Veteran player and member of the 500 home run club Jim Thome will once again be the DH for the White Sox this season.

Jim Thome's numbers have declined, but he is still valuable to the club.

Since Thome has joined the White Sox, his numbers have been declining yearly. Much of this goes to his age, as the 38 year-old will try to get back in the groove this year. However, he still managed to jack 34 homers in 2008, one being in Game 163 that came as the sole run in the do-or-die clincher against the Twins. And Thome is still a large part of the White Sox. I can’t stress this enoguh (as you may have noticed), veteran leadership is a key for the White Sox this year, as the younger players will need to adapt to playing in the majors quickly, or it could be a long season for the South Siders. Thome is still an incredibly valuable asset to this team, despite his declining numbers. In 2005, through a survey by Tribune Co., Thome was rated as the best teammate in Major League Baseball, getting almost three times the number of votes as second place. That speaks a lot.

Thome should contribute in many aspects of the game through his play on and off the field for the White Sox.

Other news……..The White Sox faced the Arizona Diabondbacks in Spring Training action, winning 10-1. Dayun Viciedo, Paul Konerko, Chris Stewart, and Ben Broussard all hit home runs. John Danks and John Van Benschoten both pitched scoreless innings, contributing to the win. Tomorrow, Jeff Marquez will start for the South Siders as they face the North Siders in a good ‘ol, meaningless Spring Training rivalry.

Once again, Carlos Quentin will be occupying left field for the White Sox again. When Kenny Williams made this trade, I was reading on the White Sox forum how it was a bad trade, Carlos Quentin should not be starting. They were giving his past statistics, explaining how he cannot play as the everyday left fielder. And we all know, CQ proved everyone wrong, having an All-Star Game worthy season, and was a leading contender for MVP. Stats are overrated.

Carlos Quentin

Look at what Quentin did for the White Sox last year. All he did was hit .288, hit in 100 runs, and had 36 homers. Not to mention, he also was second in the AL in home runs. And wait………wasn’t he injured too? Yes, Quentin was injured for a full month, and still finished second in home runs for the AL! And he didn’t qualify for the All-Star Game? Yet he was being considered as an MVP candidate? All of this is true. Think of what the White Sox could have done if he was with them in the playoffs. No one will know, but surely, he would help them out quite a bit. Who knows…….if he stayed healthy, he could have gotten the AL MVP award.

Quentin has many strengths. But what are his weaknesses? Believe it or not, Quentin needs to improve at some aspects. One problem is he needs to control his anger on the field. He is laid-back off the field, just a regular person among the streets in Chicago. But on the field, his competative side comes alive, and he gets fired up. No one besides Paul Konerko gets more disappointed after getting out than him. Need proof? He missed that one last month due to a broken wrist……..which was broken when he slammed his bat on his wrist after a strikeout. Right now, he is looking for ways to overcome this.

Also, Quentin isn’t much of a leader. He is the quiet guy in the clubhouse, just goes about his job. With all of the young players coming in to play for the White Sox, the veterans need to step up. Even though Quentin is still young, he knows enough about the game to step up and lead.

Look for another great year from CQ again!

Other news…….The White Sox face the Rockies in Spring Training today. Dayun Viciedo and Gordon Beckham will get to play for the first time.

Center field……..the head of the field, can see everything before him. Once again, it will be a three way competition for the starting job……and it’s up for grabs.

One player competing for the job is Jerry Owens. Owens has played in the MLB for the past 3 years, however, in 2006 and 2008, he played only a few games. In 2007, he got over 350 at-bats. Owens is nowhere near the power hitter that some center fielders are. However, he can hit well for contact, and also is a threat on the basepaths. In 2007, he hit for an average of .267, but also stole 32 bases. He didn’t even play 100 games that year! Think how many swiped bags he can get in a full season. With the White Sox looking for a true leadoff guy, he fits that description well: one that can get on base and steal. Owens is the player that the management is looking for, and overall, fits the team great.

Jerry Owens

Another candidate for the job is Dewayne Wise. No one in their right mind would have thought Wise would be competing for a starting job on the defending division champions last year. But this is 2009, and Wise proved to be effective during the playoff run, as well as in the playoffs. He can hit for power, contact, and can also run. But what really got Wise the potential for the job was his role in the playoffs of last year. In Game 3, with the White Sox facing elimination, his stolen base after being walked set the tone. A flurry of hits came in, and Wise later scored the game-tying run. And then, next inning, he hit a double, which scored two more runs for a White Sox win. He also hit a 3-run homer in Game 1, although the White Sox later lost. Wise could pull off and win…..but it would take a lot of work.

Dewayne Wise

Lastly, Brian Anderson will try his best to make the starting center field position. Anderson has been the White Sox primary outfield utility player since 2005. His statistics over the past few years don’t look good. But having watched him for a long time, he definitely has the quality to start full-time. He is among the best fielders in the game, and had a 110 errorless streak for the majors before he made his first error as a pro.

Brian Anderson

Any of these players can start, and it all will come down to how they perform in Spring Training. They are all capable of having great seasons.

Other news………..The White Sox are playing their first Spring Training game today against the Angels. I plan to highlight the players that had good games, but don’t expect a full review of the game. We’ll save that for the regular season.

Jermaine Dye will once again be the starting right fielder for the South Siders in 2009.

One thing that is often mistaken about Dye is he is too old and can’t play like he used to. Well, he has been one of the most consistent players for the White Sox for the past 4 years. Whoever says that a .292 batting average, 34 home runs, and 96 RBI isn’t good, they ought to rethink themselves. Last year in 2008, he was definitely qualified to make the AL All-Star, and was ripped-off in the final voting. If 137 home runs in the past 4 years is declining, you have strict criteria.

Jermaine should bring good things to Chicago in 2009.

Ever since joining the White Sox in 2005, Dye has been a valuable part to the organization. Whether through his hitting, fielding, or leadership, this a player that the White Sox need. After all, he only was the 2005 World Series MVP. He can hit for power, contact, all over the field. But what stands out the most is his leadership. Like I said, on a young team, some veterans need to be present to teach the younger players. He is there to demonstrate how a major leaguer should act. He never takes it out on other players, and goes about is job quietly. Yet, he still has the ability to lead. Dye does not get the national attention he deserves, with players like Jim Thome, Carlos Quentin, and Mark Buehrle on the team.

Right field is possibly the most reliable position in the White Sox lineup. Yes, I believe Dye, overall,  is more important than Quentin for 2009. Dye should come through well.

With Joe Crede departing to Minnesota, Josh Fields will take over the helm at the hot corner.

When Crede was injured in 2007, Fields took over for the majority of the season, playing 100 games. He hit 23 home runs, and also had 67 RBI. But he hit only .244. Of course, that was his first time starting that much in the majors. But those aren’t great numbers to rely on for a full-time starter. Last year in AAA Charlotte, he hit only .246 with 10 home runs. And he did even worse in the MLB.

Hopefully, Josh Fields can improve on his hitting

Fields seemed to struggle a lot last year. His fielding ability is not like that of Crede, but he can get the job done, and that’s what matters. His hitting needs to improve, but one thing that White Sox fans will appreciate is his dedication. Instead of sitting at home in the off-season, Fields was in South Florida with Joey Cora, working on fielding. That’s is the tpe of player any team wants on the club. He has worked hard, and says he feels he has improved.

However, these questions will be answered when the season begins. Fields can get the job done, but only to a certain extent. There is not anyone out there that should take his job, but he still works hard to improve. Hopefully, he can take that mentality into 2009.

Last year, shortstop was occupied by Orlando Cabrera. This year, Alexei Ramirez will be making the switch from second base, and take over the helm at shortstop.

Baseball fans all got to hear about the Cuban Missile this year. The lack of national coverage that the White Sox get seemed to make him overlooked throughout the season, with Evan Longoria in the same rookie class, and fellow teammate Carlos Quentin taking a lot of the spotlight. And honestly, the Rookie of the Year award could have easily gone to him (not to take anything away from Longoria, he deserved it).

Ramirez started in center field last year, and had early season struggles. He lost the starting job later in April, after hitting zero home runs, and hitting for an average below .200. After second baseman Juan Uribe struggled taking over, the Cuban Missile took over, and as the weather heated up, so did he. He hit .295 in May, allowing him to take the job permanently, and kept improving from there! He was a key reason the White Sox made the playoffs, hitting 4 grand slams! One of those was the go-ahead home run vs. Detroit that allowed a play-in game against Minnesota.

At first glance, this slim player doesn’t look like he can even hit the ball out of the infield. Yet, he still hit 21 home runs in 2008.Despite his early season struggles, he finished the year with an average of .290. But what is scary about this player is that he can dominate in all aspects of the game. He is a great fielder, can hit for contact and power, can steal bases, and is comfortable in pressure. What more can you ask for? And the White Sox have him for 3 more seasons. Now, Ramirez has more experience in the majors and should have a great season. Shortstop is his natural position, and now he knows the teammates and should be more comfortable. Look for a great season from Alexei this year!

The Cuban Missile

Second base this year will be an intriguing position to watch. The three candidates for the starting job are all experienced at the Major League level. The three candidates are: Brent Lillibridge, Chris Getz, and Jayson Nix. Let’s go over all three of them.

Brent Lillibridge has the most Major League experience out of the three…….with 29 games played. That really shows the inexperience here. However, he is a player the White Sox need. In 2008, they did not have a true lead-off hitter, one that could get on base and steal. Lillibridge is like a Scott Podsednik……he can get on base, and the management says he can steal 40 bases this year! And a speedster in the lineup would truly bolster the White Sox. Lillibridge isn’t the kind of player that will hit home runs. He may hit a few a year, but he is a contact hitter. Last year, he struggled both in AAA and in Atlanta, having averages of less than .221 both times. Also, he has a tendency to strike out more than usual. However, he did manage to swipe 23 bags with Richmond that year.

Chris Getz is also competing for the job, and right now, is the front-runner among the other two. He has been raised through the White Sox system since 2005, and the management has had the best look at him. And he really seems to be the best for the job. Last year, White Sox fans got a short glimpse of Getz in 7 at-bats. He looked comfortable in his debut, and can handle the full-time job. He played most of last year in AAA Charlotte, hitting for an average of .302. He also has moderate speed, and can steal 10-20 bases in the majors, and could also be a potential lead-off type of player.

Lastly, Jayson Nix is the other player going out for second base. Nix seems to be able to hit for power more than the other two. Last year, playing in the Colorado system, Nix his .303 with 17 homers for Colorado Springs, which also earned him a promotion to the majors. However, he was more of a disappointment, and in 56 at-bats, he hit only .125. But, he earned a trip to Beijing to play for the USA Olympic team, and has had impressive numbers down on the farm for the past two years. Once again, he has moderate speed, like Getz, and could swipe a few bags.

Whoever comes out on top will be determined bySpring Training. But GM Kenny Williams always seems to spot the undiscovered talent who always turn out to play well for the South Side. It will be an interesting battle.

Jayson Nix

Chris Getz

Brent Lillibridge

Hopefully, Konerko can bring back his 2005 form.

Once again, first base will be occupied by the face of the franchise for a long time, Paul Konerko. Konerko’s stats have been declining the past few years, but on such a young team, his leadership could be valuable to the club.

Konerko’s statistics over the past few years have been declining……too much. Look at his batting average, RBI, and home run totals go down since 2005:

2005: .283/100 RBI/40 home runs
2006: .313/113 RBI/35 home runs
2007: .259/90 RBI/31 home runs
2008: .240/62 RBI/22 home runs 

However, Konerko played only 122 games last year, compared to the 150 games he played previously, causing his totals to come down a bit. But, do you think that he would get 28 RBI in 30 more games? Possible,  but, he wasn’t consistent enough for those numbers. As Konerko gets older (33 at the start of the season), it seems his numbers are moving down, and he is past his prime. He is painfully slow, and has trouble getting around the bases to score. But, if you look at the positives that Konerko brings to the club, it makes up for his poor statistics.

With the White Sox in a “youth movement”, one thing that is always appreciated is some veteran leadership. And Konerko fits that criteria perfectly! This guy is a quiet leader, and doesn’t get recognition for the role he plays in the clubhouse. He takes blame when the heat is on him. Ozzie Guillen says no one is more disappointed about getting out than Konerko. And if he gets out, he will work harder to get on base. His work ethic and quiet leadership make him a great part of the team, that will assist the younger players in the future!

Also, Konerko struggles in the early months of the season yearly. As the weather heats up, so does he. In fact, he was a key reason in Chicago’s run to the playoffs. Prior to the All-Star Break, Konerko was standing at a mere .217 average with only 9 homers. After the All-Star Break, he was back up to .270, and had 13 homers. I know that those stats aren’t too impressive. But if he put up those same stats that he did in the first-half of the season, would the White Sox have made the playoffs?

I think Konerko will pull through well this year. He is the guy I want to see at first base for the South Side this year, and his presense on the field and in the clubhouse will be appreciated.

The White Sox catching situation for 2009 will be similar to 2008, as they have had the same started since 2005.

A.J. Pierzynski will once again take duty as the starting man behind the plate for the majority of the season. We all know A.J. as a colorful character in the game of baseball. We all remember his years in San Francisco, where he did not fit in well with the team. And he would be on the list for being involved in the most controversial plays in baseball. Nearly every opposing ballpark he goes to, he gets booed, even if he has had no ugly past with that team. Yet, here on the South Side, he is adored—by fans, by teammates, and by the management.

Pierzynski will be starting catcher for the South Side in 2009

What Pierzynski lacks in skill, he makes up for it in leadership. He plays from the heart and his emotions can spark a team. When he plays, he plays the game smart. But his statistics don’t disappoint either. Throughout his MLB career, A.J. is a .284 hitter, with exactly 500 RBI. And he is not slowing down. In 2008, he kept it up with a .281 average, showing that he can still play. He wants to be playing on the diamond every single day, although others want to prevent injury and give him a rest. But there is no resting for A.J. He gives it his all, well, all the time, whether cheering on the bench, or on the field. And with the White Sox going through a “youth movement”, Pierzynski is the perfect fit to help tutor the young players.

But when Pierzynski is getting a break, who will be filling in at catcher? Toby Hall won’t be back on the South Side. Cole Armstrong, who has not played in an MLB game, will most likely take the role as back-up.

The truth with Armstrong, is no one knows what he can do. He was invited to play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic but declined. He played in AA in 2008, and 2/3 of the way through the season, was promoted to AAA. He improved when he went up to play in AAA. Last year at Spring Training ,many White Sox coaches were impressed at Cole’s ability to field. He could be what the White Sox need to throw out baserunners. If this guy can adjust to the majors, he could be a reliable starter in the future!

Hello fellow baseball fans! My name is Dan, and I will be blogging for the Chicago White Sox this season. I have been a fan since I was around four, and live in the Chicago-area. Today, I will be giving you a general look at the 2009 White Sox, but during the next few days, I will be giving you the lowdown on each position. Let’s get started!

One year after capturing the AL Central Division Title, the White Sox are looking to do more this year…and in the years to come. General Manager Kenny Williams is calling this a “youth movement”, contrary to rumors of rebuilding the team. Gone are Joe Crede, Javier Vazquez, Juan Uribe, Orlando Cabrera, Nick Swisher, and Ken Griffey Jr. Coming in are Dayun Viciedo, Tyler Flowers, Brent Lillibridge, Jeff Marquez, and Jayson Nix, as well as veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon.

This year, many young and inexperienced players could be starting full-time for the South Side of Chicago. Because of this, no one can accurately predict how they will do. Inexperience looms at second base, third base, center field, and the 4th and 5th spots in the starting rotation. Ultimately, it will come down to Spring Training to determine the rosters. This coming year will be a very interesting year for the new-look White Sox.

Coming Up Next…..A preview of catcher for the Chicago White Sox