White Sox Preview

[DBAHO]

Also a look at Kris Honel,

 

There is life after the Chicago winter. Just look at Kris Honel.

 

Like Mark Mulder before him, Honel is proof that good things can come from the gyms and indoor batting cages where high school baseball players are forced to train in the Midwest. He'll spend most of his time this spring on the back fields at the White Sox complex but soon enough will take his place alongside those competing for a spot in the starting rotation.

 

Honel, a graduate of Providence in New Lenox, was the Sox's first-round pick in the 2001 draft. He was the 16th player taken overall, the highest an Illinois high school pitcher has been taken since Aurora Central Catholic's Bob Kipper was selected with the eighth pick in 1982. Honel helped Class-A Winston-Salem to a Carolina League title in 2003 and is likely to open this season at Double-A Birmingham.

 

But as the White Sox try to fill the last one or two spots in their starting rotation, rest assured the potential of prospects like Honel and Ryan Wing will keep them in the conversation.

 

Last year: 86-76, 2nd.

 

Manager: Ozzie Guillen.

 

Key addition: RHP Shingo Takatsu.

 

Key losses: RHP Bartolo Colon, CF Carl Everett, 2B Roberto Alomar, RHP Tom Gordon, RHP Scott Sullivan.

 

Lesser moves: Added SS Juan Uribe, RHP Cliff Politte, RHP Jason Grilli, RHP Robert Person, RHP Jose Santiago, LHP Vic Darensbourg, RHP Mike Jackson, OF Marvin Benard, INF Bobby Smith, INF Kelly Dransfeldt, INF Mike Bell; lost 2B Aaron Miles, INF Tony Graffanino.

 

Big question: Can enthusiasm replace experience? Guillen was hired to replace Jerry Manuel even though he never had managed a game at any level. He will keep things lively in an environment that often seemed stale under Manuel but he has much to learn, especially in handling a pitching staff. He should get plenty of help from dugout coach Joe Nossek and pitching coach Don Cooper.

 

Keep an eye on: Second baseman Willie Harris. He has hit .213 in 137 big-league games, but general manager Ken Williams traded Miles, who figured to be his competition for a starting spot. Harris could wind up platooning with the right-handed-hitting Uribe, but there's little Williams would love more than for Harris to justify the faith he has shown in him. Putting more heat on Harris, it's likely that Guillen will try him in the leadoff spot.

 

The main event: There's a battle for jobs on the pitching staff. Mark Buehrle, Esteban Loaiza, Jon Garland, Billy Koch, Damaso Marte, Kelly Wunsch, Politte and Takatsu are assured of jobs. That leaves Scott Schoeneweis, Dan Wright, Neal Cotts, John Rauch, Felix Diaz, Enemencio Pacheco and Person competing for the last two spots in the rotation. Bullpen candidates include Grilli, Darensbourg, Jackson, Santiago, Jon Adkins, Matt Ginter, Gary Majewski, David Sanders, Arnie Munoz, Ryan Kohlmeier, Carlos Castillo and Ryan Meaux.