Chicago – If not matured, Juan Uribe has arrived.
Stealing from the Boston Red Sox routine, Uribe took batting practice Tuesday wearing headphones, a known star accessory. He bobbed his head to the music, mouthed words, never losing rhythm even when the game started. Uribe slugged a fourth-inning home run and finished with three RBIs in the White Sox’s 14-2 flogging of the world champions.
“I like it, I like it,” a smiling Uribe said to the battery of reporters surrounding his locker. “I had confidence in this team, that we were going to hit.”
On a club with many more high-profile players, it was Uribe who provided a pulse for a gasping White Sox offense. After an Aug. 14 meeting with former White Sox hitting coach Walt Hriniak, Uribe stopped trying to pull every pitch and became more patient. In September, he batted .304 with seven home runs.
That pop was only part of what made the Rockies trading him to Chicago so dangerous. Colorado loved his power, but grew impatient with his inconsistency in the field at a time when Clint Barmes began blossoming in the minor leagues. When Uribe gained the leverage of arbitration, leaving him in line to make about $2 million, the Rockies shipped him to Chicago before the 2004 season for second baseman Aaron Miles.
Miles led all rookies in hits in 2004, but lost his starting job this season, leaving him with an uncertain future as a utilityman. Shortly after Uribe dumped agent Scott Boras, Chicago signed the infielder to a three-year, $9.75 million contract last winter.
“The Rockies gave me a chance, but sometimes a change can be better,” said Uribe, who hit .252 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs. “I feel happy here. The coaches make me feel comfortable, they believe in me.”
At the center of Uribe’s development is the sandpapering of his rough edges defensively. He made just 16 errors – compare that to Edgar Renteria’s 30 for Boston – in 146 games. The Red Sox scouts provided a glowing report before the series.
“They said after watching him that he should win the Gold Glove,” Boston assistant general manager Josh Byrnes said. “He is really playing well.”
Footnotes
His left in foot in a cast because of a fractured ankle, White Sox DH Frank Thomas threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Thomas hit 12 home runs before his season ended July 22. … Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is the second player in White Sox history to hit two home runs in a playoff game, joining Ted Kluszewski in 1959. … The White Sox outscored their opposition 121-68 in the first inning this season, including 5-0 on Tuesday. … Boston’s eight- game playoff winning streak was snapped.
