Chicago White Sox: 6 Potential Candidates for No. 2 Hitter

The Chicago White Sox have most of their usual suspects returning to the everyday lineup in 2012. Manager Robin Ventura is charged with the task of putting together a regular batting order on his lineup card. One area in which Ventura is considering a change is the second spot in the order.

Ventura is making a case for catcher A.J. Pierzynski to inhabit that spot. Pierzynski did not bat in the second slot all season in 2011, though he did spend most of the 2008 season there.

Six different players hit second last season. Five are back with the club, including Alexei Ramirez, who batted second in 100 games.

Ventura doesn't really have a true two guy to rely on to move runners and get on base for the big bats in the lineup. The closest thing he has to that player is Alejandro De Aza, who is slated in the leadoff spot. Here is a look at the candidates available to Ventura this spring.

1. Alexei Ramirez

Ramirez was better in the second spot than in any other spot in the order last season.

He hit .294 when he followed the leadoff man, hitting nine of his 15 homers in that spot. He doesn't walk a lot or steal bases, but he has speed and enough pop in his bat to be considered for the fifth spot by Ventura.

2. Gordon Beckham

Beckham seemed like he could fill the role and was the opening day starter there in 2011. He lasted a few weeks before his .235 average sent him to the bottom third of the lineup.

The year before, he got 31 games in the two hole, and hit .186.

Beckham was a .300 hitter in his first season before Ozzie Guillen moved him into the second spot of the order for his last 56 games. He hit .248 the rest of the way, though he did have nine of his 14 homers in that position.

Beckham has consistently shown that he doesn't handle the pressure of hitting at the top of the order.

3. Brent Morel

Morel batted second in 11 games last season and was the same weak-hitting player he was for the bulk of the year. However, what if the Morel who hit eight homers in September is penciled into the spot?

Don't count on it. Morel stopped trying to move runners in his late-season surge. His power and eye both improved, but he still hit .224 for the month.

Morel isn't a good fit right now, as he's still trying to develop his bat and doesn't need the additional burden.

4. Brent Lillibridge

Lillibridge doesn't figure to get a regular spot in the lineup, but did bat second in seven games to the tune of a .267 average. He hit three home runs and drove in eight runs in those games.

If Gordon Beckham falters badly enough that Ventura gives Lillibridge the chance to play second every day, he might be worth a look at what he could do setting the table. I wouldn't consider him to be the best fit in that spot, however.

5. A. J. Pierzynski

Pierzynski doesn't walk much, lacks speed and hits into a lot of double plays. Even so, Ozzie Guillen used his catcher in the second spot four seasons ago, and it's not like Pierzynski was a speed merchant then, either.

A .287 hitter in 2011, it's not completely out of the box to use Pierzynski as a table setter. It just seems like there are at least one or two better (read: faster) options at Ventura's disposal.

6. Alex Rios

Before you poo-poo this notion, consider this:

Rios can still run and can be a patient hitter at the plate. He has batted in the second spot in the order in 88 games over the course of his career. He was very successful in that position in 40 games back in 2006.

Suppose Rios can rebound (fingers firmly crossed) with a .275, 16-homer season in 2012. If he can draw 60 to 70 walks and steal 15 to 20 bases...

This is a wild-card to be sure. Who knows if the $12.5-million man would even go for something like this.

Conclusion

All things considered, I'd say Ramirez probably should stay in the second slot in 2012. The Rios wrinkle could be an interesting experiment, and perhaps one of the other candidates could make a case for consideration.

Short of trading for a better option, Ventura is better off with Ramirez.