You would have thought that coming into spring training the Chicago White Sox had a glut of infielders.  Alexi Ramirez, Josh Fields and Chris Getz were holdovers from last year and added to that list were Wilson Betemit, acquired from the Yankees in the Nick Swisher deal; Brett Lillibridge, acquired from Atlanta in the Javy Vazquez deal and Jayson Nix, signed as a free agent from Colorado.  Then you have the Sox first pick in the 2008 MLB draft, Grodon Beckham and the newest international sensation, The Cuban Sandwich.  You would think that would be enough, but apparently it may not be.

• Nix, probably the most complete player in the entire field of infield candidates, has been nursing a quad strain  since the Vegas series against the Cubs. He's probably going to be held out until the beginning of the season or possibly longer for the injury to completely heal.  Too bad, because he's been hitting the cover off the ball. 
  
• Getz probably wins the second base job by default, but that's okay, he's probably earned it and for some reason, the fans love him. 
  
• Fields is having a good spring and his defense has been upgraded from "please God, don't let them hit the ball to him" to "as long as it's not hit to his left he has a chance of at least knocking it down.
• Alexi Ramirez needs no introduction unless he wants you to learn how to say his first name (now Alessi)
  
• Betemit can hit, but his defense, especially at shortstop is suspect.  His defense at shortstop can be described as "Stevie Wonder looking for a light switch."
  
• Lillibridge is a slick glove man who can play multiple positions but can't hit well enough at the major league level to start or perhaps even ride the pine.
  
• Beckham and The Cuban Sandwich are the Sox left side of the infield in 2011.  Both are studs, Beckham is a five tool player and The Cuban Sandwich is a power hitter with below average defensive skills. 
  

So, who's going North?  Up until yesterday, the safe bets were Getz at second, Ramirez at short, Fields at third with a backup compliment of Betemit and Nix.  Lillibridge would start the season at Charlotte, Beckham at Birmingham and The Cuban Sandwich most likely in A ball. 

But the cosmic tumblers haven't aligned the way the Sox thought they would.  Beckham has dazzled the camp (and the media) with his performance and is considered by some to be a candidate for the opening day roster.  The injury to Nix, who, in my opinion was a Little ahead of Getz for the starting second base position, opens the door for Getz to earn mortal lock status as the starter.  Betemit has proven he'll have value, but can't play short.  Beckham, on the other hand, is a shortstop by trade and can also play second.

The biggest question the Sox will have is how to get maximum value for their interchangeable parts.  Gone is the valuable Juan Uribe, who could play thirds, short and second and Pablo Ozuna who could play second, third and the outfield.  If the Sox are looking for utility, Lillibridge, who can play second, short and center field may be their best bet.  Except he can't hit.  But he's fast.  But he can't hit.

Beckham might be an alternative, but are the White Sox willing to risk his development by bringing him up too fast.  The road of first round draft picks is littered with players who came up too quickly and weren't given a chance to develop.

In the end, you may see Nix make it after all as the backup.  Betemit and Lillibridge would be the utility players, Betemit for his bat and Lillibridge for his glove and utility.  If Nix starts the season on the DL, Lillibridge makes it, if Nix is healthy, Lillibridge goes to Charlotte.

Now that we've solved the infield issues, we'll have to spend some time focusing on center field and backup catcher.