The last time the White Sox had a team this talented was the last time they made this many radical changes to the roster in the off-season, 2005. They have three starters capable of producing 5+ WAR over 200 innings, an MVP caliber hitter, several above average hitters around him, a rebuilt, reloaded bullpen, a couple players who could be poised for breakout campaigns, and a rookie phenom waiting in the wings. That doesn't even touch on some potential bounceback candidates that also exist. Of course a few things will have to break right (they always do for success to happen), but I see a team poised for greatness. Hopefully I'm wearing the correct pair of Magic Tyler Flowers glasses.

The last time the White Sox had a team this talented was the last time they made this many radical changes to the roster in the off-season, 2005. They have three starters capable of producing 5+ WAR over 200 innings, an MVP caliber hitter, several above average hitters around him, a rebuilt, reloaded bullpen, a couple players who could be poised for breakout campaigns, and a rookie phenom waiting in the wings. That doesn't even touch on some potential bounceback candidates that also exist. Of course a few things will have to break right (they always do for success to happen), but I see a team poised for greatness. Hopefully I'm wearing the correct pair of Magic Tyler Flowers glasses.

 

Was it over when the Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor......

 

Usually these threads appear about June after a losing streak. At least they are looking good this year. I am ready to roll. Lets see what happens. Starting pitching looks good. Lineup looks balanced.

Edited April 4, 201511 yr by southsideirish71

I feel optimistic about this team. I think they are not the top class in their division but they aren't that far behind either.

I think this team is much better than last year, and if they win the battle of health vs. the rest of their division, it will make sense for season ticketholders to plunk down cash for playoff tickets.

i'm prepared for this team to be better than last season, if nothing else, simply for the changes in the bullpen to start the season. But I think people are selling KC short, and as much as I dislike that team I think it's going to own this division for the next couple of years.

i'm prepared for this team to be better than last season, if nothing else, simply for the changes in the bullpen to start the season. But I think people are selling KC short, and as much as I dislike that team I think it's going to own this division for the next couple of years.

 

The bullpen is so critical. It has to do a complete turnaround from last year for the Sox to sniff .500. Other factors then have to combine for the Sox to finish 10 over.

The bullpen is so critical. It has to do a complete turnaround from last year for the Sox to sniff .500. Other factors then have to combine for the Sox to finish 10 over.

 

If we had even a slightly below-average bullpen last year, this team probably finishes close to .500, I don't think a "complete turnaround" is necessary to reach .500, but around league-average would be a huge improvement.

There are so many ways this team is better. Here are 15 random points.

 

1. Samardzija is taking the spot of Scott Carroll and Rienzo and some other dogs we trotted out.

2. Sale is unlikely to get used for 127 pitches in a game and land on the DL.

3. Q in the 3 hole will face weaker competition, turning many of his no decisions into wins.

4. We actually have a closer. And a lefty 8th inning guy.

5. The revamped bullpen, while likely to be a work-in-progress early on, could make a 10-game difference on it's own.

6. The top 4 hitters all get on base at a .350 clip or above.

7. LaRoche has about the same power as Dunn, but with a much better average, and far fewer K's.

8. Abreu is in the conversation for being the best hitter in baseball.

9. Avisail Garcia is going to be a MONSTER, and will really help the offense click.

10. We have a quality backup catcher who might be better than the starter.

11. The infield D could be a little shaky outside of SS, but we have defensive subs for all those spots.

12. Micah Johnson has to be a ton better than what we got out of 2B last year, and if he isn't, we have plenty of options.

13. No more Dayan Viciedo defensive lapses in the outfield.

14. We have Carlos Rodon available as soon as mid-April if we need him.

15. We have other minor league guys who might help us late.

 

I'm not sure it will all come together right out of the gate, but I think this team will click at some point and be very solid.

 

 

There are so many ways this team is better. Here are 15 random points.

 

1. Samardzija is taking the spot of Scott Carroll and Rienzo and some other dogs we trotted out.

2. Sale is unlikely to get used for 127 pitches in a game and land on the DL.

3. Q in the 3 hole will face weaker competition, turning many of his no decisions into wins.

4. We actually have a closer. And a lefty 8th inning guy.

5. The revamped bullpen, while likely to be a work-in-progress early on, could make a 10-game difference on it's own.

6. The top 4 hitters all get on base at a .350 clip or above.

7. LaRoche has about the same power as Dunn, but with a much better average, and far fewer K's.

8. Abreu is in the conversation for being the best hitter in baseball.

9. Avisail Garcia is going to be a MONSTER, and will really help the offense click.

10. We have a quality backup catcher who might be better than the starter.

11. The infield D could be a little shaky outside of SS, but we have defensive subs for all those spots.

12. Micah Johnson has to be a ton better than what we got out of 2B last year, and if he isn't, we have plenty of options.

13. No more Dayan Viciedo defensive lapses in the outfield.

14. We have Carlos Rodon available as soon as mid-April if we need him.

15. We have other minor league guys who might help us late.

 

I'm not sure it will all come together right out of the gate, but I think this team will click at some point and be very solid.

I like all your points. I think a nice summary of your post is that we only improved positions. We aren't worse anywhere except possibly catcher (hard to bet on Flowers repeating those high BABIP streaks that made his stats not look like absolute toilet. Toilet yes, but not texaco latrines on the outskirts of El Paso like we might see this year).

Yea I like this team. I guess I'm a rah rah kinda guy and not fond of all the doom an gloom stuff, although I find my way there sometimes. I like what Hahn has done with this team an like others have said the bullpen will make a big difference. I can see everyone on the team replicating last yrs. stats at least with some showing improvements. I'd like to think we'll win the division.

There are so many ways this team is better. Here are 15 random points.

 

1. Samardzija is taking the spot of Scott Carroll and Rienzo and some other dogs we trotted out.

2. Sale is unlikely to get used for 127 pitches in a game and land on the DL.

3. Q in the 3 hole will face weaker competition, turning many of his no decisions into wins.

4. We actually have a closer. And a lefty 8th inning guy.

5. The revamped bullpen, while likely to be a work-in-progress early on, could make a 10-game difference on it's own.

6. The top 4 hitters all get on base at a .350 clip or above.

7. LaRoche has about the same power as Dunn, but with a much better average, and far fewer K's.

8. Abreu is in the conversation for being the best hitter in baseball.

9. Avisail Garcia is going to be a MONSTER, and will really help the offense click.

10. We have a quality backup catcher who might be better than the starter.

11. The infield D could be a little shaky outside of SS, but we have defensive subs for all those spots.

12. Micah Johnson has to be a ton better than what we got out of 2B last year, and if he isn't, we have plenty of options.

13. No more Dayan Viciedo defensive lapses in the outfield.

14. We have Carlos Rodon available as soon as mid-April if we need him.

15. We have other minor league guys who might help us late.

 

I'm not sure it will all come together right out of the gate, but I think this team will click at some point and be very solid.

Well said and the reasons why I picked us for 90 wins

Don't know where else to post this but I hated the Melky signing when the team announced it and I hate it more and more each day.

Don't know where else to post this but I hated the Melky signing when the team announced it and I hate it more and more each day.

 

There is a " I have a bad feeling about this team" thread.

There is a " I have a bad feeling about this team" thread.

 

About 50,000 of them.