Well.... not really. I'm telling you right now... there are a lot of red flags that say it's going to be a long summer in the Windy City. The White Sox finished 2011 at 79-83, nine games worse than 2010, and I don't believe they added enough pieces in the offseason to be a contender in what will be a very weak AL Central in 2012. This is mostly because they actually didn't add any pieces. Even at the time I'm writing this, the White Sox are 2-7 in Cactus league play, and we described in an MLB.com article yesterday as "hapless". This franchise might be in trouble.
The biggest move Chicago made this offseason was letting Ozzie Guillen go to the fish and letting Robin Ventura become their new manager. Guillen was fiery and fun and gave the media plenty to talk about, but was about as stable as this:
It's not much of a stretch to point out how much the White Sox struggled last year, and it can be exemplified by the two players that were supposed to anchor the middle of the lineup last year. After hitting .284 with 21 HR and 88 RBI in 2010, Alex Rios took a giant step back and had what can best be described as an atrocity of a season. Starting in centerfield, Rios hit .224 with only 13 HR and 44 RBI. He returns this year, and the front office is praying this turns around and quick, because they still owe him 51 million dollars on his contract. Another huge bust was slugger Adam Dunn. Notorious for being an all or nothing kind of player, Dunn was abysmal in 2011. He hit .159 with only 11 home runs and 42 RBI. This was a guy who had hit 38 or more home runs every year since 2004. For production to drop off so far so soon was inconceivable at the beginning of the year. The best part? Dunn is back in the DH role as well.
These two guys represent an offense that finished in the lower half of the AL in almost every statistical category last year. Newly joining the bunch are Cuban rookie Dayan Viciedo, who had his best year in the minors last year at AAA Charlotte where in 119 games, he hit .296 with 20 HR and 78 RBI. If he can be a shot in the arm for the offense, maybe they can get this thing turned around. Taking over the center field job and pushing Rios to right will be Alejandro De Aza (.329 in 54 games). This outfield trio all has very strong arms and great range, meaning the outfield should be covered well, hopefully resulting in fewer extra base hits for the opposition.
The infield returns intact from last year. Paul Konerko keeps hitting the cover off the ball year after year, and probably has at least one more 30+ home run season left in him. Alexi Ramirez has also established him self as one of the leagues best hitting shortstops of this era. Gordon Beckham (.230) and Brent Morel (.245), two home grown players, will have to improve this season with the bat in order to stick around with the team. Behind the dish will be everybody's favorite former San Francisco Giant, AJ Pierzynski.
Nuff Said.
The pitching staff underwent a little bit more change this year. Long time starter Mark Buerhle has taken his talents to South Beach, leaving John Danks (8-12.4.33, who had an up and down 2011, as the "ace". His 4.33 ERA says otherwise, however. Behind him is Gavin Floyd (12-13, 4.37), who has shown to be a very reliable starter and is the team's only returning 10 game winner. Jake Peavy (7-7, 4.92), the former Cy Young winner, is third in the rotation, and the White Sox would love if he could recover to even two thirds of his pre-injury self. Behind him is Phil Humber (9-9, 3.75), who barely made the rotation last year and ended up posting the best ERA of the four returning starters. In the fifth spot is a youngster who was the set-up man last year, Chris Sale. If he makes the jump to the rotation smoothly a lot of fears would be quieted. Closing this year will be Matt Thornton, he had 7 saves last year and was the supposed closer going into camp, but lost the job to the now departed Sergio Santos.
Your 2012 Chicago White Sox:
C A.J. Pierzynski
1B Paul Konerko
2B Gordon Beckham
SS Alexi Ramirez
3B Brent Morel
LF Dayan Viciedo
CF Alejandro De Aza
RF Alex Rios
DH Adam Dunn
SP John Danks
SP Gavin Floyd
SP Jake Peavy
SP Chris Sale
SP Phil Humber
CL Matt Thornton
Best Case Scenario:
Sunshine and rainbows rule the day. With Ozzie gone, the White Sox focus. Adam Dunn wins comeback player of the year honors, and Rios is right behind. The young rotation does their job, and each finishes with over 10 wins. The White Sox laugh at the Cubs as they vault into first place in the AL Central when Cabrera looks like a floppy fish at third base for the Tigers and the Indians rotation falls apart.
Though they can't quite make it past the Rangers, Angels, and Rays in the East, they exceed expectations an are poised to make a run at the 2013 title.
Worst Case Scenario:
Dunn and Rios prove to be done with baseball as they knew it and the White Sox are stuck with dead weight for the entire season. The rotation is in shambles as Peavy gets hurt and Sale can't pitch more than twice through a line up. Seeking something to do after the Bulls are surprisingly eliminated in the first round, Deng, Boozer, and Rose are signed as part of a publicity stunt. They play for one week and combine for one hit before fans begin rioting in the streets. President Obama declares a state of emergency in Chicago, and calls in the National Guard. After laying waste to the state trying to hold a benefit concert, Ventura drives the getaway car on half a tank of gas and a pack of cigarettes while wearing sunglasses in the dark. The efforts of Obama cost him points in the polls and Romney wins the Presidency. The world ends like the Mayans predicted it would
What Will Probably Happen
70-92, Last in the AL Central
Song of the Post
Never miss a chance to play some Blues Bros.
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