Chicago White Sox: Ozzie Guillen Unable to Light a Fire Under Alex Rios

Two weeks ago, news of the Chicago White Sox calling up one of their young outfielders would have prompted talk of the Dayan Viciedo era.

Instead, the arrival of Alejandro De Aza and his insertion in center for Alex Rios seemed an indication that manager Ozzie Guillen was ready to show Rios the bench.

A few days later, I'm scratching my head. Is Rios going to stay in the lineup? If so, what's De Aza doing here?

De Aza certainly had the credentials for a call-up, posting a .322 average, nine home runs and 22 stolen bases down in Triple-A Charlotte.  He had a spectacular 2011 debut, homering in his first at-bat and providing the margin of victory in Chicago's 2-1 win over Detroit July 27th.

He's gone hitless in his nine at-bats since then. After starting two games for Rios, both White Sox wins, Guillen reverted to the veteran. This was supposedly due to the bevy of left-handed starters opposing the club this weekend.

Did his time on the pine result in an offensive surge on the part of Rios? He's hit .143 since returning to the lineup. If Guillen was trying to light a fire under Rios by going with De Aza, it has yet to ignite.

De Aza was in right in Tuesday's rained-shortened loss to New York, going 0-for-2 to put his average at .100. Rios was also 0-for-2, playing center despite right-hander Phil Hughes on the mound for the Yankees.

It remains unclear if Guillen is going to use De Aza as a defensive replacement and occasional starter or as the team's primary centerfielder. It seemed like the latter at first, but now I'm not sure.

On one hand, De Aza hasn't hit much in his six games with the club. Of course, he may benefit from the same kind of patience shown to Rios, who has been given over a hundred games to post his anemic stats this season.

Rios is hitting .206, which stinks even without the $12 million price tag.  The team's regular cleanup hitter is struggling to hit .160 at this point of the season.  Paul Konerko is still out of the lineup with a bone bruise.

The White Sox need some offense. Being 5.5 games out of first, they need it right now.

Viciedo, who has been nursing a sore thumb, will eventually be called up. When this happens, the question is simple.  Will Guillen sit his high-priced disappointments down the stretch in favor of unproven potential in the form of De Aza and Viciedo?

The answer may lay in who patrols centerfield as we get further into August..