I just read on Rotoworld that the White Sox are close to signing Omar Vizquel. The report also mentions that he will serve as a backup across all the infield spots, for Mark Teahen at third, Alexei Ramirez at short, and Gordon Beckham at second. And the overarching question that I had while reading this was: what are the White Sox thinking?

I'm not questioning the thinking behind signing a versatile backup. That makes perfect sense to me. What I am questioning is why (a) choose the 42-year old Vizquel over the 32-year old Adam Everett and (b) keep Alexei Ramirez at short when Gordon Beckham played it well in college and Alexei has experience at the keystone from his rookie season?

As for Vizquel,  I suppose he's a marginally better hitter than Everett, (.266/.316/.345 for Vizquel as opposed to Everett's .238/.288/.325 last year) but when you're ostensibly bringing Vizquel in for his glove, why not choose Everett, who is at least his equal if not his superior in the field? Everett has averaged an 18.3 UZR/150 since '02, whereas Vizquel clocks in with a 7.2 mark. Vizquel did have a superb 32.6 mark last season....but he only played 22 games to earn it. Everett's 2008 UZR/150 of 11.2 is his lowest mark since '02, so he's been consistently excellent. Vizquel, while also great, posted negative marks in '02 and '04, as well as a 6.9 and 5.6 in '05 and '06. So I can't see a reason to go with the guy who's 10 years older.

In regard to the middle infield situation, the White Sox have consistently baffled me.  But speaking strictly in regard to this season, I would love an explanation for as to why Alexei Ramirez gets to hold the shortstop spot. He was terrible at second base in his rookie year, costing his team a win according to UZR/150. But he was two runs worse on defense at shortstop last season, while also getting worse with the bat. His wOBA went from an acceptable .336 in '08 to a dismal .319 last year, and he traded one of his great strengths - power - for a minimal increase in plate discipline. How much more leeway do they even want to give him? It's especially strange considering that Gordon Beckham received generally positive reviews for his defense. Not that he's great, mind you, but even an average defender is worth a win to a team for whom, in the weak AL Central, every added win could mean a division title.

Look, I know this isn't a team with a lot of options; Ramirez doesn't have the bat for third, and doesn't have the glove to play in the middle. But removing him from the equation means you're left with Teahen and Beckham - plus Vizquel, if they bring him in. At that point, they're stuck for depth. Which is funny, since I seem to recall them trading away a second baseman in Chris Getz and a third baseman in Josh Fields to acquire Teahen. That's a bad move in and of itself, but when you're the White Sox and you're scrapping together an infield that features one useful guy (Beckham), depth is the last thing you want to sacrifice. And so, we return to the big question: what are the White Sox thinking? And, unfortunately, I have no answer.

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