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.

Sale in the Rotation

It was recently announced that Chris Sale would be in the White Sox rotation in 2012. There was some fans and writers saying that he might be in the rotation last year at the start of the season, but that never happened. This is different. He will be in the rotation next year. I think this was a smart move. After a very short stay on the White Sox in 2010, they wanted him to have a full year in the majors before making him a starter. In that year, he had ups and downs but overall had a very good year. I think he’s good in the bullpen, but I really want to see what he can do in the rotation.

If Buehrle or Floyd leave the Sox this year, his presence in the rotation will be needed even more. I think he can be a very solid 5th starter this coming year and possibly move up in the rotation.

Viciedo Called Up

The move that White Sox fans have been calling for almost all year has finally happened. Most fans think it's too late and I'm one of them. The White Sox have little to no chance to win the division and now they decide to call up a guy who could be a good offensive weapon for the Sox. It doesn't make sense. 

Viciedo was on fire before the all-star break while playing for AAA Charlotte. After the all-star break, he wasn't as good and his numbers have dropped. In my mind, he still deserved the call-up, but it was a little late. 

Another reason I don't want Viciedo up right now is because it is pointless. He isn't going to win the division for the Sox and now he has to be poisoned by Greg Walker. Brent Morel and Gordon Beckham have already suffered the effects of Walker's coaching and I hoped that Viciedo wouldn't be ruined by him. Now that Viciedo is up, the ruining of his skill could be entirely possible. 

In my mind, this call-up is pointless and could backfire in the end because of Greg Walker. I like Viciedo and I think he has a lot of talent, but I'm not one of the fans that thinks he is going to save the White Sox from all their problems and be better than Frank Thomas. I think he will be a good player in a couple years and is basically the future of the Sox.

Sox sweep the Twins

The White Sox had the best game of the series today and finished off the sweep in Minnesota. This is the first time the White Sox have swept the Twins in Minnesota since 2004.

Peavy was brilliant today and got tons of run support that he didn't even need. Peavy pitched eight innings only giving up 3 hits.

The White Sox offense was explosive including four homeruns. The homeruns were from Lillibridge, Konerko, Ramirez, and Rios.

Overall, this game was probably the best in the series. Yesterday was a good game, but today the Sox were even better. Hopefully this success will continue for awhile.

White Sox win two in a row

One of the biggest problems for the White Sox this year was facing division opponents, especially the Twins. The White Sox have been terrible against the Twins, and downright awful at Target Field, the home of the Twins. That hasn't been the case so far in this series, though. The White Sox have won both of the games so far in this series. The first game was thanks to Carlos Quentin hitting two homeruns and having a 4 RBI night. The second game was just a great game played by the White Sox.

The first run was scored by timely hitting and the next run was scored by great base-running and speed. The other runs all came in the ninth including a 2 run homer from Brent Lillibridge, aka Thrillibridge.

Overall, I'm very happy with the way the White Sox ended their 6 game losing streak. They have won two games where they normally don't win and won them by playing good baseball.

I feel like the season is over.

I've tried to be optimistic about this season. I want to believe that the White Sox can pull of some miraculous comeback and actually win the division and maybe go somewhere in the playoffs. Right now, I just don't see that happening in even the wildest scenario.

This team was supposed to be good. The great starting pitching combined with the hitting that Rios, Dunn, Konerko, Beckham, and Quentin were supposed to provide was going to make them a genuine threat in the American League. Well three of those players that were supposed to supply offense have not. Sure, Beckham is great in the field and I love him to death, but he has been terrible at the plate. Dunn has not lived up to the expectations at all and Rios doesn't even care about the game. He jogs to pick up the ball and can't hit for nothing at the the plate.

The team hasn't lived up to the expectations and the season is basically over. I don't see this team pulling off a dramatic winning streak and winning the division. I can't see that happening with how awful the offense has been. I will still watch this team and I will still love them next year, but I can't continue to write positive things and say that everything is going to be okay.

The White Sox start a series against the Twins today. The Sox have been terrible against the Twins and will probably continue that in this series, but who knows maybe they'll manage to win a game or two against them.