Monday, March 23, 2009
Timing right for Getz to be White Sox's 2B
The Chicago White Sox have a shiny new second baseman:
Chris Getz spent several minutes signing autographs following Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Then White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen called in the apprehensive second baseman for a chat.
"Maybe I wasn't supposed to do that after a 13-2 loss," Getz said. "Obviously there was some better news. They told me I was going to be the second baseman and to get ready."
Getz went 2-for-4, raising his average to .350. He beat out Jayson Nix, Brent Lillibridge and Gordon Beckham -- the No. 8 overall pick in last June's amateur draft.
"He's worked hard enough," Guillen said of Getz. "He's showed people he can play this game. It's up to him how long he's going to be our second baseman. He's got everything working for him now."
Beckham likely will be sent to the minor leagues -- Guillen wants him to play every day.
Well, yes: Beckham certainly should be playing every day. And not in the majors. Beckham hasn't yet played in a single game above low Class A; I believe the last player who jumped from low-A to an everyday job in the majors was Albert Pujols, and the odds against Gordon Beckham's being the next Albert Pujols are exceptionally high.
According to Baseball America, Getz "projects as more of a utilityman than a regular." John Sickels writes, "I think he can be a good role player but he won't be a star."
Getz's "problem"? He's 25 and has never been a dominant player in the minors. As you know, most good major league players were outstanding minor leaguers and reached the majors relatively quickly (though, in fairness, Getz played at Michigan and was drafted just four years ago).
Beckham is obviously the White Sox's second baseman of the future -- perhaps this summer, but more likely at some point in 2010. Getz will probably not rank among the better second basemen in the league this season, but he's good enough to play and he's better than Nix and Lillibridge. He and the White Sox are just lucky that he happened to have a solid three weeks this spring. Otherwise management might have picked the wrong guy.
