Looking Out For Number One

By George Ofman

The World Series is over, another one minus our local heroes. It's been four years since the Sox won it all. It's been . . . it's not worth mentioning. You know where this was headed. Now comes the resurrection period, the one in which both the North and South Sides reconnoiter their teams.

And they need reconnoitering.

And the top of the order remains an issue.

Will the White Sox continue to employ Scott Podsednik?

Will the Cubs go back to a healthy Alfonso Soriano and take yet another step backwards?

Wasn't the leadoff problem the same one haunting both teams last year?

Weren't both teams after the fleet-footed Brian Roberts?

So what happened?

Guess Roberts likes losing in Baltimore.

So what happens now?

Aren't both teams interested in free agent Chone Figgins?

Scratch this idea; he'll likely be too expensive.

Johnny Damon? He could work for the Sox. He had quite a year and turns 36 on Thursday. He can still hit and get on base but he's a left fielder now. He's a free agent who won't command $13 million which is what he's earning now. But the Sox would have to dump Podsednik and move Carlos Quentin to right. It could work. Remember, leadoff men are more important in the National League than the American because of the DH.

Of course, both teams could simply stay in house. But would it work?

Kosuke Fukudome had an OBP of .404 in 35 games as the leadoff man for the Cubs. Fukudome's problem is he's not a base-stealing threat, which isn't necessarily a big problem. He scored 21 runs in 130 at-bats, which was quite good when you consider the Cubs didn't score a whole lot of runs last season. If he played 162 games, that would work out to 97 runs scored. He's not a middle of the lineup guy so the top spot might work.

Ryan Theriot had a .354 OBP in his 42 games in the top spot, which is where he stole six of his 21 bases from. He also scored 22 runs. Theriot's problem is his strikeouts were up and his walks down. Still, if he's rested properly, he's an option, especially if the Cubs find another shortstop and move him to second base.

After that, it's either a trade or the free agent market and the latter won't happen.

The White Sox situation is a bit more complicated. Podsednik came off his second career year and how many more does he have at age 34, which he'll turn next March? He was picked off the scrap heap in May after Colorado let him go. He wound up hitting .303 in the top spot with a .355 OBP. He also scored 73 runs, drove in 48 and stole 30 bases. It was his best season since 2003 in Milwaukee.

But Podsednik is a poor base runner with limited defensive capabilities. And he's a free agent. Do the Sox re-sign him or do they go after Damon or, do they take a closer look at Chris Getz? The young second baseman had only 76 plate appearances at the top of the order and he was okay with a .341 OBP. But, for the season, Getz stole 25 bases in 27 chances. The problem here is Getz might not be the everyday player the Sox want him to be. Still, he could be in the mix.

Waiting for a leadoff man to emerge, especially with so many players expected to be non-tendered, might be dangerous for both teams. And they have other, more pressing needs.

But it does start at the top, so don't think the Cubs and Sox won't be thinking number one as they try to be number one next season.

-

George Ofman, an original member of The Score and a veteran of NPR, has covered more than 3,500 sporting events over the course of his career. Comments welcome.