The ReclinerGM’s 2009 MLB Preview: Chicago White Sox

explanation of rankings and other team previews here

2008 Record: 89-74
Offseason Additions: Bartolo Colon, Jayson Nix
Offseason Subtractions: Javier Vasquez, Orlando Cabrera, Juan Uribe, Nick Swisher
Ranks (MLB):
Line-Up – 20th
Rotation – 17th
Bullpen – 7th
Defense – 5th tier (out of 5)
Baserunning – 4th tier (out of 5)

KEY PLAYER: CARLOS QUENTIN                                            

Minor league 1B Chris Carter. That’s all it took for the White Sox to acquire a 2008 MVP candidate. Until he got hurt, Quentin was actually the front runner for the award, as he was on pace for 45 HR and 125 RBI before a wrist injury caused him to miss the last 32 games of the season. I always liked Quentin when he was on the Diamondbacks, but I never thought he could ever be that good. The question for the White Sox now is, can he do it again? The White Sox offense is centered around aging sluggers Paul Konerko, Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye. All three could break down at any moment, and they need Quentin to be the main offensive force in 2009. A wrist injury can be particularly tough on hitters, so it will be interesting to see whether that, and the fact that AL pitchers will adjust to him in his 2nd year in the league, will allow him to be as good in ‘09 as ‘08. 

PLAYER TO WATCH: GAVIN FLOYD                                   

It pained me to pick up Gavin Floyd off the waiver wire in my Fantasy Baseball league last year. It really did. Floyd was one of the most hyped prospects in Phillies history after receiving a huge bonus upon being the 4th pick in the 2001 draft. Then, after a 108.2 major league innings, and a comically  bad 6.95 ERA and 1.74 WHIP, he was thrown in as part of the Freddy Garcia deal. Last year, he showed we gave up on him too early. He was one of the best pitchers in the AL, with a 17-8 record and 3.84 ERA in 206.1 IP. It was hard not to think how good he would have looked as our 2nd starter. That being said, I think that was about as good as he can be, and expect him to take a step back this year. Not into the 7+ ERA range or anything, but more typical #3-4 starter numbers. 

PHILLY ANGLE                                                                               

Jim Thome, defying the odds

When the Phillies signed Jim Thome, many people predicted that the 5th and 6th years of the contract would be wasteful. He’d be too old, his bat would slow down because of his size and hitting style, and we’d be carrying dead weight. His trade to the White Sox meant we didn’t have to find out, but it’s pretty obvious those people were wrong. Not only was Thome productive in those 2 seasons, but he was productive enough that the White Sox picked up his $13M option for 2009, something that I didn’t even know existed on the contract because no one thought it would ever be used. In his 3 seasons with the White Sox, Thome has averaged the following season: .269, 37 HR, 98 RBI and a .951 OPS. Now 38, Thome wants to play on after this season, and is only 59 HR’s away from 600 and 12 RBI away from 1,500. Only Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Griffey and Sosa can claim those numbers. A true class act, and one of the few sluggers (along with Carlos Delgado) who have been completely clear of the steroid controversy, I certainly hope he gets there. 

QUICK HITS

Worst Contract: Jose Contreras (3 yrs, $29 million, ends in 2009)
Best Pitch: Jon Danks Change-Up
Best Player in a Contract Year: Jermaine Dye, OF (team option for 2010)
Top Prospect: Gordon Beckham, SS
Best Individual Season: Frank Thomas, 1994 (.353 BA, 38 HR, 101 RBI, .487 OBP, .729 SLG% in 114 games, MVP)
Worst Uniforms: 1971
Where’d They Come From?

– Trade, 6
- Draft, 4
- Free Agent, 4
- Amateur FA, 1

2009 OUTLOOK

4th AL Central, 8th AL, 17th MLB

The White Sox have been up and down this entire decade, and I think this will be a down year for them. They lost a lot of pieces, and didn’t really do much to replace them, they are relying on 3 older players to not go into decline and be major offensive contributors and they are shaky at the bottom of the rotation. Not to mention their closer showed signs of breaking down and their bullpen, much like the Phillies, pitched over their head last year. As I’m writing all this, I’m wondering if they will even beat out the Royals.

February 26, 2009