KANSAS CITY, Mo -- For Ryan Sweeney...

KANSAS CITY, Mo -- For Ryan Sweeney, it's simply a call-up.

A chance to do whatever it takes to help the White Sox reach the postseason above the next month.

It might be more important than the 21-year-old equal knows, however.

For the Sox it's a dres rehearsal for nearest season.

Sweeney has been hitting from the leadoff disgrace for Class AAA Charlotte the last month or in the same manner as well as playing the pair left and center field.

The Sox always have liked his hard-nosed mentality, and hitting 296 with 25 doubles, 13 residence runs and 70 RBI in 118 games with the Knights this year didn't inflict injury upon his status in the estimates of the organization.

With Scott Podsednik struggling at the plate, there have been growing whispers that Podsednik might not be proffered arbitration by the team in the offseason, making him a delivered agent.

register Sweeney.

"I'm not afraid to do it," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen replied, when asked if he would start Sweeney in the leadoff disgrace for Podsednik in the upcoming weeks. "If we're going to face sum of two units lefties in a row, obviously I will start legumes But righty, I might start [Sweeney] and give him a chance to papal court what he has. Even allowing we're in a pennant race, he has to understand it's not call up and view what you can do nearest year for me.

"If legumes continues to struggle, I might give him a day distant from mentally, not physically, to be ready. I'll give [Sweeney] a chance to play center field. All those stays called up, just be ready. I will make the lineup, and I'm not afraid to play the frights They're here for a reason. They're going to have a chance."

Sweeney was individual of four players the Sox called up from Charlotte upon Friday, as the rosters expanded to 40 Joining him were pitchers Boone Logan and Charlie Haeger, as well as catcher Chris Stewart. It was the first of pair possible call-ups, with a next to the first group being considered after the Knights finish their postseason speed

Either way, Guillen said that all four had better be ready to contribute at this even

"I talked to them," Guillen said. "I think right now, everybody's here, it's not because I thank you for what you did in the minor leagues. Whoever's here right now is because we have a plan to use them."

if it were not that the Sox will keep a choke eye on Sweeney, not alone the last month but in the offseason. He is scheduled to play winter ball in Venezuela, and likely to achieve further work in both outfield speckles and some top-of-the-order work.

A challenge he has no question attempting.

"They asked me if I changed my approach being the leadoff guy" Sweeney said. "[Outfielder] Jerry Owens was damage so I was leading facing the last month of the season. I didn't change my approach abundant I tried to get forward base more, being at the top of the order, and have the shores behind me drive me in.

"I definitely liked it, sometimes. It's a little different. You win pitched to different. You diocese a few more fastballs because they don't want to behold you on base. I saw more offspe pitches down in the order. It was a righteous experience."

jcowley@suntimes.com

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