Juan

Uribe

Uribe will likely be Chicago’s starting shortstop while Rowand will play center or right depending on the White Sox’s needs.

What kind of role Uribe comes back to depends on the performance of Ron Belliard and Chris Stynes over the first two months.

Uribe, who would have played second base next year if not for the Giants’ move to offer Vizquel a third year, is a better bet than the former Indian anyway. The problem is that the White Sox may now be penciling in Willie Harris at second base. Fortunately, there are enough free agent second basemen on the market to make Harris’s return to a reserve role likely.

At least one of the changes will be the insertion of Juan Uribe into the lineup, but Guillen would not commit to any others. After the game Guillen stated, “If our hitters don’t start changing, there will be some changes because I have to do the best I can to make the White Sox winners.” Guillen is frustrated by the Sox’s hitters swinging at bad pitches, which is somewhat ironic considering Guillen’s prowess as a hitter during his career. We will see what he has in store.

''He will be in the lineup more than people think,’' manager Ozzie Guillen said. ''I’ll try to keep his hot streak going and not cool it down. I don’t want to sit him for three or four days.’' Actually, that’s less than we think Uribe should be in the lineup. It doesn’t sound like Guillen is all that keen on the theory that Willie Harris has lost his job to Uribe.

Uribe, who had started in 36 consecutive games, has not hit well the past 10 days (4-for-31), and probably needed the rest.

''If you noticed, he’s starting to take more pitches and seeing the ball better,’' hitting coach Greg Walker said. ''That’s what we talk about, and that’s what Walt is famous for—simplifying it and seeing the ball better.’'

The controversy over whether or not Uribe is in the doghouse seems bizarre given that Uribe still isn’t ready to play. Once he says he’s ready, then we’ll know whether manager Ozzie Guillen will use him.

“You will have games like that, but he is better than what he has shown me the last couple of days,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. Alex Cintron took over at shortstop tonight.

Uribe has been out of the lineup for four straight games already and manager Ozzie Guillen indicated that putting him on the disabled list is being considered.