2010 team

Here's what I project for the White Sox lineup next season:

1. Alexi Ramirez SS
2. Gordon Beckham 2B
3. Paul Konerko 1B
4. Carlos Quentin LF
5. A.J. Pierzynski C
6. Mark Teahen 3B
7. Tyler Flowers DH
8. Alex Rios CF
9. Andruw Jones RF

Obviously this lineup is subject to change and hopefully will. I feel like it won't be set in stone until after spring training, and even then it will have moving pieces, especially with the versatility that some players like Teahen and Beckham possess. Don't be surprised to see Beckham anywhere in the infield or to see Teahen in the outfield.

Let's move on to the strength of the team for 2010, the starting pitching staff.
1. Mark Buehrle
2. Jake Peavy
3. Gavin Floyd
4. John Danks
5. Freddy Garcia
I can't wait to see these guys in action and they will all play need to play a very important role if the team is going to be successful next season.

And on the tail end the Sox will have Bobby Jenks to close things out, unless the rumors are true and they trade him, in that case Matt Thornton will do the job.

Possible leadoff hitters

Here's a list of the possible free-agent leadoff hitters the Sox could still go after. Chone Figgins isn't on the list because the Sox simply don't have enough money. With that in mind here's a look at some feasible free agents.
1. Scott Podsednik- We need to sign him. I think he's the best leadoff hitter on the list and he already has a proven history with the Sox. I can't figure out why this deal can't be done.
2. Felipe Lopez- Lopez batted .310 last season with Arizona and Milwaukee. He's a solid player, but unfortunately he's also a second basemen and the Sox infield is already a little crowded, unless Beckham could play the outfield, which I'm sure he could.
3. Orlando Hudson- Hudson would have been the perfect fit last season. He is very similar to Lopez and is also a second basemen, which could mean some reorganizing if we could sign him, but his bat and experience would be worth it.
4. Johnny Damon- Damon seems to be the best fit, other than Podsednik. He could play a corner outfield spot and has a history as a leadoff man. However, I wouldn't even have him on this list if he hadn't had such a great postseason, anyone who steals two bases in one play should get a serious look.
5. Marlon Byrd- Byrd isn't a proven leadoff man, but he could do the job. He is a solid outfielder and did manage to hit .283 last season with the Rangers. Plus we've already signed two other players from the Rangers last season, so why not go for the trifecta?

Offseason so far....

Here's a brief recap of what the White Sox have done this offseason, an offseason that I can't seem to figure out. Overall I would say that Williams has improved the defense and that's about it. He still needs to sign a leadoff hitter (Scott Podsednik is still available). However he did sign seasoned veterans Andruw Jones (which would have been great five or so years ago) and Omar Vizquel (which would have been great about ten years or so ago). I expect both players to have more of an impact off the field than on it. He also traded budding star Chris Getz and the underachieving Josh Fields for Mark Teahen, who I can only hope hits as well for the Sox as he did against them. He also resigned Freddy Garcia and Matt Thornton, while failing to resign the World Series MVP Jermaine Dye. Sadly, those are about the only three moves that I understand from this offseason. Let's just hope that Willam's moves work out, but I hope he can find a leadoff hitter.

Sox sign Jones

In another befuddling move by Kenny Williams the White Sox signed center fielder Andruw Jones. The 32-year-old Jones will play a similar role that Omar Vizquel will play, as a player-coach, only he will do so with the outfield. Jones is a five-time All-Star and a ten-time Gold Glove winner. Unfortunately Jones still doesn't fill the void the Sox have at the top of the order because he hit just .214 last season with the Rangers.

Sox sign Vizquel

Kenny Williams made another interesting move by signing 42-year-old Omar Vizquel. The eleven-time Gold Glove winner should help the White Sox infield that committed 113 errors last season, even if it is from the bench. Vizquel did manage to hit .266 with the Rangers last season and his ability to be a player-coach should have some impact on the White Sox, unfortunately he still isn't the lead-off man the Sox need to sign. However, he could have a huge impact on Alexi Ramirez, similar to the impact he had on Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus. Vizquel, who's from Venezeula, also cited the team's long history of Venezeulan shortstops as part of the reason he wanted to become a Sox.

Beckham named number 9 in the future of sports

Gordon Beckham has been named number nine in ESPN's The Mag on a list of athletes considered to be the future of sports. Hopefully Beckham can live up to this hype as he can focus even more on hitting this season because he is making the move to second base, an easier place to play defensively. Photo from: http://theghostofmoonlightgraham.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/beckham.jpg

Offseason Moves

It appears that the White Sox won't be too aggressive in the free-agent market this winter. They have already committed $78 million towards 13 players for next season's team. That means that the Sox will only have around $15 million to work with for the rest of their team because their payroll usually is in the $93 million range. So don't count on the Sox signing any big name free agents. However one area that the Sox could spend some money is to fix up their bullpen. Going in to the 2009 season the bullpen looked to be a strong suit, however it looks like its going to be the weakest area for the Sox this season. That being said, I don't expect the Sox to sign any big names to help their bullpen, instead they will hope for Scott Linebrink to have a rebound year. If Linebrink can return to his pre-2009 form the Sox bullpen could look become a strength for the team.

Wilson Betemit to sign with Royals

Former White Sox Wilson Betemit, who the White Sox traded Nick Swisher to the Yankees to get, looks like he will sign with the Royals. The Royals could use Betemit at third base to fill in for the loss of Mark Teahan, who the Sox just got for Fields and Getz. All of that basically means that the Royals infield could be full of former White Sox players....lets hope they don't hold grudges.

Mark Buehrle Wins Golden Glove

Mark Buehrle became the first White Sox to win a Gold Glove since Robin Ventura won back in 1998. Buehrle put up some great numbers this season has he collected 41 assists and assisting with five double plays, while committing just one error. He's only the second White Sox pitcher to win the award, joining Jim Kaat, who won in 1974-75.

Photo from:

http://www.blogiversity.org/blogs/willburns1/mark_buehrle_no_hitter.jpg

Bye Dye, Hello Kotsay

The White Sox have officially cut ties with 2005 World Series MVP Jermaine Dye. The Sox bought out the final year in his contract making him a free agent, and no longer a member of the Chicago White Sox team. Although it is sad to see Dye go, it was time. The Sox need to get younger and go cheaper in the outfield. Plus Dye's sad second half made it easier for the Sox to part with him.

Kenny Williams did resign utility player Mark Kotsay, who will play multiple roles for the Sox next season. Kotsay can play firstbase, outfield and could even be used in the DH role. Kenny Williams took Ozzie's words to heart when he told him that he needed to resign Kotsay.

2010

Now that the baseball season is officially over, I think it is finally time to start the talk about next season. Kenny Williams thought so too. He has already made quite a few moves, but none bigger than sending Chris Getz and Josh Fields to Kansas City for Mark Teahen. Teahen was a Sox killer last season, hitting .404 against them, but just .271 overall, while playing third base for the Royals. Yes third base, which means the White Sox plan to fill the void of Getz, who was starting to play very solid baseball for the Sox last season before his injury, with current third basemen Gordon Beckham. That means the Sox will have to teach the Rookie of the Year another new position in 2010. Becks will be able to transition nicely to second base, but I'm concerned about Getz hurting the Sox next season with the Royals. I'm less worried about Fields, but stranger things have happened. In the end, Teahen is a solid player, but the Sox simply gave up too much for him because he is not the All-Star RBI producer the White Sox lineup needs for 2010.

*photo from www.espn.com

Rumor Has It

Before Johnny Damon had such a great World Series with the Yankees, there was talk about the White Sox signing the free agent, possibly as a replacement for Scott Podsednik. Thankfully, it seems like the Yanks might resign Damon, leaving the door open for the Sox to resign Pods. Pods and Damon both have declining abilities in the field, yet they seem to have some pop left in their left handed swings. However, Pods is two years younger than Damon and had a higher batting average last season. Plus Pods has a history with the White Sox that no one will forget and he'll steal more bases next season.

Of note: Congratulations to former White Sox lefties Damaso Marte and Scott Eyre for their shut out innings in game six. Seeing that makes me wonder why we let those guys go....oh yeah, because of a guy named Matt Thornton.

*photo from: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/ZskbHW3X0pn/New+York+Yankees+v+Los+Angeles+Angels+Anaheim/sD6UKFdngA5/Johnny+Damon