I Like the White Sox this year

I really like the White Sox.  A solid lineup.

1) LF Juan Pierre (Active SB leader)
2) SS Alexei Ramirez (rising star)
3) CF Alex Rios (perennial 20 HR/20 SB player)
4) DH Adam Dunn (Only Pujols has more homers since 04)
5) 1B Paul Konkerko (Massive year last year with 39 HR & 111 RBI and now Dunn is in front of him)
6) RF Carlos Quentin (Another long ball, high RBI threat)
7) 2B Gordon Beckham (Breakout season?)
8) C A.J. Pierzynski (One of the more underrated catchers in baseball)
9) 3B Brent Morel (terrific fielder and his first full season)

The likely bench:
IF Omar Vizquel (3rd in active leaders for SB)
IF Mark Teahen (He could start at 3B if his bat comes around)
IF Dayan Viciedo (Hit .308 in 38 games last year)
C Ramon Castro (Solid backup)
OF Alejandro De Aza (Hit .300 in limited action last year)

The rotation:
1) John Danks (Rarely hurt pitcher coming off a 15-win season)
2) Mark Buerhle (One of the most underrated pitchers in baseball)
3) Edwin Jackson (The AL is where he is at his best)
4) Jake Peavy (Cy Young candidate if he gets his act together)
5) Gavin Floyd (Had a great 2nd half last season)

The bullpen:
Chris Sale, Matt Thornton, Jesse Crain, Sergio Santos, Tony Pena & Anthony Carter.....Sale is likely the new closer as he held opponents to a .185 average last year and he throws the heat.  Thornton is one of the best 8th inning guys in baseball.  Crain was one of the best free agent reliever pickups this offseason in all of baseball.

This team is poised for a run.  They won 88 games last year and should have won more.  With the additions they've made, the 6 game gap between them & the Twins should easily dissapear.  The White Sox could hang up 95 wins if they stay relatively healthy and with a very easy final two weeks of the season, walk in to the post season.  Pitching wins championships and this team is loaded with pitching.

Chisox starting pitching looks like they may have to carry them overall.  I think guys like  Rios, Quentin and Beckham need to have big years.  Quentin hasnt been the same since being injured and Rios needs a big comeback as well. That along with Pierre and Alexi getting on base for Dunn and Konerko can certainly give pitchers problems and produce runs.

I don't think it is outrageous to say they can win the AL Central, I still give the edge to the Twins at this point.  Whichever team can remain healthy throughout the year is certainly going to be key. 

+2870 is decent value.

The question is are they 6 or more games better than they were last year.  I don't think the Twins will take a step back with a healthy Mourneau, so the Chisox need to make some leaps forward.

Rios was arguably their best player last season yankees2k6...

I think the Sox will be very close come end of the season, could come down to the last series of the season.

but since when is mark buerhle underrated?

Rios was significantly better than 2009 season, I tend to watch AL east so when he left Toronto I lost focus.   

Konerko was their best player and there wasnt even a close 2nd.  The guy was a beast last year!

Twins 50%

Chisox 40%

Tigers 10%

-Buerhle-underated......I actually think he's overated .

-Can Konerko have another monster season like 2010? I have to admit, looking at the stats after the season, I had to check Konerko's stats twice on a different website as I thought the 1st one was a misprint. Great season. Will be tough to duplicate those numbers.

Tough division between Chicago/Minnesota. Gun to my head, I say Chicago.....

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joekool-- yeah i think buerhle is overrated too...i always hear baseballs shows saying he's one of the top pitchers in baseball..yea right since when is a 3.8 era a top pitcher in baseball?  he has been a very consistent good pitcher but nothing more than that.

yankees2k6-  yeah no doubt konerko was far and away their best player last season, but rios was awesome in the first half of the season before he dropped the last two months..he is all star caliber, aside from 09' he's had a good career

I can't like anybody but the Twins in that division.

Healthy they run and hide.

Are they ever healty? No. But they STILL win the division. Nathan, Morneu, Mauer, Liriano................doesn't matter.

White Sox 

My Packers did it this year

It would be icing on the cake if the White Sox did it this year  

White Sox definitely have a squad that can make some noise come October.  Like every other team, some things really need to fall in place, but they do look solid.