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| The waters that the White Sox are sailing are rough, but in Paul Konerko they have one of the best captains they could ask for to right the ship. |
"Big-league players should be mentally tougher than to have that stuff bother you. And for the longest time, we were as a group. … It all came to a head. But that's how things end. If it didn't go like that, then no one would see a need to make a change. Some stuff like that has to happen to make a change."
—1B Paul Konerko, on how the problems behind the scenes last season did hurt the product on the field.
This quote, taken from Yahoo! Sports summed up the Chicago White Sox of yesteryear. The Sox will start their 2012 campaign rid of Ozzie Guillen, Sergio Santos, Juan Pierre, Mark Buehrle and Carlos Quentin. With all of the turnover in the clubhouse, it is fortunate for the Sox to have Paul Konerko as their captain and Don Cooper as their pitching coach. The White Sox also have a new manager in Robin Ventura and a budding closer in Addison Reed. As a Sox fan, I don't have the greatest memories of prospects with the name "Reed."
What you need to know about Robin Ventura is that he manned 3rd base for the Sox in the 90's, playing alongside the likes of Ozzie Guillen and Frank Thomas. What you probably remember him from was him getting his ass beat by Nolan Ryan. What you need to know about Addison Reed is that he was San Diego State's closer when Stephen Strasburg was an Aztec.
More changes are on the horizon in 2012 as Chris Sale is transitioning to the rotation and Dayan Viciedo will be starting the season in the lineup. Kosuke Fukudome was brought in and is a platoon candidate with Alex Rios in Right Field. Alejandro de Aza will start in Center Field and hit leadoff. This will be an improvement because de Aza is less of a defensive liability than Juan D'Vaughn Pierre and will certainly get caught stealing less.
The three players who are on the hot seat going into 2012 are Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Jake Peavy. Dunn and Rios need to hit and Peavy needs to stay healthy for an entire season. These three players having Comeback Player of the Year type seasons is imperative to the White Sox making any noise in 2012. If the White Sox make it to the playoffs, the comeback player of the year will be on their squad UNLESS the Twins secure a playoff spot as well.
I do have guarded optimism that this team can make progress. Don't count them out. It just is not very likely that this team can do anything serious in 2012. If they do, it takes a turnaround from everyone.
Everyone except Paul Konerko that is.
X-FACTORS:
Lineup: DH Adam Dunn. Nobody's batting average drops 101 points overnight. Dunn needs to figure himself out if the White Sox are even considering contending this year.
Rotation: Jake Peavy. We've seen flashes of "Vintage Peavy." He just needs to do that for a whole season now.
Bullpen: Matt Thornton. This guy has no business closing. I really hope to see him return to his role as All-Star Setup Man.
The Kids: RP Addison Reed. This kid is the closer of the future. He needs to work to assume that role in the near future
ROYAL LIST:
#66 RHP Addison Reed. I've said all I need to say about this kid for the moment.
PROJECTION: 2nd Place AL Central
-I can see this team winning around 85 games. That will be an improvement, but I think it will take 90 to secure a berth in the Wild Card game.
—1B Paul Konerko, on how the problems behind the scenes last season did hurt the product on the field.
This quote, taken from Yahoo! Sports summed up the Chicago White Sox of yesteryear. The Sox will start their 2012 campaign rid of Ozzie Guillen, Sergio Santos, Juan Pierre, Mark Buehrle and Carlos Quentin. With all of the turnover in the clubhouse, it is fortunate for the Sox to have Paul Konerko as their captain and Don Cooper as their pitching coach. The White Sox also have a new manager in Robin Ventura and a budding closer in Addison Reed. As a Sox fan, I don't have the greatest memories of prospects with the name "Reed."
What you need to know about Robin Ventura is that he manned 3rd base for the Sox in the 90's, playing alongside the likes of Ozzie Guillen and Frank Thomas. What you probably remember him from was him getting his ass beat by Nolan Ryan. What you need to know about Addison Reed is that he was San Diego State's closer when Stephen Strasburg was an Aztec.
More changes are on the horizon in 2012 as Chris Sale is transitioning to the rotation and Dayan Viciedo will be starting the season in the lineup. Kosuke Fukudome was brought in and is a platoon candidate with Alex Rios in Right Field. Alejandro de Aza will start in Center Field and hit leadoff. This will be an improvement because de Aza is less of a defensive liability than Juan D'Vaughn Pierre and will certainly get caught stealing less.
The three players who are on the hot seat going into 2012 are Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Jake Peavy. Dunn and Rios need to hit and Peavy needs to stay healthy for an entire season. These three players having Comeback Player of the Year type seasons is imperative to the White Sox making any noise in 2012. If the White Sox make it to the playoffs, the comeback player of the year will be on their squad UNLESS the Twins secure a playoff spot as well.
I do have guarded optimism that this team can make progress. Don't count them out. It just is not very likely that this team can do anything serious in 2012. If they do, it takes a turnaround from everyone.
Everyone except Paul Konerko that is.
X-FACTORS:
Lineup: DH Adam Dunn. Nobody's batting average drops 101 points overnight. Dunn needs to figure himself out if the White Sox are even considering contending this year.
Rotation: Jake Peavy. We've seen flashes of "Vintage Peavy." He just needs to do that for a whole season now.
Bullpen: Matt Thornton. This guy has no business closing. I really hope to see him return to his role as All-Star Setup Man.
The Kids: RP Addison Reed. This kid is the closer of the future. He needs to work to assume that role in the near future
ROYAL LIST:
#66 RHP Addison Reed. I've said all I need to say about this kid for the moment.
PROJECTION: 2nd Place AL Central
-I can see this team winning around 85 games. That will be an improvement, but I think it will take 90 to secure a berth in the Wild Card game.
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