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If no trades are made from now until the break of training camp, the White Sox will have question marks at quite a few positions going into 2009. We’ll skip the starting rotation for now, which admittedly could be their biggest weakness, and instead focus on their position players.
Right now as I see it, the White Sox have 5 players who have presumably locked up postions for opening day; Carlos Quentin in LF, Jermaine Dye in RF, Alexei Ramirez at SS, Paul Konerko at 1B, and AJ Pierzynski doing the catching. Is there a “pitcher/catcher” joke to be made in there somewhere? Yes, probably. This leaves unproven players at 3B, 2B, and CF. As Ozzie Guillen might say, “dis shit iz no guud. Bobby Jenks and his fat ass better come to camp in shape.” Then Bobby would say, “why are you picking on me? You’re supposed to be talking about the position players.” Then Ozzie would call Bobby a fag.
The problem though isn’t with Ozzie’s language. The problem is that he’s got a point; dis shit iz no guud. Joe Crede will be wasting a roster spot for a different team in 2009, so the White Sox will be breaking camp with Josh Fields and Wilson Betemit battling for the 3B job. That’s not a combo that leaves me feeling comfortable. There’s good news in regards to Josh Fields though. According to assistant coach Joey Cora, who has been working with Fields all winter, the difference in Fields’ defense this year versus last year will be night and day. The bad news though is that Cora has to say that. What else is he going to say? “Uh, I’ve been working with him all winter, but we’ve just been hanging out at the clubs the whole time. Josh likes techno.” Hell no. So instead we’re left to speculate. Either way, vast improvement shouldn’t be difficult since Josh was probably the worst defensive 3rd baseman in all of baseball last year.
At 2nd base, the White Sox seem to be employing the “quantity not quality” theory. They’ll have 3 or 4 guys who will be battling for the starting 2B job, beginning with Jayson Nix, who was brought over from Colorado. Nix is your typical “good stats in the minors, hasn’t done shit in the majors” guy who the White Sox are banking has just never received the right chance to prove himself. He will get to battle it out with Chris Getz and Brent Lillibridge. Getz is similar to Nix, he’s just been around longer while Lillibridge is a speed guy who struggled to get on base at both the major and minor league levels last year. Did I sell them well enough for you? I know I’m satisfied.
In CF, the White Sox are in the same boat as they have been since they traded Aaron Rowand after the 2005 season’; lots of options, none of which are any good. There’s Brian Anderson, a former 1st round pick who has never been able to put it together offensively but plays a pretty good CF, Dewayne Wise, a 4th or 5th outfielder masquerading as a starter, and Jerry Owens, who just plain sucks. I guess they all hustle, so there’s that. Oh also, both Wise and Owens are black. At least I think Owens is. He looks black. I know Wise is. I’m 95%, maybe 96% sure that Jerry Owens is too. And with Dye playing RF, that potentially gives the White Sox 2 black guys in their starting outfield. So eat it Houston Astros.
Where does that leave them overall though? Personally, I think it leaves them as underdogs in the AL Central once again.
Best post of the day.
They really should have gotten more for Swisher – or just kept him.
I agree with you Nick. They bought high on him and then sold low after only 1 year. The thing about him though was that Ozzie didn’t seem to like him. And once that happens, you’re good as gone. It’s happened so many times now since Ozzie has been here.
Hopefully Kenny can get Bobby Abreu
No mention of Dayan Viciedo? True, he’s another unknown from Cuba, but if he turns out like Ramirez or better, that will be one hell of a pickup.
Tampa – Abreau is no different than Dye. Neither one is better than the other.
Detroit is gonna win the division anway, but solid effort
oops, sorry, just read the last sentence.
I’d say Dye is better. The bats are the same, but Dye (while bad) is still a bit better than Abreu in the OF.
White Sox finish just above the Royals this year.
Barrett is a legend in my house.
The Twins also have 2 black OF.
/not sure why color of skin matters when discussing player positions.
The White Sox eat cock. No one cares about their horribly run organization, or even their fanbase who reside in Florida.
SEA, I’d be shocked if Dayan Viciedo contributes at all this year.
Cal Ripken bangs Brady Anderson.
any chance we see Danny Richar starting at 2nd base? is his back finally straight?
Happy – that’s what they said about Alexi last year, too. But I tend to think you’re right, although I think he’ll be on the 25 man roster.
Reds got him for Griffey. Some other pieces too, but I can’t remember offhand.
ah, that’s right. player fuck up.
Florida chicks have a higher % of STDs than any other state in the nation, and Russia.
But then I thought, when am I gonna make it back to Haiti?
/Bad Idea Jeans’d
Not if you strap it up. But to be fair from Florida half of there population is originally from NY.
Not sure what this means.
/Hef’d
You ESPN watching Cub fans will never get it. I pity you and your condo-flipping yogurt eating bleacher loving asses.