2008 Chicago White Sox Outlook
2007: (72-90), 4th place
Manager: Ozzie Guillen (5th season)
Key Additions -
OF Nick Swisher
SS Orlando Cabrera
OF Carlos Quentin
P Octavio Dotel
P Scott Linebrink
Key Losses -
P Jon Garland (to LAA)
IF/OF Darin Erstad (to HOU)
OF Scott Podsednik (to COL)
P Gio Gonzalez (to OAK)
OF Ryan Sweeney (to OAK)
P Mike Myers (to LAD)
Projected Starting Lineup -
C - A.J. Pierzynski
1B - Paul Konerko
2B - Juan Uribe
SS - Orlando Cabrera
3B - Joe Crede
LF - Carlos Quentin
CF - Nick Swisher
RF - Jermaine Dye
DH - Jim Thome
Projected Starting Rotation -
1 - Mark Buehrle (L)
2 - Javier Vazquez (R)
3 - John Danks (L)
4 - Jose Contreras (R)
5 - Gavin Floyd (R)
CL: Bobby Jenks (R)
SU: Scott Linebrink (R), Octavio Dotel (R)
2008 Outlook:
In 2005, the Chicago White Sox won the World Series. Two years later, they finished 17 games behind division-winning Cleveland and 18 games under .500. This season the Chi Sox will look to bounce back.
General manager Ken Williams went out and did some off-season wheeling and dealing in order to shake up an aging club. However, most of the players he brought in were older than the guys he brought in. It should be interesting to see how well the veteran group that has been assembled responds this year.
The biggest new names are Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera. Swisher, at 27-years old, is in the prime of his career. He has the ability to bop 35-40 home runs but also is so patient at the plate, he can hit leadoff, which is what he’ll do to open the season for the White Sox until Jerry Owens returns from injury. He doesn’t sport the best average but still accumulates an on base percentage in the .370-.380 range because he takes around 100 walks every season.
Cabrera is a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop (having already won 2, including last year) and a tablesetter at the top of the lineup. He hits line drives all over the place, scores runs, steals some bases, and drives in some runs when given the chance. He also is entering a contract year, so he is a definite upgrade over Juan Uribe at the shortstop position.
Uribe will move over to 2B, but will be relegated to the bottom of the lineup. The White Sox wish his batting average would balloon like his weight has. Uribe is listed at 225 but seems like he is adding more pounds every day.
Batting behind Swisher and Cabrera will be the big frames and big bats of Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, and Jermaine Dye. Each had down years as their power and average numbers slipped. Thome and Dye both battled injuries but are healthy now, and the team’s success this season could greatly depend on just how well this trio rebounds. If all three can avoid any nagging injuries or significant stint on the DL, expect them to return to produce a little less than they did in 2006 when they combined for 121 HR and 323 RBI.
If Swisher and Cabrera are getting on base and the trio in the heart of the lineup is slugging, it will the team’s starting pitching that determines the fate of the club. Mark Beuhrle is the unconventional ace of the staff. Unlike most aces, Beuhrle does not rely on power pitching and does not strike out many batters (5.2 K/9). He is, however, durable and usually consistent. He has made 30+ starts and thrown 200+ innings for 7 consecutive seasons, but after his numbers ballooned in 2006 following 4 straight 230+ innings pitched, Chicago has tried to limit the quick-working lefty’s workload.
Javier Vazquez is the more traditional power pitcher (7.9 K/9). Quietly last year, Vazquez put together his best season since leaving Montreal a half decade ago (15-8, 3.74 ERA, 213 K in 216 2/3 IP). In complete contrast, fellow right-hander Jose Contreras had his worst season in the big leagues (10-17, 5.57 ERA). John Danks and Gavin Floyd round out the rotation and neither has proven themselves as a major league starter.
On first glance, the bullpen appears to be a strength with three guys that have been full-time closers (Bobby Jenks, Mike McDougal, Octavio Dotel) and three more guys that have recorded at least 1 save (Scott Linebrink, Matt Thornton, Boone Logan). Jenks has been solid for 2+ seasons, but his Juan Uribe-diet could lead him into mechanical issues. McDougal sported a 6.80 ERA last year. Dotel is a never-ending injury risk (since leaving Houston he has only made more than 15 appearances once). Linebrink has had back-to-back seasons of above 3.50 ERA after having two years under 2.15 before that.
Chicago will need both solid pitching from their bullpen and the end of their rotation along with the re-emergence of the heart of their order if they want to be able to battle with Cleveland and Detroit for the division title.
Fantasy Impact:
Look for Thome, Dye, and Konerko to rebound this season (if healthy). Health concerns are most pertinent with Thome, who at 37 is still a fearsome left-handed slugger but has become more susceptible to injury despite becoming a full-time designated hitter since returning to the AL in ‘06.
Dye should go somewhere in the middle rounds as he is rated as the 30-35th best outfielder. He has averaged 34 HR and 95 RBI in his three seasons with Chicago. If Konerko can regain his ability to hit for average after it dropped over 50 points last season, he can be a top 40-50 slugger instead of being a middle round pick, like he often has been this year. After a solid season, our expectations are high for him. Consider him a sleeper in the middle rounds and a great player to look to make a trade for.
Swisher loses value while he is in the leadoff spot. He is going to lose RBI opportunities and in a standard 5×5 league, his ability to take a base on balls isn’t going to help you. Unlike most leadoff hitters, he doesn’t steal bases and his career batting average is .251. Keep an eye on when Jerry Owens is set to return from his slightly torn groin. If you time it right, you can trade for Swisher when his power numbers are lower and get a boost when he drops down into a more productive slot in the lineup with Owens return.
Cabrera has been drafted most often in the 11-15 round range this year. He had a career year last year with a .301/101/8/86/20 stat line. Can he do it again? It is a contract year, so we’re going to say he will produce similar numbers that may be a little down but not much.
Joining Cabrera on the left side of the infield will be Joe Crede (at least to start the season). Crede could be a sleeper if his back stays healthy. Remember, he hit 30 HR and 94 RBI two seasons ago. But also keep in mind, he could easily be traded away at some point early in the season in order to make room for Josh Fields. Fields is worthy of stashing on your bench until he is called up because he has raw power. In only 343 at bats, he hit 23 homers and drove in 67 ribbies.
At the catcher position, Pierzynski is at the cusp of being either a late round addition or a top free agent. He is off to a hot start, and if he is available, he could be a great fill-in addition to use if your starting catcher gets injured (ala Victor Martinez) or if you took a catcher late who isn’t off to a quick start (Bengie Molina, Paul Lo Duca, Ramon Hernandez).
Jenks has shown to be a solid option as a closer but know that his K decreased last season, and thus far, he has only 1 K in 3 innings (still managed saves three consecutive nights). Besides Jenks, we don’t recommend going after any Chicago pitchers at their going rates.
Vazquez is unlikely to repeat his performance from last season, Contreras could be done in the major leagues before too long, and Buehrle is only useful if he can keep a low WHIP and is getting offensive support. However, do keep an eye on Danks, after he opened with a great start against Cleveland, and top pitching prospect Lance Broadway, who could get a shot if Gavin struggles.
2008 projection: (79-83), 3rd place
Team MVP: Jermaine Dye
| 2.5 |
Leave a Reply