Chicago White Sox Information
2010 will be the Chicago White Sox 111th season in Major League Baseball and the offseason has begun with some Ozzie Guillen controversy and the Ozzie show he wanted to put on the internet. Well, it was just a web page but board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf unequivocally said "no."
While that business was going on, the franchise made a few moves to better their team. Leaving the Sox were: OF Dewayne Wise, OF Scott Podsednik, RHP D.J. Carrasco, RHP Octavio Dotel and RF Jermaine Dye.
Coming to the Sox this season are 3B Mark Teahen, INF Omar Vizquel, OF/DH Andruw Jones, RHP J.J. Putz, OF Juan Peirre and RHP Freddy Dolsi.
Although there has been some controversy on the Sox letting go of DH Jermaine Dye, manager Ozzie Guillen is taking a DH by committee approach but the team as a whole are looking to Andruw Jones to step into the position.
The projected pitching rotation looks to be RHP Jake Peavy, LHP John Danks, RHP Gavin Floyd, LHP Mark Buehrle and RHP Freddy Garcia. The Bullpen is projected to be RHP Bobby Jenks (closer), RHP J.J. Putz, LHP Matt Thornton, LHP Randy Williams, RHP Scott Linebrink, RHP Tony Pena and RHP Daniel Hudson.
The projected batting lineup looks to be LF Juan Pierre, 2B Gordon Beckham, RF Carlos Quentin, 1B Paul Konerko, CF Alex Rios, C A.J. Pierzynski, DH Andruw Jones, 3B Mark Teahen and SS Alexei Ramirez.
The season kicks off and ends with the Cleveland Indians and in interleague the Sox will play the Cubs, the Nationals and the Pirates. This will be the first time that the Sox will play the Washington Nationals since the franchise moved away from Montreal in 2005.
Bouncing back from spring training injuries, the Chicago White Sox opened the ’07 season with Jose Contreras pitching against the Cleveland Indians. He wasn’t what was expected, giving up 8 runs on an eventual 12-5 loss. The season still faces its share of injuries and very low hitting stats. But a comeback is not surprising to the Sox, with Mark Buehrle bringing the crowd at Cellular Field to a frenzy after when he grounded out Rangers catcher Gerald Laird to the third baseman, making it in the MLB record books. Buehrle also earned a 56 million contract extension later in the season. So, can the White Sox pull off another World Championship? Fans will have to check ‘em out and see!
The Chicago White Sox are looking to break one of the longest championship droughts in the major leagues in 2004. The White Sox last won a World Series in 1917, but might be best known for their involvement in the fixing of the World Series in 1919. 8 members of that “Black Sox” team were eventually banned from baseball for their involvement.
The old Comiskey Park is now named U.S. Cellular Field. The original field was built in 1991, and has been featured in numerous big name movies including “Major League II” and “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” Ozzie Guillen takes over the White Sox in his first career managerial experience. Guillen has played in the majors for years, so he knows his stuff, but this will be his first coaching gig on any level. He prides himself on being able to relate to his players, but he has also assured them he won’t be afraid to discipline them if they don’t perform.
Estaban Loiaza comes off a career year in 2003 and looks to build upon it in 2004. Not many people expect him to win 21 games again this year, but he might have to with the loss of Bartolo Colon to the Anaheim Angels. Mark Buehrle will be asked to solidify his role as the number two on the staff, which means a win total in excess of 15 this season. Jon Garland and Scott Schoeneweis will fall in line as the three and four of the staff, but the fifth spot in the rotation is still a mystery. The White Sox have minor league prospects in Triple-A Charlotte with a lot of potential, but they don’t want to rush a young arm up to the major league level if they aren’t ready.
The big bats will be out in force again this season for the White Sox. The “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas looks to build on his MVP-caliber season of 2003, and all-star outfielder Magglio Ordonez is almost a lock to duplicate his .315-30-100 season of last year, and is likely to boost those stats even more in 2004. Chicago will ask left fielder Carlos Lee to replicate his career year from 2003, and so the pressure will squarely be on his shoulders. The man facing the most pressure this season might be first baseman Paul Konerko. Konerko had a horrendous season by his standards last year, and with Thomas aging quicker, the White Sox really don’t have a legitimate replacement for Konerko, should he struggle to open the season.
The biggest problem the White Sox might face this season, as well as many other seasons, might be the “lovable losers” who reside across town. The city of Chicago has seemingly adopted the Cubs as their team, even though the White Sox have been the more successful team over the years. The White Sox should be legitimate contenders in the AL Central and they can prove to the City of Chicago that the Cubs aren’t the only show in town.