Communication breakdown?

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Unless Gordon Beckham improves his Spanish, or shortstop Alexei Ramirez expresses himself better in English, the biggest challenge for the White Sox’s new double-play combination might be communication on the field.

“We’re going to have to talk about that,” Beckham said Wednesday from his home in Atlanta. “From what I have heard from [former Sox second baseman Chris Getz], it is kind of difficult to communicate with Alexei. I will make sure we know the signals we can give each other, or different words we know in each other’s language so we can figure out who is covering the bag.”

General manager Ken Williams announced Beckham will be switched from third base to second after the White Sox recently traded infielders Josh Fields and Getz to the Royals for third baseman Mark Teahen.

“We talked about it a little bit,” Beckham said. “Kenny actually called me when they were making the trade and kind of asked my final approval ... if it was OK if I moved to second. ... I think it is ultimately a good move for me professionally.”

Playing third base last season, Beckham was named AL Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News and by the MLB Players Association. But he finished fifth in the balloting of the Baseball Writers Association of America as A’s reliever Andrew Bailey won the award.

“Everybody has their opinion,” Beckham said. “I guess everybody was kind of sold on Bailey. He was pretty dominating.

“I didn’t think that I was going to be fifth. But I got two awards that were voted by my peers. That’s pretty special. I will give [the award money] to charity.”

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