Joe Crede, who will be the Chicago White Sox regular third baseman, slides past the tag of Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba to score a run in the sixth inning Tuesday.

james s. wood / arizona daily star

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Members of the Chicago White Sox often play dominoes in the clubhouse before spring training games in Tucson.

On Tuesday afternoon, dominoes were falling when the team made roster decisions, causing a rippling effect that led to other changes.

In one move, outfielder Jerry Owens headed to the disabled list, opening a door for Canyon del Oro High School graduate and former UA standout Brian Anderson and former Diamondback Carlos Quentin to make the opening day roster.

Owens will need seven to 10 days of rest and should return to playing in two weeks.

An MRI on Tuesday revealed he has a small tear in his lower right adductor.

In other moves, the Sox optioned Josh Fields to Triple-A, making Joe Crede their third baseman, and the team will give Juan Uribe the first shot at second base.

With Owens out for two weeks with the groin injury, Anderson and Alexei Ramirez are expected to play in center. The Sox have yet to announce a starting center fielder or their fourth outfielder.

"Right now, we like the way (Quentin) swings the bat. BA swings the bat good," manager Ozzie Guillen said after the Sox beat the Colorado Rockies 5-2 at Hi Corbett Field. "It's just another tough decision (that will) come along in the next couple days, and like I said, late in spring training, you're not going to make easy decisions."

Anderson has been impressive both at the plate and in the field, batting .355 with 12 RBIs and four home runs. He needed a strong spring after spending most of last year in Triple-A and suffering an injured wrist.

Despite batting .293 in the minors, Anderson has hit .216 in 160 major-league games.

"I feel like I've done everything I can do," Anderson said. "Now the decision is up to them."

"I feel my swing is definitely where I want it to be," he added. "I'm swinging consistently at good pitches, and sticking to my approach."

Sox hitting coach Greg Walker said that Anderson, after adjusting his mechanics, looks better than ever at the plate.

"The biggest thing is we've asked him to handle the anxiety of playing in the big leagues, situational hitting, being patient, getting a good pitch to hit, that type of stuff," Walker said. "He's definitely improved in that area."

As for the Sox's other options in the outfield, Quentin, who underwent shoulder surgery in October, is batting .324, and Ramirez is an option in center besides being a backup to Uribe at second.

Ramirez, a 26-year-old from Cuba who has yet to play a major- league game, has been perhaps the Sox's most eye-popping prospect this spring. He went 2 for 5 with a double Tuesday to raise his average to .345. He played in center Tuesday. General manager Ken Williams said he has been impressed with Ramirez's versatility and adjustments.

"In one at-bat you may see what amounts to a free-swinging guy, and you think all he can do is hit a fastball, and about the third at-bat somebody tries to soften up on him and throw him change-ups and breaking balls away, and next thing you know he's shooting something to right," Williams said.

In the most significant move of the day, Fields, who hit 23 home runs last season after Crede underwent back surgery, was sent to Triple-A. Both Guillen and Williams insisted it was a difficult decision. Crede, a key component of the Sox's 2005 World Series team, proved this spring he is healthy and can play every day, although he hit .180 to Fields' .268.

"He handled it great," Williams said of Fields' reaction. "He understands where we are, where he is in his career, and to his credit, he said, 'Well, I'll use it as an opportunity to improve on some things, not only for myself, but to you guys. I'll get better defensively. I'll get better offensively so that I can be the total package when I get back to the big leagues.' A class reaction.''