CHICAGO WHITE SOX OFF-SEASON REPORT

In leading the Chicago White Sox to their first World Series in my own personal lifetime, Ozzie Guillen provided us with so many memorable moments. But even while dissing his team to the press and nearly getting knocked out of the playoffs, Guillen did as much as he had to. Retooled for 2006, the Sox will face still competition from the Indians. I like the Indians to prevail, but the White Sox have the upside to put them away early like they did last year.

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1B

After winning a World Championship due to superior pitching, Kenny Williams suddenly found himself with a team with many conventional strengths that could still improve. He had a slugging first baseman in Paul Konerko. He leveraged championship dollars in a large media market into retaining Konerko and another aging slugger, Jim Thome. With a lot of first base talent in the market, the White Sox could probably have gotten a better player. Or alternately set themselves up to make a move on Miguel Cabrera. The Thome deal is either going to completely blow up in Williams’ face or make him look like a genius. The way Thome looked when in the lineup in Philly, and the lack of “Thome looks GREAT” stories lead me to believe he’s a lock for a .233/.350/.500. Hee Seep Choi could do that, and has the considerable chance of doing more. If Thome breaks down, the Sox have some options and could pursue a trade.

2B

When a team wins a championship, its hardiest veterans get spared from criticism. And sometimes, so does a relative newcomer. Tadahito Iguchi is a joy to watch; he’s also just a .270 EqA hitter with poor defense. Don’t be surprised if Alex Cintron finds his way onto the infield more than you’d think. And don't forget this guy, cause I did. Ozuna has more upside than either Cintron or Iguchi.

SS

Juan Uribe got an undue amount of criticism for being Juan Uribe, and the player he was allowed to be by Ozzie Guillen wasn’t much different than the player that warranted the criticism in the first place. Uribe needs U.S. Cellular to pop 20 homers a season. Fortunately, he’s got a lot of games in that particular park. He doesn’t get on-base, but in the playoffs Uribe’s defense in the field was enough to make him a valuable part of the team. Expect more of the same in 2006.

3B

Joe Crede brought the title to Chicago, something Ron Santo never did. Getting on base at a .303 clip doesn’t bring you closer to titles. Crede fits with Williams’ philosophy which is, try to get guys who can at the very least give you 20 homer seasons and you are certain to score SOME runs. Crede’s playoff heroics deserve to be part of his resume, too.

C


A.J. Pierzynski. Anyone who knows anything knows that Pierzynski is a massive tool whose appearances in TNA (Total Nonstop Action) Wrestling were decidedly uncool. Pierzynski is no spring chicken – age thirty-four is where catchers go to die, and Williams’ backup plan on that account goes by the name of Chris Widger. He’s not exactly a bopper, and he’ll be lucky to top 20 homers this year.

RF

Perhaps Jermaine Dye’s MVP in the WS wasn’t justified he bopped 30 homers and played plus defense, enough to be a league-average or better outfielder. His closest PECOTA comparable is Larry Parrish. Because he’s more athletic, having the build of a Ben Gordon more than Joe Torre, Dye should age better than Parrish did.

CF

Brian Anderson is league-average as well, are we getting the picture here yet?

LF

The Podster’s World Series moment was his towering home-run shot in Game Two. Still, he can’t hit the ball, and is turning into a negative on the basepaths, where his 72 percent success rate when he runs is just below 75 percent, the success rate you must achieve to add, not detract from your ballclub’s run-scoring. He also just had double hernia surgery, which isn't pleasant. In this lineup Scott Podsednik is yet another liability. Why was I so bullish about this team in the opener?

PITCHING

Oh yeah, that was why. With five starters proven to be durable and effective, plus a sixth one who may be the best of them all in Brandon McCarthy, the Sox literally have pitching coming out of their ears. Using top prospect Chris Young, who didn’t have a place to play in Chicago and had more flaws than the more-ready Brian Anderson, they swapped out El Duque, a notoriously injury-prone overpriced starter, for Javier Vasquez, a pitcher capable of a Cy-Young caliber season. Jon Garland seemed to establish a new level of effectiveness, and Mark Buerhle used the playoffs to show why the quick-worker is one of the best southpaws on the junior circuit. The bullpen’s even scarier. While not even out of prospect status, Bobby Jenks already has World Series moments in his resume. That kind of confidence in himself mixed with his stuff is why the Sox have the best bullpen in the league.

A league-average offense or better plus dominant starting pitching has always been a recipe for success in the playoffs, and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to play this team if I got there. As a whole the Sox are a determined unit devoted to their manager who will play above-average defense and offense and don’t let up in a short series. (This even when they were down 2 games to Bobby Valentine’s Japanese champions in Diamond Mine Baseball.) The serious problem they have is Mark Shapiro, who is shaping a dynasty in the unsuspecting Midwestern city of Cleveland. They may not be able to out-hit Cleveland’s fearsome lineup over the course of the full season. I don’t like the Sox to make the playoffs again, but if they do, don’t be surprised if I name them the favorite.