White Sox continue to have weakness in right field

Before Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels, the White Sox made a swap of bench players. They optioned infielder Jose Rodriguez to Double-A Birmingham and recalled outfielder Adam Haseley from Triple-A Charlotte.

The Rodriguez move makes sense. The 22-year-old was called up June 19, but he only appeared in one game -- as a pinch runner. Given that manager Pedro Grifol apparently had no intention of using him, Rodriguez is better off getting regular at-bats in Birmingham and continuing his development.

But why recall Haseley? The 27-year-old appeared in 26 games with the Sox earlier this season and slashed .222/.282/.278. His numbers in Charlotte are fine -- a .796 OPS in 35 games -- but that reflects exactly what Haseley is: a Quad-A outfielder.

He's another guy the Sox can toss into their right field mix, but there's no rational reason to believe Haseley can move the needle at a position that has been a perpetual weakness for years.

Right now, Gavin Sheets and Clint Frazier are forming a platoon in right field, with the lefty Sheets playing against right-handed pitching, and the righty Frazier playing against lefties. If the Sox have a lead late on days when Sheets is playing, Frazier comes in because he is the superior defensive player.

But the main problem is neither man has been hitting:

Sheets in the month of June: .195/.298/.317 with 1 HR, 1 RBI and only 2 doubles in 17 games

Frazier in the month of June: .147/.275/.177 with only 1 double and 1 RBI in 18 games

As a matter of fact, Frazier has more walks (6) than hits (5) this month, and he is without a homer on the season. Right field is supposed to be a power position. The Sox are getting nothing of the sort.

Remember what happened in the offseason? The Sox did not address right field, believing rookie Oscar Colas was ready to man the position. It didn't work out early, as Colas batted .211/.265/.276 with only one homer and seven RBIs in 25 games before being optioned.

Colas has an .823 OPS in 43 games in Triple-A Charlotte. That's good, not great. BUT ... since June 13, he's posted a slash line of .295/.354/.613. He's homered three times in the past two days. He went 8 for 19 on the Knights' most recent homestand.

There's still plenty of upside in the 24-year-old Colas. Why not give him another shot in right field while he's hot? Wouldn't that be a more inspired use of a roster spot than the journeyman Haseley?

Romy Gonzalez(!) has homered in 3 consecutive games for White Sox

The hottest hitter on the White Sox is ... Romy Gonzalez? 

Yes, Gonzalez has homered in three consecutive games. He went 2 for 4 on Tuesday night, helping the Sox to a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Gonzalez delivered an RBI double as part of a five-run fourth inning. He then stole third and scored easily when the throw by Angels catcher Chad Wallach squirted down the left-field line. Gonzalez added a solo home run in the sixth inning that capped the scoring in this game.

Over his past 10 games, Gonzalez is 10 for 28, with seven of the hits going for extra bases. He has three homers, three doubles and a triple -- plus 10 of his 12 RBIs for the season.

Before this hot streak, his slash line was .132/.128/.184. Now, after Wednesday's game, he stands at .224/.232/.463. That's still not good, but it makes Gonzalez more likely to retain his roster spot.

That matters right now with regular second baseman Elvis Andrus (hip strain) on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte. When Andrus returns, likely at the end of this week, the Sox will need to clear a roster spot.

Among Gonzalez, Hanser Alberto and Clint Frazier, Gonzalez is the only player with options remaining. But given his recent production, Gonzalez should continue to get starts at second base until he cools off -- even when Andrus rejoins the roster.

That means the veteran Alberto could be designated for assignment. However, Alberto is a favorite of manager Pedro Grifol, so we might see Alberto go on the injured list with some sort of minor ailment -- my money is on a "shoulder strain."  

The Sox are 23-34 with Tuesday's win.