did during his first two years with the White Sox.
...Ramirez started in center field Monday, indicating he could be in mind for a utility role. Factoring in 12 pitchers, Ozuna and Toby Hall as reserve locks, Uribe at second and Jerry Owens as the starting center fielder, two roster spots exist between Brian Anderson, Ramirez and Carlos Quentin.
A major concern surrounding Ramirez was his ability to adjust defensively at second after moving over from shortstop, where he played in Cuba. But Guillen said Monday that he is seeing that necessary improvement in the field.
..."Every time we play this kid at any position, he goes out there and looks better than what we thought. He talked to me about it and said he'd like to play center field. He's a good center fielder.
- Rich Lederer: Categorizing Pitchers by Strikeout and Groundball Rates: Starters - 2007 Edition (hat-tip Baseball Musings).
- Fangraphs sorts pitchers by velocity. Fastball velocity: Javy @ 91.8, Jose @ 90.1, John @ 89.5, and Mark at 85.9 (hat-tip THT).
- New pitching metrics: tRA and ROA (hat-tip Tango).