Neyer article

[Punch and Judy Garland]

Neyer does a pretty good job in todays article (I didn't see it posted elsewhere yet) of assessing the White Sox. He more or less sympathizes with the plight of the South SIde fan and said the Sox could win the division, but a whole lot of things would have to go right.

[thomsonmi]

It's about time someone felt our pain.

[RockRaines]

What's it like to be a White Sox fan?

 

Really, I'd like to know. What's it like to follow a team that should be good every season, based on its inherent advantages? And is, sort of. Just not good enough. That must be frustrating.

 

In 2000, the White Sox posted the best record in the American League. They probably weren't the best club; the A's and Mariners were probably a bit better when you consider strength of schedule. Maybe the Yankees were better, too (though the Yankees won only 87 games that season, with a ho-hum run differential). Still, nobody expected the White Sox to get swept in their Division Series with the Mariners.

 

In 2001, the White Sox got off to a 14-29 start and wound up eight games behind the first-place Indians.

 

In 2002, the White Sox muddled along for most of the season, with only a late-season push getting them to .500 on the button (and a distant second place).

 

In 2003, the White Sox had first place all to themselves on the morning of Sept. 3. They played decently down the stretch, but not as decently as the Twins, who finished two games in front.

 

In 2004, the White Sox held first place as late as July 25 before pitching into a terrible slump that dropped them from contention by late August. The result was yet another second-place finish, the club's seventh in nine seasons.

 

What's it like to be a long-time White Sox fan? Since 1919, when the Black Sox threw the World Series, the Sox have won exactly five postseason games (in 2004 alone, the Houston Astros won six).

 

Since 1959, when they won two World Series games against the Dodgers, the White Sox have won three postseason games. Three postseason wins in 45 seasons. In those 45 seasons, only three teams – the Senators/Rangers (1), the Rockies (1) and the Devil Rays (0) – have failed to win more than three postseason games … and none of those teams existed in 1959.

 

Curse of the Bambino? Give me a break. Between the White Sox' general lack of success, their skinflint owner, the occasional relocation threats, and the last bad ballpark, when it comes to misery nobody's got anything on these Sox fans.

 

So will 2005 be the Year of the White Sox?

 

Stranger things have happened. But you'd have to be a starry-eyed optimist to think this team's going to be a lot better than it was a year ago. A lot's been made of the power-for-speed swap the Sox made in trading Carlos Lee for Scott Podsednik (and reliever Luis Vizcaino), but that's just one-ninth of the lineup. The White Sox also signed Jermaine Dye, who's far from great but does represent a slight improvement over what the White Sox had in right field last season (roughly equal parts Magglio Ordonez, Timo Perez and Joe Borchard). Japanese import Tadahito Iguchi figures to be a real improvement over incumbent co-second baseman Willie Harris, though the recent history of Japanese rookies isn't all that encouraging.

 

If Frank Thomas is healthy, the White Sox are going to score a fair number of runs. Then again, last season the White Sox were outscored by only the Red Sox and Yankees, and look where it got them. Granted, the new Comiskey Park is hitter friendly, but this is a good-hitting club and has been for some time. The problem is the pitching. As others have observed, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf has generally been unwilling to pay the market rate for good starting pitchers, and it's hard to blame him. The Sox did reverse this trend recently, though, re-signing Freddy Garcia to a long-term deal.

 

Garcia's a fine pitcher, but he was there for half of last season so his continued presence doesn't represent a huge upgrade. And once you get past Garcia and Mark Buehrle, what's left?

 

 

Jose Contreras has a 4.85 career ERA, and hasn't thrown more than 170 innings in a season.

 

Orlando Hernandez hasn't thrown more than 146 innings in a season since 2000.

 

Jon Garland's now been in the rotation for three seasons, and his ERAs in those seasons were 4.58, 4.51, and 4.89.

The White Sox do have some pretty good pitching prospects in the minors, but none is ready to help the big club in 2005. Which leaves this team in the same position as another dozen or so around the majors -- they could be good if two or three pitchers are a lot better than we think they'll be. But how often does that actually happen? Pitchers get hurt, and wind up disappointing us far more often than they surprise us.

 

The 2005 White Sox are a decent team, as usual, and if the Twins should stumble, the Sox have as good a chance as anybody. But it's been a while since the Twins stumbled, and there's no reason to think this is the year.

 

Senior writer Rob Neyer writes for Insider two or three times per week during the offseason. To offer criticism, praise, or anything in between, send e-mail to rob.neyer@dig.

[LosMediasBlancas]

The last bad ballpark? Obviously, he hasn't been to the park in a long time.

[tonyho7476]

The last bad ballpark?    Obviously, he hasn't been to the park in a long time.

 

Yeah, the park is great in my opinion.

[DonkeyKongerko]

It's just a reference to the fact that it was the last ballpark built before the retro began with Camden Yards. It's not a cookie cutter but notice the renovations have attempted to add a retro feel with the new upper deck, brick facades, green seats, etc.

[JUGGERNAUT]

Anxious to see the skills center in LF. IMO, that's going to be cool!

 

I think we all agree that more things have to fall into place for the Sox than the Twins for the Sox to win the division. If that's Neyer's main point he's correct. Perhaps he should have just said that if overall the Sox prove to be healthier this season than the Twins the Sox have a legitimate shot at winning the division. Because that's really what it all comes down to.

 

Our optimism as fans is based on the assumption of good health. Our history as fans is dealing with the reality of bad health. Yet it makes no sense for us to lower our expectations on the belief that the Sox are more likely to suffer health-wise each year than the Twins.

 

What bothers me the most about these health scenarios is most of these writers ignore the depth charts.

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/depth-charts

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/teams/depth-chart/CHW

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/teams/depth-chart/MIN

We have more proven depth in the pen, the rotation, & in the IF than

Minny. They have the edge on us in the OF.

 

IMO, we are more capable of winning games if we suffer losses in our pen, rotation, or IF than Minny is. That's why I'm more optimistic this year than previous. Make no mistake about it. The 05 team at full strength is not better than the 04 team at full strength. But the 04 team at 3/4s strength is worse than this 05 team at 3/4s strength. Since the Sox have been fielding mostly 3/4s strength teams since 2001 I think that's a big plus.

[quade36]

I was pleased that he was the first writer that stated Maggs DIDN'T play a full season last year. And that the combination in RF last year wasn't good.

[shagar69]

Theres an Insider article by Rob Neyer, that says Chisox's Year? im just interested in what he has to say about us. Can somebody post what it says in the articel

[Gene Honda Civic]

Of all the off-season articles I have seen written by a national media outlet, this one is the best. Neyer has a grasp on the history(both recent and ancient) of the Sox, and accurately describes the current offense as a good one. Nowhere does he say anything about "lack of power" or the like. He recognizes it's not the hitting that has been a problem, it's the pitching.

 

All around solid F'n article. I just wish we could get stuff like this more often.