--OF Jerry Owens was hoping for better stats than he's put up so far in Cactus League play, but more important than numbers, the speedy outfielder has a clear mind knowing that his groin and hamstring problems have been non-existent in camp. "I'm feeling healthy, so I'm excited about that," Owens said. "Made it through a few games so far and things are going good. Now that I'm feeling my body is good, it's just about playing baseball." Owens won the starting leadoff job for the White Sox last spring before a groin problem sidelined him and forced the team to take Carlos Quentin. All Quentin did was become an MVP candidate while Owens spent most of the year in the minors. That's why he has spent every day in this camp focusing on preventing a repeat of what happened. "I'm more aware of my body," Owens said. "I'm in the cold tub every single day after games and just giving myself the best chance I can to make sure I can perform on the field every day. If something was to happen this spring, I can at least say there was nothing else I could have done."
--3B Dayan Viciedo will not get a look in the outfield this spring, at least not yet. According to manager Ozzie Guillen, they want the 19-year-old rookie working at third base, and for a reason. "He is gong to have better progress, and I like the competition," Guillen said. "I want (Josh) Fields to look over his shoulder and say, 'Wow, I got a couple of people behind me.' I like that. That push will make you a better player." --RHP Octavio Dotel had three bad outings in his first four spring appearances as he continued working on adding a changeup to his repertoire. Manager Ozzie Guillen, however, is showing some patience with the veteran reliever. "I'm not worried about Dotel right now," Guillen said. "Four more outings, if he's still struggling, then I'll be concerned."
--SS Alexei Ramirez might start changing his manager's mind. Guillen has insisted on several occasions that the second-year infielder was unlikely to be a top-of-the-order guy because they didn't want to put too much on his plate. However, hitting in the No. 2 hole on March 5, Ramirez was 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
--INF Gordon Beckham got his first spring start at second base on March 6, but that didn't mean a new name could be added to the logjam that is already at second base. Manager Ozzie Guillen squashed that quickly. "Maybe you will see him play a couple of innings here and there at second base and third base, but that's because we are trying to get him some at-bats," Guillen explained. "But this kid is too young, too good to all of a sudden have him all over the place. This kid has too much talent to be a utility player. He's too good for that -- right now." The highly touted first-round pick (eighth overall) from last June's draft hit his second home run of spring training in a March 5 loss, and afterward Joey Cora said the club had been impressed so far. "He's been impressive," Cora said. "The kid is not afraid. He's playing good defense and swinging the bat like he belongs. He is opening eyes, that's for sure."
BY THE NUMBERS: 8 -- The number of scoreless innings thrown my White Sox starters against the cross-town rival Cubs in three Cactus League games so far this spring.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The batter's eye -- it's miniature-type -- I don't know if that was the one they were supposed to send to Williamsport (where they play the Little League World Series) or what, guys were commenting on that." -- White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko on the tiny batter's eye at the new Camelback Ranch stadium.
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