2009 Season Preview: Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox advanced to the playoffs on game 163 in the regular season, but lost in the ALDS to the Tampa Bay Rays in four games. They won 89 games (including the one-game playoff), but that may not continue in 2009.

The ChiSox lost pitcher Javy Vazquez to the Braves via free agency and outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. left the team. The White Sox also traded away 1B/DH Nick Swisher to the Yankees for utility player Wilson Betemit and two minor league pitchers.

On the bright side, the White Sox signed the highly touted Cuban 3B Dayan Viciedo to a four-year contract. Viciedo, 19, hit 32 homeruns and 123 RBI in 233 games in the Cuban leagues. With the addition of Viciedo, the White Sox have a lot of depth at third base with him and Josh Fields.

But the White Sox are faced with many problems. How will Alexei Ramirez adjust to the short stop position after playing second base in 2008? What about the new vacancy at the second base position? Who will win the starting job in CF in 2009? Will their rotation succeed?

Alexei Ramirez played most of his time at 2B last year for the White Sox. The Cuban infielder recorded a .981 fielding percentage for the White Sox at 2B and was apart of 71 double plays. However, because the White Sox lost Orlando Cabrera to free agency, Ramirez has to shift to short stop for the time being.

With Ramirez shifting to SS, the White Sox have a few options to replace the hole at second base. 25-year old Chris Getz is one of the options. Getz had a .814 OPS in the minor leagues and with his speed, could make the roster as a starter. Wilson Betemit can be the other option. The switch hitter has been subject to little playing time over the years, but if he plays more than he could be one of those players related to the Jeremy Giambi Effect (more playing time means more success).

Brian Anderson, Jerry Owens, and Dewayne Wise will all be competing for the center field job in 2009. Anderson did not play well in 2008 with a low batting average, but his fielding in center is much better than that of the corner outfield spots. The second choice is Jerry Owens, who stole 32 bases back in 2007. Owens is very fast and is better suited to the lead off role. Dewayne Wise is their third option for the starting job. Wise hit six homeruns in 57 games last year and stole nine bases in nine attempts. The only problem with Wise is his extremely low career batting average (.214).

With the loss of Javier Vazquez, the White Sox rotation only consists of Mark Buerhle, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Clayton Richard, and Bartolo Colon. Vazquez would have made a direct impact toward the Chicago rotation, but instead it seems less harmful. Without Vazquez, the back end of their rotation is less dominating.

I believe the White Sox will finish with 84 wins and a second place finish in the American League Central division. Their offense has little to be worried about with Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez, Jermaine Dye, and Jim Thome, but it is the pitching that is the cause for concern. The Chicago rotation may not be enough to make the playoffs again.
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Tomorrow's article will be predicting the upcoming season for the Cincinnati Reds.