we should rename this board "worrytalk".  We have a good team, everyone take a deep breath.  Its gonna be ok.

It doesn't work that way around here. Just imagine if our bullpen blows a lead opening night.

It doesn't work that way around here.  Just imagine if our bullpen blows a lead opening night.

 

 

People are already benching Gooch and it's not even Opening Day yet.

People are already benching Gooch and it's not even Opening Day yet.

Eh, that's just Jason, his predictions never come true anyways.

It doesn't work that way around here.  Just imagine if our bullpen blows a lead opening night.

 

Could you imagine how long that thread's going to be, especially since we have the next day off? That thread might be even too negative for me.

Could you imagine how long that thread's going to be, especially since we have the next day off?  That thread might be even too negative for me.

Haha, well now that I said that, hopefully we avoid opening day 04 all over again.

Haha, well now that I said that, hopefully we avoid opening day 04 all over again.

 

It's amazing to think that we were in first place from start to finish last season. I'm pretty that there wasn't a single day where we weren't at least tied for first.

It's amazing to think that we were in first place from start to finish last season.  I'm pretty that there wasn't a single day where we weren't at least tied for first.

You're correct. Pretty insane.

I highly doubt it.

 

I'm not trying to say it will happen, I'm just trying to say it would be a very similar situation. Iguchi is one of my favorite players and I would hate to see him play horrible this season. He was key in our success last year.

I will get all the "I'm worried about" stuff out of the way in one post.

 

The bullpen's relative youth and inexperience worries me but I have faith that KW and Hahn won't be sleeping on the job.

 

I worry about the starters health and Podsednik's health.

 

The White Sox will be under more pressure than ever this year because every team is gunning for them. This year will not be easy and I expect a tighter race all year long.

 

Up's and downs are part of a long baseball season. The trick is not to overreact to every down performance. It will happen.

 

The plus side is the depth of position players the White Sox have, not only on the bench but in the minors. Sweeney can play, Fields is coming on, Owens can fill in, etc.

 

Also, these bench players are gonna play a lot. Cintron, Mackowiak, Widger, even Gload and Ozuna. Hopefully this board will not moan and groan every time these guys get in the lineup, it's done by design and there are reasons for it.

 

On the pitching side I still expect the White Sox to improve their depth, KW has always said you need 15-16 major league ready pitchers to get through the year and I've always agreed with that philosophy.

 

Further I do not expect this team to come roaring out of the gate, I expect about a .500 record in April until the team gels. The board will panic over a .500 record and the board will want a different guy traded every other day. So be it, everyone is entitled to their opinion but it's a long season and the team will need to come together and gel, it has not happened yet this spring.