GM set to face Sox fans
When he takes a seat in front of White Sox fans at the Palmer House tonight, Kenny Williams knows it is going to be warm, if not unseasonably hot.
"I expect there to be some discontent, because there always is,'' Williams said of the annual SoxFest town meeting. "Even after we won the World Series.''
That was back in 2005, but Williams and the Sox are facing some serious heat after following up with a third-place finish in 2006 while sinking to fourth in the AL Central last season.
"People have their opinions, they have their passion, and you have to respect that,'' Williams said. "You try to do the best you can. People have questions and they deserve answers. I'll give them to them straight.''
There are some obvious questions for Williams after the White Sox waded through a miserable 72-90 season in 2007. In addition to having the lowest team batting average in baseball at .246, the Sox' bullpen posted a 5.47 ERA, the franchise's highest since 1957.
Before moving to the firing line, Williams took some positive parting shots at the upcoming season.
"I think we've got some of the most balance in the division,'' Williams said. "We've got some stiff competition, but if you look player to player, position by position, we stack up against anybody in the division.
"I will grant the Detroit Tigers are probably going to be the best offensive team in baseball. Aside from that, on an overall balance level, we just think we are positioned to battle for 162 ballgames and hopefully come out the division winner.
Here are some questions likely to be asked at SoxFest, followed by some equally likely answers.
Q:Why do you think the White Sox can bounce back and contend in 2008?
A: Earlier in the off-season, Williams was ripped for failing to land "big fish'' such as Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera and Kosuke Fukudome. But the GM is likely to talk at length about two big lineup additions: shortstop Orlando Cabrera and outfielder Nick Swisher.
Cabrera hits for average, Swisher hits for power, and both are high on-base percentage guys.
Williams also is bullish on the revamped bullpen, which has two new veterans in Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel.
Q:What about the starting rotation?
A: The starters have been the Sox' strength for several years, but it looks a little shaky heading into spring training.
Mark Buehrle is a proven performer, and Javier Vazquez (15-8, 3.74 ERA) is coming off his best season since 2001.
After that, there are big question marks with Jose Contreras, John Danks and Gavin Floyd.
Williams is confident Danks will rebound from a miserable second half (1-7, 7.11 ERA) while Floyd builds off a solid September.
Should any of the trio struggle, Williams says minor-leaguers Lance Broadway and/or Jack Egbert are ready to step in.
Q:Could the White Sox add another established starter?
A: As Williams told reporters earlier in the week, he still is looking to improve the club.
There have been rumors the Sox are interested in free agent Bartolo Colon, the 2005 Cy Young Award winner. But Colon was sidelined with elbow and back injuries for much of 2007 and he hasn't pitched well in the Dominican Winter League.
If the White Sox do take a chance on a medical risk, it could be Freddy Garcia, who is coming back from shoulder surgery.
Q:Who is going to be the Sox' biggest surprise in 2008?
A: Williams has to throttle his enthusiasm when discussing Alexei Ramirez, who spent the last seven seasons playing in his native Cuba.
But if Ramirez lives up to his potential, he could emerge as the starting center fielder (moving Swisher to left) and leadoff hitter.
Q:Is Joe Crede going to play third base this season?
A: Williams is taking a wait-and-see attitude, but Crede is eligible for free agency at the end of the year, and Scott Boras is his agent. In other words, a contract extension is all but out of the question.
If Crede shows he is completely recovered from back surgery, he is likely to be traded during spring training with Josh Fields taking over at third.