White Sox Opening Day outlook

03/28/2008 10:00 AM ET

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

Talk is cheap, as the old saying goes.

Nobody understands that cliché better than White Sox general manager Ken Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen.

Throughout the past offseason and Spring Training, the leaders of the White Sox have spoken of the vast improvements made to the team. They have talked liberally about the building of a playoff and even World Series contender, erasing last year's debacle.

But the architect and the engineer of 2005's championship effort stand more than ready for this optimism to start playing out on the field. That first test emanating from a brutally tough opening two months comes on Monday against the defending American League Central champs from Cleveland and the reigning AL Cy Young winner in C.C. Sabathia.

Let the doubters take their best respective shots. Their words don't mean much either to the determined White Sox.

"Our pitching staff will be fine," said Williams, in a quick look at this team. "The key will be offensively, how much we fight on an at-bat-to-at-bat basis."

Calling card 
Although the offense certainly didn't shine through during a surprisingly dismal year with the bat, the White Sox will hit. They have added Nick Swisher to an already powerful middle of the order and have speed to burn in leadoff man Jerry Owens and No. 2 hitter Orlando Cabrera. This offense should return to its 2006 high-octane form.

Projected starting lineup

1. 2B Pablo Ozuna

2. SS Orlando Cabrera

3. DH Jim Thome

4. 1B Paul Konerko

5. RF Jermaine Dye

6. LF Nick Swisher

7. 3B Joe Crede

8. C A.J. Pierzynski

9. CF Jerry Owens

Projected rotation

1. LHP Mark Buehrle

2. RHP Javier Vazquez

3. LHP John Danks

4. RHP Jose Contreras

5. RHP Gavin Floyd

Projected bullpen

Closer: RHP Bobby Jenks

Setup: RHP Octavio Dotel

Setup: LHP Matt Thornton

Middle: RHP Scott Linebrink

Middle: RHP Ehren Wassermann

Middle: LHP Boone Logan

Long: RHP Mike MacDougal

Achilles' Heel 

Jose Contreras, Gavin Floyd and John Danks all have found various degrees of success over the past two seasons as starters, including Contreras' franchise-record 17 straight winning decisions, an amazing run which ended on July 4, 2006. But this trio needs to avoid the combined struggles faced during prolonged stretches from last year in order to solidify the rotation, with Contreras actually having lost a Major League-worst 26 times since the 2006 All-Star break. This team will go as far as its pitching staff can push it.

You'll know they're rollin if ... 
Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel are the answers to the question of, 'Who can get the ball successfully to closer Bobby Jenks?' The bullpen was nothing short of a disaster for much of last year, but adding the two best setup men who were available over the offseason should help turn a weakness into a strength. Matt Thornton and Mike MacDougal also need to bounce back from rough 2007 campaigns to complete the relief crew.

You'll know they're in trouble if ... 
A large portion of the White Sox runs come via the long ball. Hitting coach Greg Walker makes no excuses for his team's power in the middle of the lineup, especially playing in a hitter-friendly ballpark such as U.S. Cellular Field. But Cabrera, Swisher and Alexei Ramirez were added to give the White Sox a bit more balance, giving them the chance to grind out runs like they did during 2005's special season.

Testing, testing 

A barometer as to where this team actually stands will come during the first road trip of the season, weather permitting. The White Sox open with three games at Progressive Field and follow that series with three weekend games at Comerica Park. The Indians finished 11-7 against the South Siders last year, while the White Sox won their third straight season series from the Tigers and eighth in nine years. Guillen's crew needs to knock off at least one of these two in the long run to reach the playoffs.

Interleague Play
The good news for the White Sox is they now seem to play the Pirates on a yearly basis, whether the National League Central is on the schedule or not. The even better news is while they host the Rockies and travel to face the Dodgers, the White Sox also visit the Giants and won't face either Arizona or San Diego from the NL West. Of course, the six games with the Cubs always bring a playoff-like atmosphere, and the White Sox will try to avenge last year's 1-5 showing against their crosstown rivals.

The Bottom Line
Williams did a great job of addressing the weaknesses on this team, and even strengthening some of the already sturdy spots. It will be tough for the White Sox to make up some 20 games from 2007, an increase they probably would need to reach the postseason out of baseball's toughest division, but look for a highly competitive ballclub.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

White Sox looking to rebound in '08

03/28/2008 10:00 AM ET

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

A.J. Pierzynski had to go back 14 years to answer the following question:

When was the last time he played on a losing team?

"The Minor Leagues, I think," Pierzynski said. "I can only remember being on one during my first year in the Gulf Coast League. It has been a long time."

Those GCL Twins saw Pierzynski as a member in 1994, so it's been quite a run of success since the White Sox catcher has held a featured role on a debacle such as last year's 72-90 showing from the South Siders. It certainly was the first losing team Pierzynski played on during seven full seasons in the Major Leagues.

It was no prize for the organization as a whole, either. The White Sox last losing season came in 1999 (75-86), and the team hadn't dropped as many as 90 since 1989 (68-92).

But the 2007 season now stands as nothing more than an unpleasant but distant memory. The White Sox have a somewhat new alignment in 2008, on display Monday afternoon at 2:05 CT in Cleveland, with general manager Ken Williams adding Nick Swisher, Orlando Cabrera, Scott Linebrink, Octavio Dotel and Alexei Ramirez to give the team a different look and feel.

Dotel and Linebrink provide all-encompassing band-aids to one of baseball's biggest open wounds last year in the White Sox bullpen. But factoring in the attitude and talent Swisher and Cabrera bring to the equation, they could provide the biggest immediate impact.

"Swisher makes a big difference to keep this team together," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

"To add two professional hitters is huge," White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker added. "The biggest news is that Cabrera and Swisher are exactly what we thought they were going to be. That's not a surprise, but to actually see them in the [batting] cage and see how they go about their business, they are low-maintenance pros, winning players who bring a lot of energy."

In order to avoid a repeat of last year's precipitous drop, the White Sox need Jose Contreras to bounce back and produce near his 2006 All-Star form, young starters such as John Danks and Gavin Floyd to work deep into games, bridge men who can get the ball to All-Star closer Bobby Jenks and an offense that can grind out runs. Easier said than done, right?

Pierzynski, for one, believes the above challenge is achievable. He doesn't foresee a second losing year on his big league resume.

"It was tough," said Pierzynski of 2007. "I mean, going through that, and with the expectations to win we had coming in for the team. It just changes when you lose every day. It's tougher to come to the park, and not as fun.

"So, it's just one of those things, a bump in the road. It was a fluke year, and it's over. Now, we go in very confident."

Pitching matchup
CWS: LHP Mark Buehrle (10-9, 3.63 ERA in 2007) 
The $56 million man makes his sixth Opening Day start in the past seven years.

CLE: LHP C.C. Sabathia (19-7, 3.21 ERA)
The lefty as a 2-0 record in the past four head-to-head starts with Buehrle.

Tidbits
The right-handed-hitting Ryan Garko and Jason Michaels both figure to be in the lineup against Buehrle, and that's good news for Cleveland. Garko has seven hits in 11 at-bats against the White Sox ace, who is 5-4 lifetime at Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs Field) while Michaels is 10-for-28 with two home runs against the lefty.

Guillen expects to be back in Tucson

03/27/2008 8:56 PM ET

By Owen Perkins / Special to MLB.com

TUCSON, Ariz. -- There were no final farewells as the White Sox closed their Cactus League season Thursday and prepared to leave Tucson for a pair of weekend exhibition games in Oklahoma City and Memphis.

Amid swirling rumors and speculation about the White Sox future Spring Training home, manager Ozzie Guillen made it clear that he expected the team to return in 2009, dismissing the notion that Thursday's loss to the D-backs could have been the team's final game at Tucson Electric Park.

"I hope not," Guillen stressed. "Because when we play the last game here, I expect better stuff from me. I want to be on the field and blow people kisses and say goodbye, make sure I go to a nice restaurant and say goodbye to my friends here. I went to a couple nice restaurants in Tucson, and I told all the guys, I expect to be back next year."

The White Sox have a 15-year lease at TEP that expires at the end of 2012, and though the club is interested in joining the Dodgers at a new two-team facility in Glendale, Ariz., a suburb of Phoenix, next season, there remains significant obstacles standing in the way of escaping their lease, most notably, finding a team to replace them at the facility.

From Guillen's perspective, an appreciation for Tucson is not an issue.

"I love Tucson," Guillen said. "To be honest with you, the only thing I hate about Tucson is the ballpark. The Tucson Electric Park field is brutal. It's windy, it's cold, it's dusty. There's too much wind every day. It's hard for me to judge players when the wind is blowing out every day. It's hard to make a good decision.

"Besides that, I love Tucson," Guillen added. "I'm not going to move here, because it's too far away from Venezuela, I'll be honest with you. But I like it here. I have a great time here. All the restaurants are real quiet, nice people."

For now, for Guillen, it appears he'll save his send off for another year, trading the promise of blowing kisses for the uncertain excitement of another season watching his players wrestle the familiar winds of TEP.

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History Lesson 1.2

MARCH 28TH

 

THE START OF A TRAGEDY

1940: According to baseballlibrary.com, White Sox second baseman Jackie Hayes caught a cinder in his eye during a 10-1 exhibition loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. An infection ensued and Hayes, a top fielder in his day, eventually lost sight in the eye. By 1943, he was totally blind. According to White Sox historian Rich Lindberg, Hayes complained of vision problems early in spring training and was told by team doctors it was an infection and would clear itself up quickly. In late July, Lindberg wrote in The White Sox Encyclopedia, Hayes was diagnosed with a cataract. Hayes, who spent seven years with the Sox, played his final game on Aug. 29, 1940.

 

ACQUIRING A LAMP

1981: In one of the most underrated deals of his tenure, White Sox general manager Roland Hemond acquired Dennis Lamp from the Cubs for Ken Kravec. Lamp spent three years with the White Sox and was a versatile contributor to three consecutive winning teams. The right-hander logged a 2.41 ERA in 1981, won a career-high 11 games in 1982 and led the A.L. West Division champions with 15 saves in 1983. His best outing came on Aug. 25, 1981 when he no-hit the Brewers at Milwaukee until Robin Yount led off the ninth with a double. Lamp settled for a one-hitter, the second of his career. Even in departure, Lamp was good to the Sox. When he signed as a free agent with Toronto following the 1983 season, the Sox were awarded a selection in the now-defunct compensation pool draft, which was part of the settlement of the 1981 strike. The Sox chose Tom Seaver, whom the Mets had left unprotected figuring that no team would select a high-priced veteran pitcher. Seaver went on to have twof solid seasons with the Sox. The left-handed Kravec, meanwhile, won two games in two seasons for the Cubs.

 

HUMILIATING THE CUBS

2002: The White Sox blasted the Cubs 22-7 before 9,424 at Tucson Electric Park. The victory halted the Sox four-game losing streak and was the Sox eighth in their last 10 tries in Cactus League play against the Cubs.