Jump to content

Chris DeLuca still has Twins as team to beat:


CSF

Recommended Posts

Winter moves haven't altered pecking order

January 17, 2005

 

BY CHRIS DE LUCA STAFF REPORTER

 

 

 

 

So general manager Ken Williams' winter relationship with fans went from ''RipFest'' in 2004 to ''LoveFest'' in 2005 during the White Sox' annual convention.

 

 

 

Even without Randy Johnson and Omar Vizquel, fans seem to like the Sox' slimmed-down look.

 

The Sox certainly didn't land the big fish they were chasing this winter, but Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen developed a plan for a new look, and the Sox should get credit for at least executing their plan.

 

Guillen's message all weekend was the rebuilt Sox should rule the American League Central in 2005. Though there will be more reshaping throughout the division, here's a look at how the Central stacks up a month shy of spring training:

 

 

TWINS

 

 

 

Record in 2004: 92-70, first place.

 

Winter remodeling: General manager Terry Ryan lost the left side of his infield to free agency with the departures of shortstop Cristian Guzman and third baseman Corey Koskie.

 

Outlook: Losing Guzman, who hit .274 and scored 84 runs, hurts. The Twins will let free agent Juan Castro and rookie Jason Bartlett battle for the job. Still, manager Ron Gardenhire gets the most out of his teams. If catcher Joe Mauer stays healthy, the Twins will have a potent lineup that still has Torii Hunter and Justin Morneau in the middle. The AL's best pitching staff in 2004 remains anchored by Johan Santana, Brad Radke and Carlos Silva (plus the expected return of Sox killer Joe Mays). And Gardenhire has a balanced bullpen with J.C. Romero and Juan Rincon setting up closer Joe Nathan.

 

Bottom line: Again the Central's team to beat.

 

 

WHITE SOX

 

 

 

Record in 2004: 83-79, second place.

 

Winter remodeling: Williams signed four key free agents: outfielder Jermaine Dye, catcher A.J. Pierzynski and pitchers Orlando Hernandez and Dustin Hermanson. In the deal that sent Carlos Lee to Milwaukee, Williams got outfielder Scott Podsednik and reliever Luis Vizcaino from the Brewers. Missing are Lee, right fielder Magglio Ordonez, shortstop Jose Valentin, catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. and left-hander Scott Schoeneweis.

 

Outlook: The pressure is on Podsednik to return to his 2003 form, when he hit .314 and scored 100 runs. Guillen will find himself frustrated if Podsednik duplicates his 2004 numbers, when he hit .244 and struck out 105 times. The rotation is strong, and the bullpen is its deepest since 2000. The Sox must get off to a decent start until Frank Thomas (left ankle) is back to form in midseason to have a shot in this balanced division.

 

Bottom line: Shedding so much power is risky if Thomas might be lost for half the season.

 

 

INDIANS

 

 

 

Record in 2004: 80-82, third place.

 

Winter remodeling: General manager Mark Shapiro filled a big hole in his rotation by signing right-hander Kevin Millwood. Shapiro gambled on a minor-league deal with outfielder Juan Gonzalez and added backup infielder Jose Hernandez and reliever Arthur Rhodes. But the Indians lost shortstop Omar Vizquel.

 

Outlook: A shaky bullpen put the Indians in a big hole last season. Manager Eric Wedge is relieved to have closer Bob Wickman healthy and ready to start the season. Millwood, if he shakes off the elbow trouble that plagued him in 2004, gives Wedge a strong No. 3 starter behind All-Stars C.C. Sabathia and Jake Westbrook.

 

Bottom line: With a healthy Wickman back, the Indians (who converted only 32 saves in 60 chances) should finish with a winning record for the first time since a division title in 2001.

 

 

TIGERS

 

 

 

Record in 2004: 72-90, fourth place.

 

Winter remodeling: Though GM Dave Dombrowski looked as if he would do more, the Tigers' most significant move was stealing free-agent closer Troy Percival from the Cubs.

 

Outlook: Questions surround the Tigers' young rotation anchored by Nate Robertson, Jeremy Bonderman and Wilfredo Ledezma. Ivan Rodriguez, Dmitri Young and Carlos Guillen give the Tigers a dangerous trio in the middle of their lineup.

 

Bottom line: Despite a decent lineup and a better bullpen, the Tigers are asking a lot of their young pitchers.

 

 

ROYALS

 

 

 

Record in 2004: 58-104, fifth place.

 

Winter remodeling: GM Allard Baird has little to work with, but added starting pitcher Jose Lima and right fielder Terrence Long.

 

Outlook: First baseman Mike Sweeney is the biggest threat in the lineup, but back problems held him to 106 games. David DeJesus replaced Carlos Beltran in center and gives the Royals a legit leadoff hitter. But the rotation and bullpen are thin, and there are too many holes in the lineup.

 

Bottom line: Only the Diamondbacks (111) lost more games last season. The Tigers bounced from 119 losses in 2003 to 90 but after a much more productive winter than what the Royals have shown.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just as AJ told me this past weekend at Soxfest when I asked him about Minnesota, "The White Sox need to worry about the White Sox and let the Twins worry about the Twins. Part of the White Sox problem is that they worry about the Twins, but the Twins don't worry about the White Sox, they just worry about the Twins."

 

I think all of us should adopt this.

 

We need to quit worrying about the Twins and worry about the White Sox.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Jan 18, 2005 -> 02:10 PM)
Just as AJ told me this past weekend at Soxfest when I asked him about Minnesota, "The White Sox need to worry about the White Sox and let the Twins worry about the Twins.  Part of the White Sox problem is that they worry about the Twins, but the Twins don't worry about the White Sox, they just worry about the Twins."

 

I think all of us should adopt this.

 

We need to quit worrying about the Twins and worry about the White Sox.

 

That is just one of the reasons the AJ signing was a great signing. He may have questionable character, but teams have won with those guys before. What AJ does is bring in a different mentality to this clubhouse, similar to the Twins. If he can help establish that attitude throughout, this team will be very dangerous.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So far it seems there are two schools of thought on the central.

 

Some writers prefer the duh, obvious, I want to say I picked every division race correctly, they go with the Twins.

 

Some pundits want to be the genius, pick someone no one else is picking, that seems to be the Indians.

 

I like our chances. I am one of those that went from 2004 Rip Fest to 2005 Love Fest.

 

Spring training begins in less than one month. :pray

Edited by Texsox
Link to comment
Share on other sites

He wrote this before today. The Twins have Santana, Lohse, & Silva going to arbitration. I see them having to make trades to cut payroll if they are to sign all 3.

 

The CWS on the other hand have all their players signed, still have a 10M/3 deal out there for Igs & are willing to spend to upgrade their middle IF.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Jan 18, 2005 -> 03:14 PM)
He wrote this before today.  The Twins have Santana, Lohse, & Silva going to arbitration.  I see them having to make trades to cut payroll if they are to sign all 3. 

 

The CWS on the other hand have all their players signed, still have a 10M/3 deal out there for Igs & are willing to spend to upgrade their middle IF.

 

Didn't the Twins agree to terms wth Silva?

 

Anywho, the Twins deserve to be favorites until proven otherwise. They have dominated the AL Central the past 3 seasons. They do everything the right way and flat-out win. We should not be the favorites.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

nice of deluca to step out on a limb. :rolly

 

anyhow, i have no gauge on how the sox will finish. i think preseason rankings of the sox are going to be all over the place. when you alter your roster and style of play as dramatically as the sox have, i don't think you can make a really accurate prediction as to how they'll be.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Jan 18, 2005 -> 05:03 PM)
nice of deluca to step out on a limb. :rolly

 

anyhow, i have no gauge on how the sox will finish. i think preseason rankings of the sox are going to be all over the place. when you alter your roster and style of play as dramatically as the sox have, i don't think you can make a really accurate prediction as to how they'll be.

 

That about hits it right on the head too.

 

We have no idea how this team will mesh, we have no idea how good this team will actually be, we have no idea about anything regarding this team. I do like our chances though...I like them a lot. The Twins did not upgrading whatsoever(IIRC, their major moves of the offseason were bringing in like Juan Castro and Mike Redmond, along with Eric Munson, and losing Corey Koskie to Toronto...not much).

 

Basically, I fee like this...the Sox have the best team in the division talent wise up and down the roster, and I think they will win the division...but when I do end up making my predictions, Minnesota will be on top for a good reason. May sound weird...but it is the truth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok all this arse-kissing for the Twinkies aside let's try to view this like the AP views top 25 rankings before the season starts. Those are based more on current rosters than past team success.

 

The SOX have the better rotation but MIN has the better pen.

Pitching & defense wise MIN has a slght edge over the SOX.

 

IF wise SOX have the edge in the stick.

Crede+Uribe+Harris/?+Koney should beat Morneau+Cuddyear+?+?.

 

C wise MIN has a slight edge w Mauer over AJP.

 

OF wise SOX have the edge in the stick as well.

Rowand+Pods+Dye beats Ford+Hunter+Jones.

 

So stick wise the SOX should have a solid edge.

Basically the SOX upgraded their pitching & D w/out giving up their edge

w the stick. That gives them the edge overall.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Jan 18, 2005 -> 03:30 PM)
Didn't the Twins agree to terms wth Silva?

 

Anywho, the Twins deserve to be favorites until proven otherwise.  They have dominated the AL Central the past 3 seasons.  They do everything the right way and flat-out win.  We should not be the favorites.

i was going to say something similar but you beat me :headbang

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...