RichH55
09-11-2002, 01:52 PM
Versatility key ingredient for Jimenez's play
By Scot Gregor Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted on September 10, 2002
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - During his 18 years of service in the major leagues, including parts of two seasons with the White Sox, Tony Phillips made a name for himself by talking a mile a minute and playing the game on the edge.
But Phillips was a unique talent.
He did everything but pitch and catch, and he also battled on every pitch as a leadoff hitter.
Compared to Phillips, D'Angelo Jimenez has the exact opposite personality. The Sox' 24-year-old infielder keeps to himself and quietly goes about his business.
But during his first two weeks with the White Sox, Jimenez's style of play has prompted manager Jerry Manuel to draw a comparison.
"Tony Phillips was a guy who played a lot of positions and led off,'' Manuel said. "(Jimenez) can play a number of positions. If I had to identify him at this time, I'd point to the versatility vs. utility. That's the type of player Tony Phillips was.''
In other words, Manuel thinks Jimenez should be on the field every day rather than coming off the bench.
Since arriving from Class AAA Charlotte on Aug. 26, Jimenez has started seven games at second base, four at shortstop and one at third base.
Acquired from San Diego in a July 12 trade, Jimenez was at second base in Monday night's 10-6 victory over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
He got the Sox started by leading off the game with a triple against Kansas City starter Paul Byrd and scoring on Jose Valentin's sacrifice fly.
Jimenez (.288) has reached base safely in 11 of his 12 starts with the White Sox.
"I'm happy with the way I'm playing, but I'm the new guy here and I'm trying to compete,'' he said. "This is September, and they want to see which guys are capable of playing.''
Jimenez already has made quite an impression.
"I'm really getting excited about him,'' Manuel said. "Just the way he goes about his business, he's an interesting player.''
Jimenez has an interesting past.
Signed to a free-agent contract by the Yankees in 1994, Jimenez quickly rose through the farm system and shared New York's minor-league player-of-the-year honors with Nick Johnson in 1999 after batting .327 with 15 homers, 88 RBI and 26 stolen bases at Class AAA Columbus.
Over the winter, Jimenez was involved in a serious car crash in his native Dominican Republic and suffered a fractured neck. "I'll never forget that day,'' Jimenez said. "I'm lucky to be alive.''
With Derek Jeter entrenched as the Yankees' starting shortstop and Alfonso Soriano also rising in the system, a fully recovered Jimenez was traded to San Diego midway through last season, and he became the Padres' starting shortstop.
Shifted to second base this season, Jimenez was batting .240 with 3 home runs and 33 RBI in 87 games before being dealt to the Sox for two minor-leaguers.
Jimenez has bounced all over the infield, but he's not about to complain.
"I've always played shortstop, but now I'm really comfortable at second base, too,'' Jimenez said. "It's been a pretty tough year for me, being moved to second base, being traded and then playing in the minors. It was tough mentally, but I'm here now and this is where I want to stay.''
It looks like Jimenez has found a home with the White Sox.
"He appears to be a very heady player,'' Manuel said. "We need that, especially in the infield. He brings a lot to the table, and that makes it tough to sit him out.''
By Scot Gregor Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted on September 10, 2002
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - During his 18 years of service in the major leagues, including parts of two seasons with the White Sox, Tony Phillips made a name for himself by talking a mile a minute and playing the game on the edge.
But Phillips was a unique talent.
He did everything but pitch and catch, and he also battled on every pitch as a leadoff hitter.
Compared to Phillips, D'Angelo Jimenez has the exact opposite personality. The Sox' 24-year-old infielder keeps to himself and quietly goes about his business.
But during his first two weeks with the White Sox, Jimenez's style of play has prompted manager Jerry Manuel to draw a comparison.
"Tony Phillips was a guy who played a lot of positions and led off,'' Manuel said. "(Jimenez) can play a number of positions. If I had to identify him at this time, I'd point to the versatility vs. utility. That's the type of player Tony Phillips was.''
In other words, Manuel thinks Jimenez should be on the field every day rather than coming off the bench.
Since arriving from Class AAA Charlotte on Aug. 26, Jimenez has started seven games at second base, four at shortstop and one at third base.
Acquired from San Diego in a July 12 trade, Jimenez was at second base in Monday night's 10-6 victory over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
He got the Sox started by leading off the game with a triple against Kansas City starter Paul Byrd and scoring on Jose Valentin's sacrifice fly.
Jimenez (.288) has reached base safely in 11 of his 12 starts with the White Sox.
"I'm happy with the way I'm playing, but I'm the new guy here and I'm trying to compete,'' he said. "This is September, and they want to see which guys are capable of playing.''
Jimenez already has made quite an impression.
"I'm really getting excited about him,'' Manuel said. "Just the way he goes about his business, he's an interesting player.''
Jimenez has an interesting past.
Signed to a free-agent contract by the Yankees in 1994, Jimenez quickly rose through the farm system and shared New York's minor-league player-of-the-year honors with Nick Johnson in 1999 after batting .327 with 15 homers, 88 RBI and 26 stolen bases at Class AAA Columbus.
Over the winter, Jimenez was involved in a serious car crash in his native Dominican Republic and suffered a fractured neck. "I'll never forget that day,'' Jimenez said. "I'm lucky to be alive.''
With Derek Jeter entrenched as the Yankees' starting shortstop and Alfonso Soriano also rising in the system, a fully recovered Jimenez was traded to San Diego midway through last season, and he became the Padres' starting shortstop.
Shifted to second base this season, Jimenez was batting .240 with 3 home runs and 33 RBI in 87 games before being dealt to the Sox for two minor-leaguers.
Jimenez has bounced all over the infield, but he's not about to complain.
"I've always played shortstop, but now I'm really comfortable at second base, too,'' Jimenez said. "It's been a pretty tough year for me, being moved to second base, being traded and then playing in the minors. It was tough mentally, but I'm here now and this is where I want to stay.''
It looks like Jimenez has found a home with the White Sox.
"He appears to be a very heady player,'' Manuel said. "We need that, especially in the infield. He brings a lot to the table, and that makes it tough to sit him out.''