Chicago White Sox Season Preview

The Chicago White Sox had an interesting offseason to say the least.  They managed to not make a single move that the baseball world thought made a whole lot of sense.  Trading Sergio Santos, a 30-save closer, under team control for 4 more years for a 23 year old minor league reliever just makes me shake my head.  That said, they’ve still got some pieces to play with and Adam Dunn wants to win really bad.

Projected Lineup:

1. Alejandro de Aza (LF)
2. A.J. Pierzynski (C)
3. Paul Konerko (1B)
4. Adam Dunn (DH)
5. Alexei Ramirez (SS)
6. Dayan Viciedo (RF)
7. Brent Morel (3B)
8. Alex Rios (CF)
9. Gordan Beckham (2B)

Rotation:

1. John Danks
2. Gavin Floyd
3. Phil Humber
4. Jake Peavy
5. Chris Sale

Strengths:

Rotation:  You can call me crazy, but I actually think this is a rotation that you can go to the postseason with.  Danks as your ace is less than scary, but all five guys have what it takes to win at the Major League level.  Chris Sale, 22, is moving from the ‘pen to a starting role  and that should be interesting as he currently owns a 2.58 career ERA in that role.  Jake Peavy, who is still only 30 years old, is due $16 million this year and if he has another Cy Young caliber year left in the shoulder, he could be someone to watch.

Hey, they signed Kosuke Fukudome.  I bet he’s really not depressed about making $14.5 Million last year and $.5 Million this year.

3/4: I’m actually a big Adam Dunn fan and I really believe the Big Donkey’s 2011 was something of a fluke.  He may not hit 40 homers in 2012, but he’ll hit over .200.  The guy tries too hard, and cares too much to repeat 2011.  Paul Konerko is the game’s most underrated hitter.  Over the past two years he’s hit .311 and .300 respectively with a combined 70 homers and 216 RBI’s.  He’s a veteran hitter that has real power to all fields and is one of the game’s top #3 hitters. I love the right/left combination still and I look for Dunn and Konerko to produce in a way similar to what the White Sox envisioned when they signed Dunn last offseason.

Weaknesses:

Farm System:  I mentioned how the trades this offseason didn’t make any sense.  But, here’s ESPN’s Keith Law’s take on why he ranked the White Sox farm system dead last:  “And they’re not particularly close to No. 29, either. When you don’t spend money in the draft, you’re not going to fare well in anyone’s organizational rankings.”  They had just one player in Mr. Law’s top 100 (Addison Reed at 97) and got little more than “organizational arms” for Carlos Quinton.  The White Sox call themselves a rebuilding team, but there’s no real plan in Chi Town.

Robin Ventura:  The guy has absolutely no managerial experience whatsoever.  I know he was a good player and he’s not named Ozzie Guillen, but there’s a lot asked of major league managers that I’m not sure Mr. Ventura is ready for.

GM Kenny Williams:  Time to fully recap their offseason that I’ve hinted at earlier.  Nobody can tell if they are rebuilding, retooling, or trying to compete in 2012.  Here’s why:  the first trade of Sergio Santos just made no sense.  Major League teams don’t trade a young, electric closer just like NBA teams don’t trade the reigning 6th Man of the Year for a second round pick.  Oh, right… the Lakers did that.  The second move: Sign John Danks to a 5-year, $65 Million deal.  Hmmm…. that seems a fair price, but what’s the point?  Then, Carlos Quinton for two guys who probably will never help their major league club.  Curious decision making. Finally, they send Jason Frasor to the Blue Jays for two more guys who probably will never help their major league club. Curious.  I certainly don’t know what Kenny Williams is doing.  I just hope that he does.

Storylines: 

Dunn Sucking:  Is Adam Dunn going to be good in 2012? There’s a lot riding on it.

Dayan Dying:  Dayan Viciedo has just 206 major league at bats, but he is one to watch this coming season.  The White Sox expect a lot out of the 22 year old Cuban.  Viciedo has hit 20 homers in each of the past two minor league seasons. I gotta admit, I don’t know alot about the kid.

Hawk Harrelson:  There’s literally nobody else calling baseball games right now that I enjoy listening to less than Hawk.  I feel bad for the White Sox fans who have to listen to him drone on about a mediocre team all year.

Prediction:

74-88, 5th Place AL Central.  I don’t think the White Sox are that bad of a team, it just happens that I don’t think they’re a particularly good team either. The AL Central will be tight and the White Sox are the weakest of the teams.  They fall off at the end of the year and consider going into complete rebuild mode.

Bold Predictions:

• Matt Thornton is traded to the Rays for some very low level pitching prospects at the deadline.
• Ozzie Guillen does not try to kill White Sox players once in 2012.
• Robin Williams is allowed to manage a game in a stunt sponsored by Red Robin and in an effort to sell tickets in August.  I’d buy tickets to that game.
• Alexei Ramirez hits .229 with 137 strikeouts.
• Hank Blalock does not try to comeback a play for the White Sox.

-Sean Morash