Year in preview: 2005 White Sox

[greasywheels121]

http://whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/cws/new...s_cws&fext=.jsp

 

Year in preview: 2005 White Sox

Chicago to have a new look in the new year

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com 

 

CHICAGO -- How much has Ken Williams changed the face and direction of the White Sox since late last June? Aaron Rowand can best provide this particular answer.

 

"I figured out only four guys have been on the team longer than me now," said the White Sox center fielder with a laugh, referring to pitchers Mark Buehrle and Jon Garland, first baseman Paul Konerko and designated hitter Frank Thomas, of course.

 

"(Joe) Crede came up before me in 2000, but as far as service time, I have a little bit more than he does," Rowand added of his three years, 65 days of service on the South Side. "Unless I'm wrong, there are only four, and I'm only in my fifth year."

 

Some changes for 2005 seemed almost unavoidable, such as the departure of All-Star right fielder Magglio Ordonez, shortstop Jose Valentin or second baseman Roberto Alomar via free agency. Other moves were a little more surprising, such as the four-player trade Williams pulled off at the end of the Winter Meetings, sending Carlos Lee to Milwaukee for outfielder Scott Podsednik, reliever Luis Vizcaino and a player to be named later.

 

Season in Preview

A lot can change by Opening Day, but as 2004 becomes 2005, this is who is projected to take the field for the White Sox: 

  LF Scott Podsednik

  SS Juan Uribe 

  RF Jermaine Dye

  DH Frank Thomas 

  1B Paul Konerko

  CF Aaron Rowand 

  3B Joe Crede

  C Ben Davis

  2B Willie Harris

  SP Mark Buehrle

  SP Freddy Garcia

  SP Jose Contreras

  SP Jon Garland

  SP Orlando Hernandez

  CL Shingo Takatsu

 

Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen weren't kidding around about a new look to the White Sox at the end of the 2004 season, the team's fourth straight without reaching the postseason and third straight finishing behind Minnesota in the American League Central. Gone are the days of relying on the three-run home run to dramatically win games, and currently appearing are top-flight pitching, speed to manufacture runs and defense to hold the lead.

 

At least, that's what Williams and Guillen hope are on display. Since a victory over the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field on June 27, 2004, Williams has acquired starting pitchers Freddy Garcia, Jose Contreras and Orlando 'El Duque' Hernandez, outfielders Carl Everett, Jermaine Dye and Podsednik and relievers Vizcaino and Dustin Hermanson. If Williams could add a utility infielder, his work appears to be done -- at least temporarily.

 

With Williams' desire to win immediately, he's always vigilant to a move that could help his team not only capture the division crown, but bring home a World Series title.

 

"I'm happy with the moves Kenny has made," Rowand said. "He and Ozzie clearly had a good idea of what they wanted to do.

 

"We still have guys who can hit the ball out of the ballpark, but they are bringing in people to move guys over and handle the bat a little bit more. Maybe hit behind a runner, and then play solid defense behind our pitching staff.

 

"Pitching and defense win titles," Rowand added. "Our offense has always been there. We are just trying to downsize it a little bit."

 

'05-meter: The White Sox rate a 4 -- Too early to tell. Williams has put together the best bullpen during his tenure as general manager and quite possibly could have one of the top groups of relievers in all of baseball. But there are still too many question marks to officially place the White Sox as top contenders.

 

When will Thomas return from surgery to repair a fractured navicular in his left ankle, and how will he perform once he comes back? Can Dye return to highly productive form after battling injuries for the past few years? Will Podsednik and Contreras battle back from poor seasons in 2004?

 

If everything falls into place, this could be a special year on the South Side. Otherwise, with Detroit and Cleveland improving, the White Sox could be fighting in the middle of the Central pack.

 

Players Acquired: OF Scott Podsednik (trade with Brewers), RHP Luis Vizcaino (trade with Brewers), RHP Dustin Hermanson (free agent), RF Jermaine Dye (free agent), LHP Kevin Walker (free agent).

 

Players Departed: OF Carlos Lee (trade with Brewers), OF Magglio Ordonez (free agency), IF Roberto Alomar (free agency), SS Jose Valentin (free agency), LHP Kelly Wunsch (minor league free agent), C Sandy Alomar Jr. (team option declined, free agency), RHP Dan Wright (released).

 

Players re-signed: RHP Cliff Politte, DH Frank Thomas (player option), OF/DH Carl Everett (player option), RHP Jon Garland (arbitration eligible), RHP Shingo Takatsu (team option).

 

Did You Know? In each of the last two seasons, the White Sox have set single-season team records for home runs. Their new mark of 242 in 2004 included 145 home runs at U.S. Cellular Field, the second-highest total for a team at its home park in baseball history. Don't look for that record to fall again in 2005.

 

The White Sox produced plenty of runs without Lee, Ordonez and Thomas in the lineup last season and still can turn to players such as Konerko, Rowand and Crede for power numbers. But with the departure of the two corner outfielders and Thomas' injury possibly sidelining him until June, the theory of winning through defense and pitching will be much more prevalent on the South Side than victories via prodigious clouts.

[AnthraxFan93]

I don't like them haivng dye in the 3 hole and not Rowand. I would like to see Thomas hit 5th with Pauly #4

 

Anthrax's Line-up

LF S-Pod

SS Uribe

CF- Rowand

1b Pauly

DH Thomas/Everett

RF DYE

3b Crede

C Davis

2b harris

[Rowand44]

I don't like them haivng dye in the 3 hole and not Rowand.  I would like to see Thomas hit 5th with Pauly #4

 

Anthrax's Line-up

LF S-Pod

SS Uribe

CF- Rowand

1b Pauly

DH Thomas/Everett

RF DYE

3b Crede

C Davis

2b harris

Having your best obp guy bat 5th makes no sense, imo. As of right now my lineup would be:

Spod

aaron

frank

pauly

dye

uribe

crede

davis

harris

[Texsox]

Depending how healthy Frank is he's probably back in his usual #3 spot.

[T R U]

I don't like them haivng dye in the 3 hole and not Rowand.  I would like to see Thomas hit 5th with Pauly #4

 

Anthrax's Line-up

LF S-Pod

SS Uribe

CF- Rowand

1b Pauly

DH Thomas/Everett

RF DYE

3b Crede

C Davis

2b harris

 

LMAO Frank at 5th :rolly

[AnthraxFan93]

LMAO Frank at 5th  :rolly

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Frank, IMO will never hit .300/40/100 ever again, plus coming off an injury lets put him in the best spot to excel, he is a RBI guy, either he hits 4th or 5th..and after Pauly season last year, Pauly belongs in the 4 hole, I want speed at the top 3 much like the Indians of the 90's. So that leaves 5th as the best spot for frank.

[aboz56]

Thanks for the article, greasy.

 

They shoulda waited another week to write it for when we sign AJ.

[qwerty]

Frank, IMO will never hit .300/40/100 ever again, plus coming off an injury lets put him in the best spot to excel, he is  a RBI guy, either he hits 4th or 5th..and after Pauly season last year, Pauly belongs in the 4 hole, I want speed at the top 3 much like the Indians of the 90's. So that leaves 5th as the best spot for frank.

 

Thomas will still have the highest obp on the team no matter how bad his average is. He belongs in the three hole matter what when he gets back. I don't honestly know how anyone can say other wise.

[Leonard Zelig]

Thomas will still have the highest obp on the team no matter how bad his average is. He belongs in the three hole matter what when he gets back. I don't honestly know how anyone can say other wise.

 

 

I say that's BS. OBP is a personal stat, and in the long run doesn't mean anything. What matters is how many runs we score and how many runs we give up. The third spot in the order should be determined by who gives us the best opportunities to score runs. If Frank is going to be out for the first month+, he should not just jump into the #3 spot, if the offense is productive. I don't see any problem with him batting 5th, Paulie could probably hit another 40 with Thomas behind him.

[qwerty]

I say that's BS.  OBP is a personal stat, and in the long run doesn't mean anything.  What matters is how many runs we score and how many runs we give up.  The third spot in the order should be determined by who gives us the best opportunities to score runs.  If Frank is going to be out for the first month+, he should not just jump into the #3 spot, if the offense is productive.  I don't see any problem with him batting 5th, Paulie could probably hit another 40 with Thomas behind him.

 

I would much rather have konerko and dye driving him in rather than crede/rowand/uribe. I think it is silly to waste our best obp player ( which by the way is one of the most important stats in baseball) in the fifth spot in the batting order. Maybe that is just me but i feel like others feel the same way.

[whitesox91403]

Frank is the #3 hitter on this team. There should be no debate about this.

[DBAHO]

I would much rather have konerko and dye driving him in rather than crede/rowand/uribe. I think it is silly to waste our best obp player ( which by the way is one of the most important stats in baseball) in the fifth spot in the batting order. Maybe that is just me but i feel like others feel the same way.

With Frank in the #3 hole, Konerko, Dye and co. will get plenty of RBI oppurtunities. That said, I'm not confident he'll have a good season stats wise, as history has shown he doesn't hit well coming back from a injury. If he hit .260 with 20 HR's, I would almost take that, considering he's likely to miss at least 1 month possibly 2 at the start of the year.

[AnthraxFan93]

I would much rather have konerko and dye driving him in rather than crede/rowand/uribe. I think it is silly to waste our best obp player ( which by the way is one of the most important stats in baseball) in the fifth spot in the batting order. Maybe that is just me but i feel like others feel the same way.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Good then we agree, cause if Thomas hits 5th that leaves DYE to drive him in, and Rowand would bat 3rd. Why have your 2 slowest guys in the lineup at 3/4. I for one would like to see, Rowand get a single and then Pauly hit a double to right field..I bet any money that Rowand would score more times than Thomas would. Now we have a man on 2nd, with Thomas coming up and dye in the hole..

[CanOfCorn]

Anthrax...I know what you are saying by having speed 1-3 in the lineup, and that's a good idea. The problem is, you only have one speed guy from 4-9 and that's Willie at 9. Dye may be above average in speed, but I wouldn't count on him. If you move Rowand to 6, then you have some speed at 5 (Dye), 6 (Rowand) AND 9 (Harris). That, to me, sounds more like Ozzieball. A team that can manufacture runs 1 through 9.

[WilliamTell]

Thomas stays at 3rd. The only reason why he wasn't 3rd at some points was because Ordonez was 3rd, and we have no Ordonez type player on our team this year. Frank will bat 3rd.

[jackie hayes]

So we're relying on Crede as a power hitter?

 

I suppose that's b/c Crede hasn't yet proven that he's able to do anything else in the ML, may as well. But a guy w/ about 20 hr and a .420 slg as your slugger, that's a stretch.

 

I hope KW never thought to himself that he should try to "downsize" the offense, b/c that idea just sounds absurd.

[JUGGERNAUT]

I'm going for the pot being 1/2 full as opposed to empty. KW made offers to Iguchi & AJP. Until I hear otherwise I'm assuming they are going to be CWS in 2005. I've not heard anything about other teams making them an offer. Only that they had an interest.

 

With that in mind this is my lineup:

1-Iguchi

2-Pods

3-Thomas/Rowand

4-Koney

5-Rowand/Everett

6-Dye

7-AJP

8-Uribe

9-Crede

 

Add to that a rotation of

1-Garcia

2-Buerhle

3-Hernandez

4-Contreras

5-Garland

 

And a much improved BP with specialists who can completely shutdown LH or RH hitters (but not both ) & if this is the 2005 team the CWS should be the favorite to win the ALC.

 

Of course that's always based on everybody being healthy & able to play at their best 5 out of 6 months at least.

[qwerty]

Good then we agree, cause if Thomas hits 5th that leaves DYE to drive him in, and Rowand would bat 3rd. Why have your 2 slowest guys in the lineup at 3/4. I for one would like to see, Rowand get a single and then Pauly hit a double to right field..I bet any money that Rowand would score more times than Thomas would.  Now we have a man on 2nd, with Thomas coming up and dye in the hole..

 

I would like to see rowand bat third also just not gonna happen much at all next year if at all in my opinion. Once frank returns he will be batting 3rd maybe fourth for a while.

[qwerty]

Good then we agree, cause if Thomas hits 5th that leaves DYE to drive him in, and Rowand would bat 3rd. Why have your 2 slowest guys in the lineup at 3/4. I for one would like to see, Rowand get a single and then Pauly hit a double to right field..I bet any money that Rowand would score more times than Thomas would.  Now we have a man on 2nd, with Thomas coming up and dye in the hole..

 

I would like to see rowand bat third also just not gonna happen much at all next year if at all in my opinion. Once frank returns he will be batting 3rd maybe fourth for a while.

[AngelasDaddy0427]

This is the lineup I would make if we signed AJ and Cairo...

 

LF- Pods (Although i'm not totally sold on him to be able to leadoff who else do we have)

CF- Rowand (Rowand needs to be in the 2 hole or someone deserves to lose their job, if Uribe is here :puke)

RF- Dye (Until Thomas comes back, then Thomas is three and Dye explaces Everett in the order)

1B- Konerko

DH- Everett (Kong and Everett can be switched)

SS- Uribe (He wants to be a power hitter, let him)

C- AJ

3B- Crede

2B- Harris/Cairo (Good speed, great defense, no pressure on Harris)

 

If we bother signing a second basemen to replace Harris and we spend over 2 mil for him we sure as hell make sure that he's going to be better then Harris. We can't be sure of that from Cora (too inconsistant) or Iguchi (never played a game in the MLB). At least Cairo would be a decent platoon option and stater if Willie totally falls flat on his face. I just don't get how so many of you have Iguchi as your #1 or #2 hitter.

[nitetrain8601]

I agree with Rowand44's lineup. You don't know if that was just a career year for Rowand and even for a career year, Frank had comparable numbers if not better up until he got injured. I don't see why people are so quick to put Rowand as a #3 hitter. He did good, but he could very well be the next Chris Singleton or Mike Caruso too.

[hammerhead johnson]

OBP is a personal stat, and in the long run doesn't mean anything. 

 

[qwerty]

 

When i read that it i think i made that face.

[Rowand44]

I agree with Rowand44's lineup. You don't know if that was just a career year for Rowand and even for a career year, Frank had comparable numbers if not better up until he got injured. I don't see why people are so quick to put Rowand as a #3 hitter. He did good, but he could very well be the next Chris Singleton or Mike Caruso too.

Nine, actually I think Aaron is a perfect number 3 hitter and will eventually be there, however right now we don't have the correct personel(sp?) to have aaron as the number 3 guy in the order, right now he's our best option in the 2 slot, jmo.

[qwerty]

I agree with Rowand44's lineup. You don't know if that was just a career year for Rowand and even for a career year, Frank had comparable numbers if not better up until he got injured. I don't see why people are so quick to put Rowand as a #3 hitter. He did good, but he could very well be the next Chris Singleton or Mike Caruso too.

 

Rowand was what, a career .283 hitter coming into this season? So this year most likely was a fluke average wise but i do expect his power numbers to stay around the same and possibly slightly better stolen bases. I think .285-25-80 is not out of his range, not at all.