| Christopher Reina. 25th March, 2008 - 7:20 pm
 When a big market team that won the World Series just two seasons ago loses 90 games (and really should have lost more), you expect to see the scaffolding of a major reconstruction project surrounding the ballclub, but this was a team that is built with the expectations to win now.
Can they turn it around in one season in the ultra-competitive AL Central?
2007 Record: 72-90
2007 Pythagorean Record: 67-95
Team FIC Batting: 4.66 per game (28th overall)
Team FIC Pitching: 8.75 per game (23rd overall)
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What Happened Last Season
At the plate: The White Sox were second in the AL in homeruns (190) but comfortably dead last in runs (693 or 4.28 per game). With such a huge discrepancy between these two stats, the tell-tale sign of their inefficiency was getting runners on base (.318 OBP).
The left side of the infield was particularly inept at getting on base (.275 at shortstop and .279 at third base).
But, Jim Thome had another very good season since coming back over to the American League in 2006 as he had a .973 OPS and 35 homeruns.
Paul Konerko’s power numbers remained constant, but his average dropped from .313 down to .259.
Jermaine Dye’s average dropped similarly, down to .315 from .254, but more staggering was his power drop from 44 to 28. His doubles rose, however, by seven since many of those homers of 2006 became extra base hits.
Joe Crede missed much of the season, Scott Podsednik was bad enough for the White Sox to release him after the season, and A.J. Pierzynski was his normal lightning rod/low OBP self.
On the mound: The White Sox had two above average starters (Javier Vazquez and Mark Buehrle), an almost perfectly average starter (Jon Garland), and two decidedly atrocious starters (Jose Contreras and John Danks).
Vazquez was had 213 strikeouts in over 216 innings while maintaining a 3.74 ERA, and Buehrle had a 3.63 ERA.
Garland had a 4.23 ERA and two complete games, but Congreras had an unexpectedly high ERA of 5.57, and Danks had one of 5.50.
In the bullpen, Bobby Jenks had a very solid 2.77 ERA and 40 saves but had little help from his supporting cast.
What Happened In The Offseason
The White Sox addressed some of their OBP concerns by acquiring Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera via offseason trades.
Swisher is a huge (.836 OPS in 2007) upgrade in left field over Podsednik (.668). While not as significant as Swisher, Cabrera is an upgrade over Juan Uribe although the White Sox lose a bit in the slugging department.
Ken Williams also acquired fellow Stanford man Carlos Quentin in exchange for first baseman Christopher Carter.
Finally, he bolstered the bullpen by signing setup man Scott Linebrink.
What Could Happen This Season
At the plate: Even when the White Sox won 99 games and the World Series in 2005, they were still in the bottom half of the AL in runs scored and OBP; the team was built on pitching, and since the team has weakened itself on the mound, they will have to make up for it at the plate.
Swisher and Cabrera will provide many more RBI opportunities for Thome, Konerko, and Dye.
The bottom of the lineup should be better especially if Crede is healthy and Alexei Ramirez snaps the string of bad luck from Cuba.
On the mound: Vazquez and Buehrle remain about the same, but Contreras bounces back. The last time he had a 5.50+ ERA, he followed it up by having a 3.61 season. He finished the season strong after a horrible first half.
Danks and Gavin Floyd are expected to fill out the rotation, but expectations should be mild. Their ceilings are relatively low; although Danks has shown the capability of being a good strikeout pitcher, he can reduce his knack for giving up the long ball.
What Should Happen This Season
Ozzie Guillen may or may not have an exaggerated sense of his own importance, but he makes things interesting and the White Sox should be far more competitive in 2007. Their offense should manufacture many more runs and their pitching staff should be marginally better, but this team is still a distant third or fourth behind the Tigers and Indians.
Five biggest questions
1. Will the addition of Cabrera be worth the loss of Garland?
2. Can Thome, Konerko, and Dye stay healthy and productive?
3. Will Contreras transform into the pitcher he was in 2005?
4. Are the Tigers and Indians too substantially better in terms of talent?
5. Can the back end of the rotation do a better job keeping the White Sox in games?
Prediction:
More 2008 Season Previews
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- Washington Nationals
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- Miwaukee Brewers
- Seattle Mariners
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Cleveland Indians
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Detroit Tigers
- San Francisco Giants
- Christopher Reina is the executive editor of RealGM and the creator of the Reina Value. |
