It’s good Dewayne Wise, bad Dewayne Wise
BY DARYL VAN SCHOUWEN dvanschouwen@suntimes.com September 17, 2012 9:30PM
Detroit Tigers v Chicago White Sox
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Updated: October 19, 2012 6:18AM
Adam Dunn made a good point about Dewayne Wise.
“Without D-Wise, we don’t win that game,’’ Dunn said.
Sure enough, Wise singled in two runs with two outs in a three-run fourth inning in the Sox’ 5-4 win Monday against the Tigers.
But Wise almost turned into a goat when he was thrown out at third base by left fielder Avisail Garcia on Dunn’s fly ball to the left fielder that looked like it was going to be a sacrifice fly for an insurance run.
Wise was ruled out before Gordon Beckham crossed home, so an extra run going into the ninth went up in smoke. While the Sox’ bullpen made sure it became irrelevant by closing out the Tigers in the ninth, Dunn stood by his teammate, calling it a “hustle play.”
But Wise knew better.
“I’ll be the first guy to tell you I almost blew it,’’ Wise said. “I’ve been playing this game too long to make a mistake like that. I’m just thankful that we pulled it out.’’
Wise, one in a series of general manager Ken Williams’ midseason acquisitions that solidified the Sox’ hold on first place, was picked up after being released by the Yankees. Best known for saving Mark Buehrle’s perfect game in 2009, Wise was sitting around his apartment wondering if his season was over when Williams called.
“Crazy game,’’ said Wise, the odd man out in New York despite having a productive season. “I was surprised, but I’ve been around the game a long time, and I understand how it works when you’re the 25th man on the roster.’’
Wise will make it tough for manager Robin Ventura to make him the odd man out in the lineup card. Center fielder Alejandro De Aza, who struck out four times and went 0-for-5 Saturday in Minnesota, sat out a second straight game.
Wise is batting .347 with two homers, a triple, nine RBI and four stolen bases in his last 14 games. De Aza is 0-for-9 in his last two games and is batting .236 in his last 46.
