| Scott Miller's Take |
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A.J. Pierzynski and Paul Konerko each told me in Arizona that this was the best spring camp since they came to Chicago. Hitting coach Greg Walker said the same thing, and manager Ozzie Guillen said it was dramatically more positive than last spring's camp. General manager Kenny Williams said he has a good feeling about this team. So, where does that leave the White Sox? The schedule soon will tell us, but all this leaves me eager to see how they take it into the season. Video Outlook
Strengths
Orlando Cabrera is an upgrade at shortstop, and Nick Swisher was a good get after the Sox failed in their chase of Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand. Paul Konerko, Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye in the middle of the order were not a strength during last season's disastrous run but should be this season. I think the embarrassment of suffering 90 losses last year will drive the White Sox in 2008. The rotation is good, not great -- John Danks (6-13, 5.50 ERA in 2007) and Gavin Floyd (1-5, 5.27) can upgrade it if they step up, but that's asking a lot. Mark Buehrle is going to have to return to ace status, which he started to do in '07 after a disappointing '06. His 10-9 record belied his 3.63 ERA over 30 starts. He didn't get much run support. Konerko, Thome, Dye, A.J. Pierzynski and others need to fix that this year.
Weaknesses
The bottom of the rotation was weak last season, and Danks and Floyd need to be the patches. There are questions at third base, where Joe Crede still hasn't been traded and Josh Fields is waiting to break in, and second, where Danny Richar is out until May and Alexei Ramirez, who last played in Cuba, didn't play as well as the Sox hoped this spring. And the bullpen: Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel are new as Williams looks to strengthen a pen that blew 23 saves and was 19-25 with a 5.49 ERA last year.
Difference Maker
He got off to a great start last April, strained his rib cage at the end of the month and missed the next four weeks, and when he came back, the White Sox were derailed and done. Thome is still a game-changing bat at 37. His 42 homers in 2006 and 35 last year are the top two single-season totals by a lefty hitter in club history.
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| Top Prospects |
| 1. |
Lance Broadway , SP (R) |
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Will compete for No. 5 spot; set to arrive soon even if he loses.
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| 2. |
Jack Egbert, SP (R) |
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Scouts don't see him as front-liner, but has chance to arrive soon.
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| 3. |
Aaron Poreda, SP (L) |
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'07 No. 1 pick throws high-90s and could arrive, dominate soon.
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| 4. |
John Shelby, 2B |
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Has decent power for middle infielder; future hinges on Richar.
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| 5. |
Micah Schnurstein, 1B |
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Offers power, not much else; probably not a full-time player.
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Complete AL Central prospects |
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The White Sox get an offensive and defensive infield upgrade with the addition of SS Orlando Cabrera. (Getty Images)
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Community
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Rggns05 says the White Sox will bounce back with a dominating performance in 2008. The mix of veterans and young talent is dangerous; there is speed, power, defense and depth. He's predicting a repeat of 2005 but a better record -- 102-60. Read the thread
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Give us your thoughts!
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| Team Info |
2007 record: 72-90 (4th in AL Central)
Manager: Ozzie Guillen, 5th year (344-304)
Stadium: U.S. Cellular Field (40,615; grass)
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| Lineup |
| No. | Player | Comment |
| 1. | J. Owens, CF
| Needs to work on his average vs. lefties |
| 2. | O. Cabrera, SS | Coming off a Gold Glove and career-high .301 season with the Angels |
| 3. | J. Thome, DH | Things picked up after slow spring start |
| 4. | P. Konerko, 1B | Slump in '07 was atypical of the past four seasons |
| 5. | J. Dye, RF | Increased '07 average from from .229 to .254 in final 47 games after slow start |
| 6. | N. Swisher, LF | The switch-hitter will leadoff if Owens can't |
| 7. | A.J. Pierzynski, C | His 50 RBI last season was his lowest since 2002 |
| 8. | J. Crede, 3B | Seems on track from June back surgery, though J. Fields is quickly up and coming |
| 9. | J. Uribe, 2B | Moves to 2B after displaced at SS by Cabrera acquisition |
| Pitching |
| Rotation | Comment |
| 1. |
M. Buehrle (L) |
Threw the 18th no-hitter in Sox history in April |
| 2. |
J. Vazquez (R) |
Only pitcher to reach 10 W, 30 GS and 150 SO for eight straight seasons |
| 3. |
J. Danks (L) |
Were his second-half struggles his rookie year just a fluke? |
| 4. |
J. Contreras (R) |
Needs to cut back on the losses after leading the club with 17 last season |
| 5. |
G. Floyd (R) |
Split time last season between Triple-A and the majors |
| Closer |
Comment |
| B. Jenks (R) |
Last two seasons he finished with 40+ saves |
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