White Sox starters stack up as big strength

The upcoming season marks the 10-year anniversary of the White Sox winning the World Series, so let's go back in time and relive one of the most incredible athletic feats in recent memory, regardless of the sport.

It actually unfolded in the 2005 American League championship series against the Angels.

For the first time since 1928, Sox starting pitchers threw 4 straight complete games. Mark Buehrle launched the streak against Los Angeles in Game 2 of the series, and Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras followed suit.

To put the remarkable run into perspective, White Sox starters pitched 3 complete games over the entire 2014 season.

The lesson here is strong starting pitching always trumps strong hitting, and that's why the Sox this off-season beefed up the rotation to a level not seen in a decade.

"Everybody wants pitching," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "Everybody always wants pitching. That's been the case the last 100 years and will be the case in the next 100. You simply can never have too much."

It all starts with the starters, and ace Chris Sale and overlooked No. 3 Jose Quintana are back this season.

They'll be joined by new No. 2 Jeff Samardzija, and Carlos Rodon figures to force his way into the White Sox' rotation at some point - likely sooner than later.

Sale, Samardzija and Quintana are as tough a starting threesome as there is in the game, but there are questions as spring training opens Friday in Glendale, Arizona.

Let's try to provide some answers.

Help or hindrance?

Currently No. 4 on the Sox' starting depth chart, John Danks is clearly not the same pitcher he was before having major shoulder surgery late in the 2012 season. And with $28.5 million remaining on his contract, which runs through 2016, Danks is clearly too expensive to trade or release.

On the positive side, the 29-year-old lefty was effective over the first half of last season, hitting the all-star break at 8-6 with a 3.99 ERA.

Danks also made 32 starts (20 quality), threw 193⅔ innings and won 11 games, his best showing in each category since 2010. He wore down in the second half, going 3-5 with a 5.96 ERA, and Danks tied for fifth in the AL with 25 home runs allowed.

If he can take another step forward from the shoulder operation and keep his changeup down in the strike zone, Danks can help the White Sox.

What's the plan for Rodon?

The Sox don't want to rush their prized prospect, who was the No. 3 overall draft pick last June following a standout collegiate career at North Carolina State.

At the same time, they are well aware he is a special talent.

There is a good chance Rodon opens the season at Class AAA Charlotte, considering he pitched just 24⅓ innings in the minor leagues last year.

There also is a chance Rodon breaks in with the White Sox out of the bullpen, the same path Sale took.

But if the 22-year-old lefty is even close to being as good as expected, he will be in the starting five.

"We haven't sat down as a group and said, 'What are we doing with Rodon?' " pitching coach Don Cooper said. "We're just glad we got him.

"We didn't draft this guy third in the nation to be a reliever. At some point he's going to be a starter. We haven't discussed when is that point. Right now he's going to come to spring training, show us what he can do, and he's going to give us all the information we need."

Who is the No. 5 starter?

Heading into spring training, it's Hector Noesi.

The journeyman right-hander was an interesting story in 2014. On April 12, he was a relief pitcher and traded from Seattle to Texas for cash considerations. Ten days later, and after Noesi pitched 1 inning of relief against the Sox and allowed 7 runs on 7 hits, the Rangers designated him for assignment.

The White Sox claimed Noesi off waivers and gradually worked the 28-year-old into the rotation. In 27 starts with the Sox, Noesi was 8-11 with a 4.43 ERA, not awful for a No. 5.

Until Rodon is ready, Noesi figures to keep his starting job. He is back on a one-year, $1.95 million contract.

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