--General manager Ken Williams has heard the rumors that the White Sox might be interested in OF Juan Pierre, but the likelihood of that being reality is very thin. Williams believes that there are still enough candidates in camp that reaching for a heavy contract like the one Pierre has with the Dodgers is not a necessity. Even with Pierre reportedly willing to restructure his current deal, it's not a fit that Williams seems ready to explore with a lot of time still left in camp. Williams did admit they are looking for a leadoff guy, but one more for the future than right now. "Our scouts are out right now looking for future-type leadoff guys -- I'm going to go out to see a couple of opportunities as well -- that are coming out of the draft," he said.
--DH Jim Thome was a late scratch on March 11 as his annual back problems once again surfaced. Manager Ozzie Guillen felt it wasn't very serious, but expect the White Sox to handle Thome with kid gloves, as they often do when his back problems surface. They will also likely have him back off the numerous extra flips he takes in the spring, making sure he will be ready for Opening Day. --INF Gordon Beckham continued to be the talk of camp, both with his bat and glove, but the chances of him making the team still seem minimal because he has played only 14 minor league games after being a first-round pick in the June draft. Manager Ozzie Guillen, however, continued saying all the right things about Beckham. "No matter where this kid plays, he's got to play every day," Guillen said. "If he continues to play like that ... a lot of people say he's going to make it tougher on me. No, because we'll take the guy that is going to help us. I don't care if you played Little League last year. If we think you can help, you can help this big-league club to win, that's the one we're going to take."
--2B Jayson Nix returned to the lineup on March 13 after missing a week because of a sore right quad. That was great news, not only for Nix but for the White Sox, who are trying to figure out who will emerge from the logjam that has been the second base competition. Nix was leading before the injury, but Chris Getz and Gordon Beckham are in the picture.
--LHP Mark Buehrle rejoined the team on March 9 and made his second start of the spring two days later, looking as if he hadn't missed a beat by throwing three shutout innings. The southpaw was gone for a week for the birth of his second child. "Get these innings in and get my arm built up is what I'm focusing on now," Buehrle said. While he said he hasn't officially been told he would be the Opening Day starter just yet, the schedule he is on has him lined up to face Kansas City on April 6.
BY THE NUMBERS: 8 -- Stolen bases for the White Sox through the first 15 games this spring. Meanwhile, opposing teams had 16 stolen bases in that span. So much for being quicker this season and stopping the other team from running.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I did have the video camera over the curtain and she was watching the whole thing. I peeked a few times. They told me I could go down and watch it, but I said they would need an extra bed in here if I'm watching it. It's a guaranteed pass-out." -- White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle on watching the birth of his daughter.
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