Now that the DH role is filled with the arrival of Adam Dunn from the Washington Nationals in the off-season, the Chicago White Sox may want to focus on their bullpen and how it's going to help out their starting rotation.
GM Kenny Williams did sign RHP Phil Humber and LHP Will Ohman to lend a hand, but letting Closer Bobby Jenks head off to Boston won't help things. Jesse Crain also was acquired from Minnesota as a middle reliever. In order to compete better or possibly win the AL Central Division this season, you would have thought that the White Sox would have made more moves than bringing in Adam Dunn's bat. Hopefully he doesn't think that will make up for the fact that his closer is now in Boston.
Manager Ozzie Guillen is entering his 8th season in the White Sox dugout. In seven years on Chicago's southside, Guillen is 600-535, with a World Series Championship in 2005 over the Houston Astros. During the 2005 World Series title playoff run, the Sox went a remarkable 11-1 in the playoffs, including a 4-0 series sweeping of the Astros for the World Championship. Prior to rejoining the White Sox as manager in 2004, Ozzie was the third base coach for the 2003 World Series Champion Florida Marlins.
Guillen has to feel somewhat comfortable with his starting rotation. Led by ace LHP Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Jake Peavy and Edwin Jackson round of the remainder of the five-man rotation. On Tuesday, March 22, Jake Peavy was sidelined because of shoulder pain. He'll probably be under close watch by the White Sox training staff as we're approaching the season in a week and a half.
Jesse Crain, Chris Sale, Tony Pena Jr., Will Ohman and Sergio Santos will be counted on to be the middle relievers. Matt Thornton has inherited the Closer role in the Sox pen. With 81 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.67 in 60 2/3 innings in 2010, Thornton might be what Guillen is looking for in a Closer to replace Jenks.
With a very seasoned, veteran lineup in the field, the White Sox should be in quite the dogfight with Minnesota for the Central crown this season. The only question is what kind of platooning will happen at third base. Mark Teahen and Brent Morel will all share time, as well as Omar Vizquel getting time at the hot corner, along with being the backup shortstop and second baseman.
C A.J. Pierzynski
1B Paul Konerko
2B Gordon Beckham
SS Alexei Ramirez
3B Brent Morel (or Mark Teahen)
LF Juan Pierre
CF Alex Rios
RF Carlos Quentin
DH Adam Dunn
With the strong bats of Konerko, Rios, Quentin and Dunn and the base-running legs of Beckham, Ramirez and Pierre, look for the Chicago White Sox to make a lot of noise this year. The Southsiders open the season on the road at Jacobs Field to face the Cleveland Indians on Friday, April 1st, diving right into AL Central Division action.
AL Central prediction: 1st
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