2008 Chicago White Sox Baseball Preview

More was expected from the Chicago White Sox (72- 90) last season as manager Ozzie Guillen’s team could not pitch (12th in AL), hit (14th) or field (11th). The question is—what’s the problem?

The problem with the pitching staff is the same problem this club faces in all areas—good but perhaps not good enough. Lefty Mark Buehrle (10-9, 3.63 ERA, 115 SO) has a good mix of pitches but keeps the ball around the plate too much. Javier Vazquez (15- 8, 3.74 ERA, 213 SO), the second starter, is a righty with a fine sinking and running fastball and sweeping slider. Jose Contreras (10- 17, 5.57 ERA, 113 SO), who has a slow delivery, depends upon an unpredictable forkball to get guys out. It didn’t work last year. The rest of the staff is worrisome. Closer Bobby Jenks (3- 5, 2.77 ERA, 40 SV, 56 SO) throws a massive 98 mph fastball and is the real deal. The rest of the pen lacks pizzazz.

Can anybody on this team hit? Well, Orlando Cabrera (.301 BA, 8 HR, 86 RBI), late of the Angels, is the only guy in the lineup who hit over 300 last season. 1B/DH Jim Thome (.275 BA, 35 HR, 95 RBI) possesses a true homerun stroke. CF Nick Swisher (.262 BA, 22 HR, 78 RBI) is a switch hitter from the A’s who will give the club more clout. 1B Paul Konerko (.259 BA, 31 HR, 90 RBI) also offers fine long ball chops. RF Jermaine Dye (.254 BA, 28 HR, 78 RBI) is better than a 250 hitter and needs to jack up his average this season.

The fielding will improve with Cabrera at short and Swisher in center. 3B Joe Crede, if healthy, is a fine defensive player, while Konerko is lacking at first. Dye still plays a good right field.

GM Ken Williams has made some moves to improve the club, but his tenure with the White Sox has not been stellar. Guillen knows how to make headlines but is he really that good of a manager? If this team does not perform in 2008, someone will lose his job—the manager. Too bad, the team really needs a better GM.

Read more on the White Sox other AL Central division competitors like the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, and Kansas City Royals.

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