Chicago White Sox Year In Review

As the new year is coming soon, I thought I'd look back at the past year for the White Sox and comment about everything that happened. It was an interesting and disappointing year for White Sox fans.

The first thing that I remember from last year is the Sox resigning both Konerko and AJ Pierzynski. This was probably the most important signing of the offseason for the Sox. Konerko is the captain and is the most important player on the Sox. He shows up every day and does whatever he can to make the Sox win. He has been the White Sox MVP for the past 5 seasons. Signing AJ was also key for the White Sox. He is one of the most dependable catchers in Major League Baseball. Up until this season, he had never been on the disabled list. He's tough and a great catcher. He can also hit the ball well. His age is showing, but signing him was very important and made fans very happy before the season even started.

The next thing was spring training. Trying to figure out who will be on the team and who won't. Lastings Milledge looked like a keeper, but coaches thought different and kept him down all year. This turned out to be right.

The season started exactly as White Sox fans expected with a big win over the Indians. Adam Dunn and what was supposed to be an explosive offense scored 15 runs. Even though pitching gave up 10 runs, the offense outshadowed it and that's what fans expected. It turned out to be the opposite as the season went on.

John Danks couldn't buy a win in the early part of the season despite pitching good games in and out. The run support became a big problem for the Sox, especially when Danks was on the mound. Once he got his first win, it was more noticable that he was actually having a great season. This helped earn him a contract extension this summer. The slow start would prove to be a problem throughout the year for the White Sox offense. This was one of the biggest disappointments during the 2011 season.

Next was the campaign to get Konerko to the all-star game by voting him in for the final vote. The campaign went well and Konerko was elected to the game. Only Quentin and Konerko made it to the all-star game from the White Sox, which the AL lost.

The season went on and more disappointment happened. The White Sox failed to score runs and pitching wasn't as good as it should have been. Peavy remained injured on and off for most of the season. Humber was a nice surpise leading the Sox in ERA all year. It was easy to see that the White Sox had a lot of things to fix over the offseason.

Ozzie Guillen and Greg Walker were both fired, as they should have been. Robin Ventura was hired as the new manager for the White Sox. Fans hope that he can do better than the last ex-player manager.

The final part of this year that is memorable is Mark Buehrle signing somewhere outside of Chicago. He was deep in the hearts of many White Sox fans and will remain there for years. Even though he is wearing a different jersey now, White Sox fans will always love him for what he did in a White Sox jersey. The no-hitter, perfect game, winning a World Series game, saving a World Series game, and being the ace the White Sox needed. Not to mention the great fielding plays including the through the legs play last year. There aren't many words to describe how near and dear Mark Buehrle was in the hearts and minds of Sox fans, but he will always be remembered. It was great to have someone like him on the White Sox and I hope he does well in Miami and continues to be great. To fill the Buehrle void, John Danks signed a big contract and will probably be the ace next year as he is already scheduled to start opening day.

2011 was an interesting year for the White Sox to say the least. It could've been better, but it could've been worse too. There's a lot of improvement needed and hopefully 2012 is better than 2011 was.

Danks Signs 5 Year 65 Million Contract

Quite a few sources have said that John Danks signed a new deal with the White Sox, signing for 5 years and 65 million dollars. My first reaction to this signing was extreme surprise, because that is a lot of money. Slowly, I convinced myself that it was a smart move. There are a couple reasons that I think this is a smart and reasonable move. 

The first reason is because John Danks has done nothing but good since he has been a White Sox player. Last year, he didn't have many wins, but that was because he got absolutely zero run support. In his five years with the Sox he has only had one year with an ERA above 5.00 and that was his first year. Since then he hasn't had an ERA above 4.33. His average ERA is 4.03. Year after year he has shown that he can be a top of the rotation pitcher. By giving this deal, they are showing him that they trust him in big games and they want him to have a big role on the team. 

The second reason is because this is probably the money that the Sox were going to give Buehrle. I think Danks is a better long term investment. I was reluctant to admit this during the Buehrle sweepstakes, because Buehrle is beloved and I didn't want to see him go. Looking at both pitchers, I would rather have Danks in five years than Buehrle. Danks is younger and is basically a copy of Buehrle. So, we got Danks for longer and cheaper than the Marlins got Buehrle. I think that's a win for the Sox. 

The third reason that I love this deal is because it shows that the White Sox think they have found their ace. By giving Danks such a large deal, the White Sox showed that they are confident in Danks and that they want him to be there for awhile and be an important part of the team. I love this because until now, the rotation was a big question mark. Now Sox fans know for sure who will be starting on opening day.

So before you freak out about the Sox spending the Buehrle money on a guy like Danks, think it over. Danks is just like Buehrle, but younger and maybe better. We all loved Buehrle, but it was time to say goodbye. Say hello to the new ace, John Danks.

Blind Optimism

Right now, every White Sox fan is probably going crazy. Buehrle is gone, Kenny hasn't made any big moves, and there are probably more players on their way out the door. There's not a lot of positives going through the fanbase right now, but why not? I think there are some things to be positive about.

The first is that despite losing Buehrle, the Sox still have a rotation that can do some damage. With the new manager and basically all-new coaching staff, things are going to be turned around. If Beckham, Rios, and Dunn can all have average years, the White Sox offense will be dangerous. If rookie outfielders Dayan Viciedo and Alejandro De Aza can preform, the offense will be even better.

Yes, these are all hypothetical, but lets look at the last time the White Sox won the world series. 2005. The first thought is probably that that team was perfect in chemistry on and off the field and this team has nothing to do with that one, but you're wrong. Before the start of the 2005 season the White Sox were picked to finish fourth in the division and had a lot of ifs on their team. Their entire pitching staff was a giant if and nobody knew if the offense would be as good as it was. The 2005 season also started with a brand new manager. You see, the similarities are endless.

Let us also look at last year's World Series Champion, the St. Louis Cardinals. Did anyone honestly pick them to win the World Series other than some meatball Cardinals fan? No. They fought hard and won series after series. They weren't a stacked team with a rotation like Philadelphia, they were just an average team that knew how to win games. So who says that the White Sox can't win the World Series this year?

Santos Traded, Buehrle Signed. Where do Sox go from here?

Earlier today it was confirmed that Mark Buehrle would sign with the Miami Marlins. This is a day that will live in infamy for White Sox fans. The day that one of the most consistent and leading pitchers left Chicago. There are many people out in White Sox land hoping that this is just a dream and that somehow the White Sox will still find a way to get Buehrle back. I know this because I had a similar thought when I found out that he would be leaving. I was one of those delusional fans that thought that the White Sox would still sign him despite everything being against them. Now that my delusional feelings can officially be ended, I have a few things to say about Buehrle leaving. The first is that the White Sox lost a very important player. When you think White Sox the first players that come to mind are Paul Konerko and Mark Buehrle. The White Sox no longer have one of their franchise players, and Konerko will have to retire eventually. A big question is who will take over as the face of the franchise. The second thing I have to say is that I'm going to miss him a lot because he was one of my favorite players to ever wear a White Sox jersey. Finally, the last thing I want to say is that the White Sox organization screwed up by not doing whatever possible to keep him here. He has been the White Sox ace and the most consistent starter for years. He has won a World Series game and saved a World Series game. He threw a no-hitter and a perfect game. Through thick and thin, he has been there and I don't know what the White Sox will do without him. He will be missed and I can't help but think that the Sox could've tried a little harder to keep him.

In other news, earlier this week Sergio Santos was traded to the Blue Jays for a pitching prospect. The prospect is supposed to be pretty good, but I'm not sure if losing the closer is worth it. It seems like Kenny Williams has started to begin rebuild time. Now the Sox don't have an ace, a closer, and their setup man is on the trading block. One of their best relievers has been moved up to the rotation and everything is a mess. I don' know where the White Sox go from here, but it doesn't look good and 2012 is going to be a long baseball season.

Will Chris Sale be a Successful Starting Pitcher?

When Chris Sale was drafted two years ago, it was to have a young pitching prospect. The plan was to have him develop in the minor leagues and become the next great White Sox starting pitcher. He has the talent to be that, but he never got much of a chance to be in the minor leagues. Almost right after he was drafted, the White Sox used him as a reliever and he did a good job. He finished out the season and helped the White Sox fight for a division title that they didn’t end up getting. During the offseason after that year, there was speculation over whether he would be a starting pitcher, which is what he was supposed to be when they drafted him, or a reliever, which he had experience doing in the league and was successful doing. He ended up being put in the bullpen mainly because there was no room in the rotation. With Buehrle, Danks, Floyd, Peavy, and Humber, all the pitchers were better than him and had more experience. Sox fans knew he wouldn’t get a chance, but now that Peavy is uncertain, Buehrle might be gone, Danks or Floyd might be gone, and Sale is one year older the White Sox announced that Sale would get a chance to be in the rotation. 

Now that the Sox know that he’ll be a starting pitcher, the big question is whether or not he will have success at that position. His WHIP was slightly worse last year compared to the year before. In his short 2010 season, his WHIP was 1.07. Last year it was 1.11. One thing that did improve was that he gave up 2 home runs in his short 2010, but only 6 during a full season last year. That shows that he has probably improved his breaking ball and doesn’t leave it hanging as often. That’s key when you’re a starting pitcher. 

Sale has the ability to be a good starting pitcher, but he needs to have confidence in himself. Something was wrong at the beginning of the year last year. He kept doing his best Octavio Dotel impression and pitched terribly whenever he went into a game. If Sale can avoid doing that at the beginning of this season, he should be fine as a starting pitcher. His first few starts will probably be short, but I think as the season goes on he will become a good starting pitcher. I don’t know if he’ll be the next Buehrle for the Sox, but he will be a good pitcher. I look forward to seeing what he can do on the mound for more than 2 or 3 innings at a time.

Bringing Buehrle Back

One of the biggest question this offseason is whether or not Mark Buehrle will be returning to the White Sox. His contract is up and there are talks that he will be headed to his hometown, St. Louis. This is a reasonable expectation, but I don't think that will happen.

First, if Buehrle leaves the White Sox won't have anyone that's ready to be an ace and will have almost no veteran presence on the pitching staff. Buehrle is vital to this team. Getting rid of him would be giving up the 2012 season.

Second, Buehrle does want to go to St. Louis, but only if he has to choose another team. He wants to stay with the Sox above all other things. If the Sox give him a fair offer, he will come back. He isn't going to leave the Sox unless the Sox decide to get rid of him. He wants to stay.

I just have very little reason to believe that he will leave. I think Kenny Williams wants Buehrle back and will do as much as he can to give him a good enough contract offer. Buehrle wants to play here and the Sox want him back. That should mean that he will come back. I don't want to see the post-Buehrle White Sox yet.

Game Preview. Sox vs. Sox Game 3

The White Sox look to win the series with a win this afternoon. Ozzie lined em up this way:

Brent Lillibridge LF, Alexei Ramirez SS, Paul Konerko 1B, Carlos Quentin RF, Adam Dunn DH, Alex Rios CF, Tyler Flowers C, Gordon Beckham 2B, Brent Morel 3B

Buehrle is pitching today and lately he has been pitching very well. If he continues that today, hopefully the White Sox offense can help get him another win. That would be win number 9 of the season.

The Red Sox are lined up this way:

Jacoby Ellsbury CF, Dustin Pedroia 2B, Adrian Gonzalez 1B, Kevin Youkillis 3B, David Ortiz DH, Carl Crawford LF, Darnell McDonald RF, Jason Varitek C, Marco Scutaro SS

Andrew Miller is on the hill for Boston today. He has not pitched well this season and hopefully the White Sox can take advantage of that.

If the White Sox decide to actually try, they can get a win today. I would like to see the Sox tear this pitcher apart and score double digit runs. That would be a fun game to watch, but I'm not sure how likely that is.

Series Preview. White Sox vs. Red Sox

The Red Sox head to Chicago to take on the White Sox this weekend. The Red Sox are the best team in the American League, but the White Sox are very succesful against Boston, especially at home. In the only series these two teams met, Chicago swept Boston in Boston.

The White Sox are 6-4 in their last 10 games. The Red Sox are 7-3 in their last 10. Both teams are relatively hot, which should make this a good series.




Game 1
Tim Wakefield (6-3 5.15 ERA) vs Gavin Floyd (8-9 4.11 ERA)

In his last three starts, Floyd has pitched well. He is 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA and 13 Ks. Hopefully he continues to do well.

Wakefield's last three starts aren't bad. He is 2-0 with a 6.50 ERA and 14 Ks. The last time the Sox faced Wakefield they hit well, hopefully the Sox can continue that.

The pitching has been the only reason the Sox have been winning this past week. There's no guarantee that Gavin will pitch well again. The offense needs to step it up in this series. There are Quentin trade talks, but hopefully he stays in Chicago and helps the White Sox win this series.

Game 2
Jon Lester (10-4 3.23 ERA) vs Philip Humber (8-6 3.27 ERA)

Humber hasn't been good lately. In his last three starts he is 1-2 with a 5.51 ERA and 14 Ks.

In Lester's last three starts he is 1-0 with a 0.55 ERA and 16 Ks. Hopefully he doesn't continue to dominate and the Sox offense hits him hard.

This game will be a pitching duel for sure. Humber hasn't been good since the All-Star break, but I think he ends that this weekend. Lester has been good lately and will probably continue the domination especially because the White Sox offense isn't very good. Hopefully the White Sox offense comes out on top of this pitching duel.

Game 3
Andrew Miller (4-1 5.45 ERA) vs Mark Buehrle (8-5 3.22 ERA)

Mark Buehrle's last start was classic Buehrle and hopefully that rolls over into this game. In his last three starts he is 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA and 15 Ks. I would love to see the ace continue pitching this way.

Andrew Miller is 1-1 in his last three starts with a 9.00 ERA and 4 Ks. Not good at all and hopefully this an easy game for the White Sox to win.

If Buehrle continues to pitch well and the White Sox offense is able to take advantage of the bad pitcher, they have a good chance to win this game and possibly win the series.

Overall, looking at the pitching match-ups and knowing how good Chicago is against Boston I think the White Sox will win this series. Hopefully Detroit and Cleveland continue to lose and the Sox gain ground in the division this weekend.