Chicago White Sox: Spring Training Information

By: Tremendous Upside Potential
Location: Glendale, Ari.
Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14th
First Game: Feb. 25
Schedule

Projected Opening Day Lineup

1. Jerry Owens (CF)
2. AJ Pierzynski (C)
3. Carlos Quentin (LF)
4. Jim Thome (DH)
5. Jermaine Dye (RF)
6. Paul Konerko (1B)
7. Alexei Ramirez (SS)
8. Josh Fields (3B)
9. Chris Getz (2B)

Projected Rotation

1. John Danks
2. Mark Buehrle
3. Gavin Floyd
4. Bartolo Colon
5. Clayton Richard

Projected Bullpen

Situational: D.J. Carrasco, Jeff Marquez
7th Inning: Scott Linebrink, Octavio Dotel
8th Inning: Matt Thornton
Closer: Bobby Jenks

 Continue Reading

---

---

Key Battles: The White Sox needed to do something with the back end of the rotation after dealing Javier Vazquez to Atlanta, though without much financial wiggle room all they could manage was a one-year flier on Bartolo Colon. It's not that Colon was a bad signing - he certainly brings upside and all that is at risk is a million or two bucks - but if Colon fails, which is certainly possible, if not likely, the Sox have no proven starters for the final two spots in the rotation. And if one of the Danks-Buehrle-Floyd trio goes down for any amount of time, um, it might be a long season.

Colon won't be ready until the second half of spring training anyways after undergoing offseason season surgery to remove bone chips on his throwing shoulder, though that should give a host of young starters a chance to make their mark.

The group is led by lefty Clayton Richard, the former Michigan quarterback who some Sox fans were calling for to make a postseason start last year in place of the struggling Vazquez. Richard's stiffest competition will likely come from Jeff Marquez, who was acquired from the Yankees in the ill-fated offseason Nick Swisher trade, and Jack Egbert. Perhaps the most intriguing option is Aaron Poreda, though few expect the 2007 first round draft pick to break camp with the big league club.

The other major position battle is in center field, where Jerry Owens will compete against fan favorite and world renowned ladies man Brian Anderson. Up to this point in his professional career, the 28-year old Owens' biggest contribution to the Sox was coming up with a timely groin injury last year in Spring Training, which opened the door for Carlos Quentin.

Neither Owens or Anderson will hit much (though Anderson does have a slight advantage since his power extends past the infield), so it comes down to Owens' speed vs Anderson's defense. Owens likely holds a slight advantage due to his manager's undying love of the "true leadoff man", even if it's hard to imagine someone who on-based under .330 as a 25-year old in AAA as such.

What to expect: The back end of the rotation is clear trouble spot for the White Sox heading into 2009, though few expected Danks and Floyd to make such a monumental leap last year. The Sox also boast Don Cooper, one of the best pitching coaches in the game, so don't be shocked if one of the young starters proves his worth.

The offense should be dynamic again, though it may be too much to expect for them to hit 35 more home runs than any team in the majors again. Still, few orders in all of baseball cram as much power 3 through 7 as the Sox, which gives them a shot in the wide-open AL Central.

Ricky O'Donnell covers Chicago sports on his blog, Tremendous Upside Potential.