Flu Blamed in Carlos Quentin's Decline

The battle is not always to the strong -- to paraphrase Ecclesiastes -- as evidenced in the case of power-hitting White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin, who is about to lose his starting job to light-hitting speedsters, Jerry Owens, Brian Anderson and Alexei Ramirez -- uh -- lest time and chance happeneth to them all.

Quentin is beginning to look like the latest can't-miss prospect to be cast into the sea, as his bout with the flu is being blamed for holding his spring batting average to the .230-240 range. Last year it was shoulder surgery which kept him from hitting more than .214.

It will be interesting to see whether manager Ozzie Guillen moves center field starter Nick Swisher to left once Quentin is sent to Triple A, thus opening a spot in center for Owens, who claims he can steal 80 bases if given a chance.

In any event, with his spring batting average approaching .450, Owens looks like a good bet to at least nab the fourth or fifth outfielder's spot, power or no power. Ramirez stands to make the roster as an invaluably versatile infield-outfield reserve.

His flu symptoms from earlier in camp most likely behind him now, Quentin looks healthy when observed recently during games at Tucson Electric Park, but the tipoff that he has fallen from favor is that he often comes into games as a late-inning substitution rather than appearing as a starter.

Just Up Justin Upton Needs to Live Down 'Bad Rep'

Former No. 1 overall pick Justin Upton -- hitting .310 with 13 homers in limited time at Class AA Mobile -- has stunned the baseball world with his sudden appearance in a major league uniform, but now must prove his maturity is on par with his playing skills.

Upton, 19, arrives in Arizona with a reputation for egotism and surliness. More than once during the early part of his career Upton had been observed squabbling with coaches and managers over protocol or lack of hustle, creating a feeling that he might be uncoachable.

But if Upton remains self-absorbed he has managed to hide it more recently, with no major issues reported this year. Still, Upton will be watched closely for issues of attitude.

Upton -- younger brother of Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton -- won his chance to join the Diamondbacks by a combination of circumstances: starting outfielder Carlos Quentin was injured, fourth outfielder Jeff DaVanon failed to find his stroke after coming off the injured list, and -- most importantly -- the Diamondbacks' kiddie corps unexpectedly was found not only to be contending for a playoff berth, but actually leading the pack.

If Upton follows a familiar pattern common among young, inexperience players, he will struggle and be sent back down at least a time or two before establishing himself. But this stunning package of speed and power sooner or later will lay claim to full-time playing status, maybe as quickly as now.