White Sox Preview

 

Sox have talent, but also questions

Club must make up for losses of Colon, Alomar, Everett

by Jim Molony

 

No American League Central team is more of an enigma than the Chicago White Sox. One minute they look almost unbeatable, the next minute they're almost unbearable to watch. Optimists call them dark horses, skeptics say they are underachievers. Just about everybody says they are hard to peg, and that was before they added a rookie skipper in Ozzie Guillen to the equation.

One thing is clear. The White Sox, who won 86 games last year while finishing second to Minnesota in the division race, have enough talent to make it to the playoffs if enough of their key players have the kind of years Guillen is hoping they will have in 2004. But that is a mighty big if.

 

The White Sox stayed in contention last year mainly because Esteban Loaiza (21-9, 2.90) came out of nowhere to have a career year to complement Bartolo Colon at the top of the rotation, an offense that belted a franchise-record 220 home runs and a bullpen that was generally above average.

 

This time, however, Colon is gone. The offense lost significant contributors in Carl Everett, Roberto Alomar and Tony Graffanino. And the bullpen lost free agents Tom Gordon and Scott Sullivan.

 

"We lost some talent, but we've also got a good nucleus back and some players who will have a chance to step in and do the job," general manager Kenny Williams said.

 

Loaiza probably won't be able to duplicate his Cy Young-caliber season, but he should come close. And the White Sox can probably count on a better years from first baseman Paul Konerko (.234 last season) and shortstop Jose Valentin (.237). If those two can put up improved numbers and designated hitter Frank Thomas (.267, 42 HR, 105 RBIs), right fielder Magglio Ordoñez (.317, 29, 99) and left fielder Carlos Lee (.291, 31, 113) can post similiar years the White Sox will once again score runs in bunches especially if third baseman Joe Crede and center fielder Aaron Rowand continue the improvements they demonstrated last year.

 

The bigger question marks are at second base and on the pitching staff.

 

Willie Harris will gets first crack at replacing Alomar and Harris will also be expected to bat first. If he can't handle those duties Juan Uribe, acquired from Colorado, is another option.

 

The rotation, where Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Scott Schoenweis and the winner of a four-man battle for the fifth spot will follow Loaiza, could go either way. Damaso Marte is an outstanding talent, but the White Sox will be in better shape if he can stay in the setup role. That won't happen if closer Billy Koch can't find his fastball. The White Sox will also need big years out of reliever Kelly Wunsch and one or two others in the bullpen mix to step forward.

 

By most estimates the White Sox appear to be weaker this year, but perhaps Guillen will take a page from Kansas City manager Tony Peña's book and provide an immmediate spark to a team that at least on paper, has fewer obvious holes than some of their other division brethren.

Couple of interesting points:

I still think Mark is our #1 even if E-Lo start Opening Day, which I think he has earned.

 

Graffy contributed? Enough to make a difference on the season? When?

 

I think Kong has a better chance of putting up improved numbers than Jose. I'm guessing Jose holds is own.

 

Still it's to win the Central. It almost feels like a pat on the head and a participation ribbon.

Couple of interesting points:

I still think Mark is our #1 even if E-Lo start Opening Day, which I think he has earned.

 

Graffy contributed? Enough to make a difference on the season? When?

 

I think Kong has a better chance of putting up improved numbers than Jose. I'm guessing Jose holds is own.

 

Still it's to win the Central. It almost feels like a pat on the head and a participation ribbon.

Didn't they already announce Mark would start the season, giving Loaiza the home opener? I thought Esteban wanted Mark to get the nod over him, as a thanks for Mark giving up a turn at the end of last yeear when Loaiza was chasing the Mexican-born win record.

Graffy contributed? Enough to make a difference on the season? When?

I can't tell you how much clutch homers and clutch rbis Graffy made during last season and before that. I remember one game when dumbass Manuel made a change and Graffy was the pinch hitter. He was comming off the bench way cold (I think he didn't even pick up bat in 5 games or so) and hit a clutch rbi double. He will be surely missed because of those hits and his versitility.

Well he (Graffy) played in more games (90) then I thought.

Hit about what I thought .260

Only 23 RBI

 

I'm thinking Uribe will cover this just fine. Not enough of a difference to worry about.

I'm thinking Uribe will cover this just fine. Not enough of a difference to worry about.

True. But we don't know how Uribe will fare against U.S. Cellular. He was hitting in hitters friendly Coors, and his bat didn't impress me much there. Hopefully he'll have a good year here. I'm sure Ozzie will bring the best out of him. I still don't think he could replace fan favorite Graffy though.

Well atleast this guy recognized that we have talent. Unlike that f*g Sutcliffe...

Graffy hit a huge homerun in Cleveland I remember and another big one against Detroit when Cornejo almost no-hit us.

It could be that Uribe was a poor hitter in Colorado just because of the "hitter friendly atmosphere" at Coor's. Sometimes a guy can try to do too much. Fenway's Green Monster has affected some hitters the same way. Here, if he just worries about putting the ball in play, he could be at least adequate.