Gregor: White Sox thoughts halfway through spring training

Spring training has hit the halfway point, so it's an ideal time to look at what has been going on with the White Sox in the first half of camp and what lies ahead:

• Cactus League games don't matter.

That is a very popular refrain every spring, and it's accurate.

But spring training is always important for certain individuals trying to win big-league jobs, and it's important that they play well.

With that in mind, the Sox have to be thrilled with the way Micah Johnson is performing.

In nine games, Johnson is batting .455 (10-for-22) with a double, triple, home run and 4 RBI.

Considered the favorite to win the starting second base job heading into training camp, a confident Johnson said he was focused and, more important, healthy.

Proving to be a man of his word, Johnson also said he has worked hard on his defense, and he has handled his first 25 exhibition chances flawlessly.

Carlos Sanchez, Johnson's main competition at second base, is batting .278 (5-for-18) with 4 RBI in 10 Cactus League games.

Unless he gets hurt, Johnson is going to be the White Sox' starting second baseman - and a dangerous No. 9 hitter.

• Considering starting pitchers Yu Darvish (Texas) and Gavin Floyd (Cleveland) suffered elbow injuries this spring and Marcus Stroman (Toronto) is expected to miss the season with a knee injury, the White Sox got lucky with ace Chris Sale.

Out since Feb. 27 with a fractured right foot, Sale could be back on the mound by this weekend, at least to throw a bullpen.

The left-hander has plenty of time to build up arm strength and be ready to start against Minnesota on April 12, his target return date.

If it's my call, Jeff Samardzija starts the April 6 season opener at Kansas City, followed by Jose Quintana, John Danks and Hector Noesi.

That leaves Carlos Rodon with Class AAA Charlotte to open the year, but look for the touted lefty to be in a Sox uniform by June at the latest.

• So who is going to get the nod as the White Sox' backup catcher behind Tyler Flowers?

It's going to be a tough call.

Geovany Soto has the best bat, but his defense is rough.

You'd think the Sox would want a left-handed bat since Flowers hits from the right side, but neither George Kottaras nor Rob Brantly have shown much at the plate this spring. Brantly did hit a home run Sunday, so maybe he's preparing for a late push.

• Jesse Crain hasn't pitched since midway through the 2013 season due to a series of injuries, but the more the veteran right-hander throws live batting practice and reports no pain this spring, the better for the Sox.

The White Sox do have some promising right-handers in the bullpen - Jake Petricka, Zach Putnam, Javy Guerra, Daniel Webb - but a healthy Crain is on a completely different level.

If the Sox have to wait until April, even May, for Crain, it will be well worth it.