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Chicago White Sox 2009 Preview

Logan on 03 17, 2009

Chicago White Sox 2008 Review:

The Chicago White Sox had a relatively successful 2008 season from an overall standpoint. Finishing 89-74 and winning the AL Central over the Minnesota Twins in a one-game playoff, the White Sox were then ousted by the Eventual AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays. White Sox GM Kenny Williams took a major chance on Carlos Quentin in 2008, and Quentin made Williams look like a genius. Quentin finished 2008 with a .287 average to go along with 36 home runs, 100 RBI and 96 runs scored. He also managed to be a very clutch contributor in what proved to be a very home run oriented offense in 2008. The starting pitching was a real strength for Chicago in 2008, Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, and John Danks won 15, 17 and 12 wins respectively. Floyd really shined sporting a 3.84 ERA and striking out 145 batters. The White Sox had enough pitching and offensive output to reach the playoffs in 2008, but without having improved too much overall in the off-season, 2009 could be a step back for the franchise and its fans.

Chicago White Sox 2009 Preview:

With a solid top end of their starting rotation, the White Sox should again contend for the AL Central title in 2009, but a lack of back end starters could prevent them from ultimately reaching the playoffs. The White Sox also feature a potentially dominant bull-pen led by closer Bobby Jenks who finished 2008 with a 2.63 ERA and saved 30/34 games. The depth of the bull-pen is also an extremely strong point for this team, with Octavio Dotel and Scott Linebrink, you had better get ahead early against this White Sox club if you want to win. However, the White Sox are aging offensively and without a consistent back end of their starting five, look for the White Sox to finish just short of a repeat appearance in the MLB Playoffs.

Chicago White Sox Surprise Player of 2009:

Alexei Ramirez can be considered a surprise player from 2008, but I look for even more from him in 2009. After a season that saw him hit .290 with 21 home runs, the skinny second baseman should be able to upgrade some of his offensive statistics (maybe not the home run total). Alexei will potentially be one of the most important parts of the White Sox offense, one that leaned heavily on it’s ability to hit the long ball in 2008. Ramirez gives the Sox the ability to feature an element of speed and manufacture runs, something they struggled with last year.

Chicago White Sox Projected 2009 Record:

2nd place in the AL Central with a record of 81-81.

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