Manager Gene Lamont said he had a good reason for choosing Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Indians to field the closest thing yet this spring to his regular-season lineup.
The reason was Mike Bielecki.
Bielecki, a nine-year veteran of the National League, was moved back to Sunday as the starting pitcher against the Sox after Cleveland’s game Saturday was canceled because of high winds.
“The reason we played so many of our regular guys was because I wanted them to see Bielecki,” said Lamont. “You can get scouting reports, but it isn’t the same as facing the guy.”
Seven of the nine players who probably will be in the Sox’ Opening Day lineup were on the field against Bielecki, and they must have liked what they saw. The Sox got four runs on eight hits and two walks in just 3 2/3 innings before Bielecki was lifted.
The Sox went on to win 5-1 and Bielecki, a former Cub, was charged with his first loss of the spring. Kirk McCaskill (1-0) pitched four innings and gave up just one run on three hits to get the win. He is 1-0 and the Sox, winners of two in a row, are 5-6.
Bielecki started his career with the Pirates before spending 3 1/2 seasons with the Cubs. He missed most of last season with Atlanta because of arm surgery.
Pigfest: The White Sox’ investors were in Florida during the weekend and were treated Sunday to a barbecue of six wild pigs-all hunted by players and field staff using bows and arrows. Bo Jackson killed two. Bobby Thigpen and Burks got one.
Hot Oz: The long layoff because of knee surgery hasn’t hurt shortstop Ozzie Guillen’s hitting. He was 2 for 3 with two RBI Sunday against the Indians. Guillen is batting .444 (8 for 18) in six games this spring.
Hot, too: Backup catcher Matt Merullo and left-fielder Tim Raines also had two hits apiece against the Indians. Merullo was 2 for 3 to raise his spring average to .385. Raines was 2 for 2 with a walk against the Indians, and is batting .352. Center-fielder Lance Johnson was 1 for 3 and is batting .563. Johnson has hit safely in all five games he has played this spring.
The Sox lead the American League this spring with a team batting average of .346.
Keeping on: Outfielder Brad Komminsk, invited to camp as a non-roster player, doubled in his only at-bat against the Indians. The 31-year-old journeyman is 9 for 15 (.600) this spring with seven hits in his last 10 at-bats. Among those seven hits are three doubles and one triple.
Job saver: Veteran reliever Barry Jones had a much-needed strong outing against the Indians, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out two. He had given up three runs and eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings of previous work this spring. “I had two mediocre outings at best, and I knew now I needed to start getting people out,” said Jones.
Coming back: Umpire John Hirschbeck, whose young son died a week ago after a yearlong fight with a rare disease, is scheduled to return to work Friday. “He really wants to get some sense of normalcy back in his life,” said friend and fellow umpire, Larry Young of Roscoe, Ill.
Green Sox: The Sox will wear green jerseys, caps and stirrups when they play the Toronto Blue Jays in a WGN-televised game on Wednesday, St. Patrick’s Day. Twenty jersey and cap sets will be auctioned immediately after the game to benefit Chicago White Sox Charities and a Sarasota charity. Another 20 autographed caps and jerseys will be sold to the highest bidders who send in their offers by mail to the Sox. Bids should be sent to “Good Guys Wear Green,” Comiskey Park, 333 W. 35th St. Chicago, Ill., 60616. They must be postmarked by March 22, 1993. Winners will be notified by telephone.