White Sox bringing some guys you’ve heard of

By Ron Kantowski

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 | 3:28 p.m.

NOW

The Cactus League games between the Chicago Cubs and White Sox at Cashman Field Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon will feature "split" squads, which means many of the players you want to see will be back in the Phoenix area, shagging fungoes, running wind sprints and ignoring autograph requests.

But at least the White Sox are bringing some of their good guys.

John Danks will be Ozzie Guillen's starting pitcher Wednesday night. Bobby Jenks also is expected to throw. Position players such as Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski will make the trip.

The Cubs haven't disclosed who they might be bringing. Jeff Samardzija, the former Notre Dame wide receiver trying to earn a spot in Lou Piniella's starting rotation, is expected to oppose Danks in Wednesday's game. Otherwise, the Cubs' lineup has yet to be determined.

Cubs pitchers Ted Lilly and Carlos Marmol, catcher Geovany Soto and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome are playing in the World Baseball Classic for the United States, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Japan, respectively. They won't be here. Off-season acquisition Milton Bradley is out with an injury (no surprise there).

Gabby Hartnett won't be making the trip, either.

UPDATE: The Cubs say sluggers Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez and shortstop Ryan Theriot will play in Las Vegas, so at least not everybody standing around the batting cage will be wearing jersey numbers in the 80's.

THEN

Ozzie Guillen, who hit five home runs with the Las Vegas Stars, has a sixth pleasant memory of Southern Nevada.

"My oldest kid was born in Las Vegas," he said. "When Ozzie was born there, they had like three casinos and one gate to the airport. Now it's amazing."

Unless Ozzie Jr., was born in 1950, his old man was exaggerating just a tad.

But Ozzie Sr. will probably be amazed to discover that Cashman Field still doesn't have batting cages and that the locker rooms are still Eddie Gaedel-sized.