White Sox season in preview

[greasywheels121]

http://whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/ar...t=.jsp&c_id=cws

 

White Sox season in preview

New-look White Sox ready for a run at Central crown

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

 

Ken Williams is not a patient man, and this fact wouldn't exactly be considered a well kept industry secret.

 

Not only is the White Sox general manager constantly working to bring an American League Central title to the South Side of Chicago, but he also wants a World Series title for chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and the very supportive fan base. So, when the injury-riddled White Sox posted an 83-win season and another second-place finish in 2004, Williams decided it was time for a change.

 

That new look didn't involve a managerial switch, as Ozzie Guillen clearly proved he has the character, knowledge and attitude to lead the White Sox to the highest level. Instead, Williams dispensed with the power-based approach that lived so prominently during his first four years in charge, and turned the White Sox into a team more reliant on speed, pitching and defense.

 

Hitting home runs in bunches was great fun for the fans, and might have destroyed the fireworks budget for the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. But it wasn't always necessarily a barrel of laughs for Williams and Guillen.

 

While there are plenty of guys in the lineup who can still go deep, coming off last season's franchise-record 242 home runs, the White Sox will be fun to watch in 2005 for vastly different reasons. Yes, the White Sox even have a fifth starter this time around, after eight pitchers combined to finish 5-16 in 2004 at that slot.

 

But the job doesn't get any easier for the revamped White Sox. The Minnesota Twins will be a tough team to unseat as the three-time American League Central champions, and both Cleveland and Detroit should be in hot contention for the title. If the big overhand right hasn't worked as the knockout punch during the past four years though, the White Sox seem ready to try a few well-placed jabs and a little bobbing and weaving in order to claim their first postseason berth since 2000.

 

Batting order

1. Scott Podsednik, CF

The left-handed hitter provides the true leadoff man sought by Guillen. The White Sox manager has joked that he wants Podsednik to steal 140 bases this season, but with the perpetual green light, Podsednik legitimately has the chance to top his 2004 Major League leading total of 70. His goal simply is to get on base and score runs, forgetting about trying to do too much offensively, as he did during a tough 2004 campaign with Milwaukee after a breakthrough effort in 2003.

2. Tadahito Iguchi, 2B

The Japanese import is a work in progress as he adjusts to life and baseball in the United States. He appears to be the perfect complement to Podsednik at the top of the order, with the ability to hit behind the runner or show a little power and drive in runs.

3. Jermaine Dye, RF

The team's new right fielder might not match Magglio Ordonez's numbers during his prime with the White Sox, but that goal is not where Dye's focus lies. If he stays healthy, Dye will provide a solid RBI presence and improved outfield defense.

 

4. Paul Konerko, 1B

What more can be said about Konerko that hasn't been illustrated by his exceptional play on the field? He's not only emerging as one of the top power hitters in the American League, after hitting 41 home runs in 2004, but also as a leader in the White Sox clubhouse.

 

5. Carl Everett, DH

Don't look at Everett as holding down the designated hitter's slot until Frank Thomas' return in mid-May. Look at Everett as a recharged and healthy veteran who could provide the White Sox with a pleasant problem if he continues hitting with authority, as he has during Spring Training.

 

6. Aaron Rowand, CF

The center fielder is an All-Star in the making. The impressive numbers from Rowand's first season as a starter in 2004 should only climb as he gets more comfortable with his place on the team and in the league.

 

7. A.J. Pierzynski, C

It's all about preparing and handling the pitching for Pierzynski, as the White Sox should feature one of the best starting rotations in the American League. But Pierzynski also is a solid offensive force and clearly is not afraid to come up with a big hit.

8. Joe Crede, 3B

This could be a make-or-break sort of season for Crede, who is arbitration-eligible in 2006. Guillen simply wants Crede to have fun, swing the bat as he's capable and not think so much when he's at the plate. Crede's defense at third is as good as it gets.

 

9. Juan Uribe, SS

Playing under the comfort of Guillen's leadership, Uribe put up big offensive numbers in 2004. He's a natural shortstop and should make the transition from second very smoothly, while continuing to provide offensive punch from the bottom of the order.

 

Rotation

1. Mark Buehrle, LHP

If the injury to his left foot really was just a one-day scare, then Buehrle appears primed for his first 20-win season. Just put him out on the mound and watch him work quickly through at least six innings every time out.

2. Freddy Garcia, RHP

The big right-hander struggled at U.S. Cellular Field last season and battled a right forearm strain during the final month. But he's healthy and ready to serve the same role as Buehrle at the top of the rotation, only from the right side.

3. Jose Contreras, RHP

It's all about confidence for the native of Cuba. When he pitched at least six innings last season, his record was 13-2 with a 2.93 ERA. When he pitched fewer than six, he finished 0-7 with an 11.62 ERA. Contreras is the pitching equivalent of Crede -- don't think, but instead just rely on his god-given talent.

4. Orlando 'El Duque' Hernandez, RHP

The White Sox don't need the venerable hurler to throw 200 innings, despite El Duque targeting more than 30 starts as his goal for 2005. But two scouts from other teams told Guillen before Spring Training that if the White Sox make the playoffs, Hernandez would be his No. 1 starter.

5. Jon Garland, RHP

When you have a fifth starter who has won 12 games and pitched at least 191 innings in each of the past three seasons, you are in pretty good shape as a staff. If Garland has his sinker working, after allowing a career-high 34 home runs in 2004, he has the stuff to work more as middle or top-of-the rotation sort of hurler.

Bullpen

Through Williams' diligent offseason work, the White Sox assembled one of the most complete relief crews in all of baseball. Shingo Takatsu enters 2005 as the closer, the same role that he finished in for 2004. His slow, slower and slowest repertoire disarmed opposing hitters, and he will continue to adjust as the rest of the league does the same with him. But if Takatsu struggles, the White Sox have no fewer than four options in terms of closers. Dustin Hermanson probably would be the first choice, but Damaso Marte, Luis Vizcaino and Cliff Politte also have handled this particular role previously. Pitching coach Don Cooper points to Politte's improved work against left-handed hitters, Marte's ability to work inside against right-handers and the continued development of Neal Cotts as the bullpen keys in his mind.

 

Opening delayed

When Thomas arrived in Tucson during the first week of March, he had his sights set on being part of the Opening Day lineup. According to athletic trainer Herm Schneider, if Thomas could have proved that running on his surgically repaired left ankle was up to par, he would have fulfilled his goal. Instead, Thomas will take part in extended Spring Training during April, as he trie to break down painful scar tissue on a tendon near where the surgery was performed, and then make a minor league rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Charlotte. Thomas has targeted early May for his return, but mid-May now seems more realistic.

Spring cleaning

Even with the 25-man roster all but set from the outset, Guillen provided legitimate chances to players such as Joe Borchard, Jon Adkins, Kevin Walker and Pablo Ozuna to compete for the final slot. Guillen also gave extensive playing time to minor league standouts such as Brandon McCarthy, Brian Anderson, Ryan Sweeney and Josh Fields, getting a better idea than he had in Year One on the job as to what he has in terms of prospects at the lower levels. McCarthy emerged as a star of the future with his Greg Maddux or Buehrle-like efforts on the mound and certainly will be the first callup if the White Sox need a starter. Otherwise, Guillen kept to his familiar Spring Training mantra -- get your work done, get out and have fun. He also fostered an atmosphere where the eight new players, acquired during the past offseason, could mesh with the players already in place.

 

Burning question

Will the re-tooling of the team and subsequent new approach lead to a Central Division title for the White Sox? Working with an all-or-nothing sort of offense during the past four years, based on the home run, has not yielded the sought-after results for the White Sox brass and its players. So, the team turned to speed, pitching and defense in 2005, with key additions such as Iguchi, Podsednik, Dye, Hernandez and Hermanson replacing White Sox stalwarts such as Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Lee, Jose Valentin and Sandy Alomar, Jr. This movement actually began last season, when Williams acquired Garcia and Contreras. The White Sox still have the power potential in the middle of the lineup, but they just won't be a home-run hitting team. As Guillen mentioned during Spring Training, this crew has more balance from top to bottom and features more versatile players throughout the lineup. It's true the White Sox play in the easiest home park in baseball to hit home runs, but this new style of action not only should play well in Chicago but also help the White Sox in other places that aren't designed as much for the long ball.

On the record

"I like what's going on here. We have a good team. We brought in quality guys to take the place of the key guys we lost. We brought in solid big league players, so I'm not concerned." -- Thomas

[WilliamTell]

I guess I wasn't thinking Rowand would be batting 6th, but that's just me.

[Jabroni]

I don't think that lineup is right. Everett should be batting 3rd and Dye should be batting 5th, at least against righties. Ozzie even said this. Also, the guy made a typo and it says that both Podsednik and Rowand will start in CF.

Edited April 1, 2005 by Jabroni

[Jabroni]

3. Jose Contreras, RHP

It's all about confidence for the native of Cuba. When he pitched at least six innings last season, his record was 13-2 with a 2.93 ERA. When he pitched fewer than six, he finished 0-7 with an 11.62 ERA. Contreras is the pitching equivalent of Crede -- don't think, but instead just rely on his god-given talent.

[CWSGuy406]

3. Jose Contreras, RHP

It's all about confidence for the native of Cuba. When he pitched at least six innings last season, his record was 13-2 with a 2.93 ERA. When he pitched fewer than six, he finished 0-7 with an 11.62 ERA. Contreras is the pitching equivalent of Crede -- don't think, but instead just rely on his god-given talent.

 

Is it just me, or is this sort of a "duh" stat?

 

Isn't Merkin basically saying, when Contreras sucked, he really sucked, and when Contreras was on, he was damn good.

 

I dunno, that's sort of the way I read it...

Edited April 1, 2005 by CWSGuy406

[YASNY]

Pitching coach Don Cooper points to Politte's improved work against left-handed hitters

[Gene Honda Civic]

Is it just me, or is this sort of a "duh" stat?

 

Isn't Merkin basically saying, when Contreras sucked, he really sucked, and when Contreras was on, he was damn good.

 

I dunno, that's sort of the way I read it...

No it's a DUH!!! stat..

 

When he sucked, he got pulled early.

 

When he was good, he was left in longer, and was still good.