--OF Brian Anderson has said that the writing is on the wall that he will be battling for the fourth outfielder job, at best, this spring. With the trade rumors surrounding Jermaine Dye coming to a stop, that means Carlos Quentin will remain in left, leaving center field as the only vacancy. The problem is that Jerry Owens is being penciled in as the leadoff hitter, and the outfield is the only spot he can play. The only way this would change is if Chris Getz wows the team in spring camp and wins the starting second base job in addition to showing he can handle the leadoff duties.
--LHP Matt Thornton has started his throwing program early this offseason, especially now that he has been selected to Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. While Thornton has been slow to get out of the gate the last two springs because of soreness, he wasn't concerned with pitching in the Classic because the workload is just about the same, according to Thornton. --DH Jim Thome was hoping to get into camp earlier than the other position players to get his swings in as well as to start intensifying his back-strengthening program. While he will check in when pitchers and catchers do, construction on the new facility makes it impossible to get in before Feb. 15. That was bad news for White Sox players that live in the Phoenix area and were looking forward to begin working out in the new Camelback Ranch.
--RHP Jose Contreras and his camp are telling the White Sox that the veteran is ahead of schedule in his rehab on the ruptured left Achilles tendon, and the July/August timetable could be moved up a bit if he stays on track. Contreras will be brought along slowly and could see time in the bullpen before he goes back the starting rotation, according to manager Ozzie Guillen.
--RHP Jon Garland continued to be rumored to be on the White Sox radar, but general manager Ken Williams once again reiterated that the club is "bumped up against the payroll for this year." Garland, a free agent who was traded by the White Sox to the Angels after the 2007 season, is looking for a multi-year deal, and the Sox are committed to a turnover of young arms in the starting rotation.
BY THE NUMBERS: 6-2 -- The record for pitcher Gavin Floyd over the final seven weeks of the season in 2008, offering further evidence why the Sox believe that he can be a "big-game" pitcher for them.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I was really pulling for the National League and I was thinking about kicking in a player or two to make sure he got over there." -- General manager Ken Williams on the New York Yankees signing C.C. Sabathia.
