2013 MLB Team Preview: Chicago White Sox
The White Sox were a legitimate threat to Detroit in the AL Central last year, using a top 10 offense to a better than .500 record. They are the most likely challenger to the Tigers again this season, thought a Wild Card birth is the more reasonable goal.
- American League Central Odds +650 Bovada
- Odds to win AL Pennant: +2500
- Odds to win World Series: +5000
Key Additions:
Jeff Keppinger (3B)
Key Subtractions:
A.J. Pierzynski (C), Brett Myers (P), Kevin Youkilis (3B), Philip Humber (P)
The formula will again be the same. Score as much as possible and hope the team’s pithcing can hold on…except when Sale pitches. If Sale regresses this team will be lucky to be above .500 again.
Offense – The lineup for the White Sox is pretty fearsome now that Adam Dunn is a power threat again. He still strikes out a lot but he is taking his walks and going long at a rate that makes those whiffs acceptable. They have some speed to manufacture runs a little bit and if Gordon Beckham ever lives up to his billing the lineup will be really long. The key will be at the top with Alejandro De Aza.
He is going to be relied upon for the first time at the top and they need him to be a consistent table setter. The middle of the order has 100 homers in it easy.
Projected Lineup
- CF – Alejandro De Aza
- 3B – Jeff Keppinger
- DH – Adam Dunn
- 1B – Paul Konerko
- RF – Alex Rios
- LF – Dayan Viciedo
- C – Tyler Flowers
- SS – Alexei Ramirez
- 2B – Gordon Beckham
Pitching
The rotation is good but doesn’t have a lot of room to grow. Part of that is because Chris Sale was so good last year in his first year as a starter – even with the occasional nursing. Really he is the ace because Peavy just can’t dial it up the way he used to. Floyd and Danks are known quantities who can have occasional flashes but are really no more than .500 pitchers.
In a lot of cases the Sox will be best served by outscoring foes.
Addison Reed was one of the more highly touted closer prospects of late. The job is all his now, partly because he performed when called upon last year, and partly because lefty Matt Thornton struggles in the role. The rotation should be able to go deep in games so they won’t rely on these guys too much. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
This team always seems to have one arm that comes out of nowhere, last year it was Hector Santiago who closed early.
This year we will have to wait and see.
Projected Rotation
- Jake Peavy
- Chris Sale
- Gavin Floyd
- John Danks
- Jose Quintana
- Projected Bullpen
- Addison Reed
- Matt Thornton
- Jesse Crain
Projection: 2nd Place American League Central
Playing half of their games at U.S. Cellular Field the offense for Chicago is always a factor. This team’s offense travels well though as Dunn and Konerko are established sluggers.
Chicago also should benefit from playing games against a weak division – last year they were only 2 games above .500 against the AL Central and that is an area they can improve upon if they want to narrow the gap with Detroit and help out bettors, though they were slightly positive for the season in 2013
The best situation for the Sox last year was an an underdog. They were 30-35 but cleared a couple of units. This situation could again be profitable. With their offense, they can explode against anyone and their pitchers do offer up tantalizing gems from time to time.
When there is a high value opportunity don’t discount these guys too heavily.
