The White Sox enter the 2011 season trying to prevent the Twins from winning their third-consecutive AL Central title. A division that seems to always be won on the last day of the year, the Southsiders were bounced with weeks left in the season in 2010. The disappointing performance last year has left a sour taste in the mouths of Ozzie Guillen and GM Ken Williams, who made plenty of noise during the off-season to bring the Chi Sox back to championship status. Sadly, it won’t be enough and the two of them will have plenty of time this October to figure out another way to try and become the free spending Yankees of the Midwest.
No. 13 Chicago White Sox
Projected Rotation
A.J. Pierzynski // blog.prorumors.com
- Mark Buerhle-LHP
- Gavin Floyd-RHP
- John Danks-LHP
- Edwin Jackson-RHP
- Jake Peavy-RHP
Projected Bullpen
- Matt Thornton-LHP
- Jesse Crain-RHP
- Chris Sale-LHP
- Will Ohman-LHP
- Tony Pena-RHP
- Sergio Santos-RHP
Projected Lineup
- LF Juan Pierre
- 2B Gordan Beckham
- DH Adam Dunn
- 1B Paul Konerko
- CF Alex Rios
- C A.J. Pierzynski
- RF Carlos Quentin
- SS Alexei Ramirez
- 3B Brent Morel
Analysis
The White Sox do indeed have one of the scariest lineups in all of baseball. I wouldn’t be surprised if this team put up a 20 spot more than once this year. Unfortunately there are too many red flags to warrant any division championship predictions.
Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko both hit a crap load of home runs, but both are also the two worst defensive first basemen in baseball. That doesn’t mean they both can’t have productive years and of course one of them will be the designated hitter, but come on. You can’t expect to build a team around the game’s worst defensive players no matter how many home runs they hit.
Rios and Ramirez will complement the power hitters well, as both of them had career years in 2010. If they can achieve the same level of success again in 2011 the White Sox will enjoy some of the finest hitting in the American League, unfortunately I don’t have the same confidence in Beckham, Pierzynski, or Morel and Juan Pierre had a dreadful first ¾ of the season last year. With all that said this team is not as good as the salary that Ken Williams is paying them. I see a lot of runs without the wins to back them up in 2011.
The pitching is talented without a doubt but there are serious concerns as to how far that talent can carry them this season. Mark Buerhle’s ERA has been increasing over the past three seasons, there is no guarantee to how healthy Peavy will be and he wasn’t pitching that great before the injury in the first place last year. Take away the no hitter from Edwin Jackson and his season was the epitome of mediocrity and on top of that there is no true ace. This has to be the most overrated rotation in the game and will win enough games if your goal is to be .500, but the White Sox goal is to win a division and this rotation won’t get that done.
Matt Thornton is penciled in as the Chi Sox closer with the departure of Bobby Jenks. Thornton has been a solid reliever but has a career total of 17 saves. Jesse Crain could be a solid acquisition but 2010 was his first quality season in the majors and he’ll have to prove whether or not it was a fluke.
A lot of people may think the White Sox have acquired the talent to return to the post season but I don’t believe the money has been invested in the right places. On the bright side the team will be high scoring and a lot of fun to watch on their good days, but pitching and defense wins championships and the White Sox just don’t have that.
Leave a Reply