Sox believe they'll be worth watching
The White Sox were difficult to watch last season, especially over the final five months.
With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training this Saturday in Tucson, Ariz., the Sox are confident additions like shortstop Orlando Cabrera, outfielder Nick Swisher and relief pitchers Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel are going to be good for a lot more wins, as well as increased ratings.
With reality TV dominating the television landscape these days, here's our version of a reality check on the White Sox as they prepare for their new season:
Fear Factor
1. Detroit Tigers. Yes, Sox general manager Kenny Williams has admitted, the Tigers' offense is stacked.
Adding third baseman Miguel Cabrera and shortstop Edgar Renteria to a lineup that returns talent like right fielder Magglio Ordonez, center fielder Curtis Granderson and designated hitter Gary Sheffield makes Detroit the clear-cut favorite in the AL Central.
Williams, though, only has to look back to 2006 for an historical spin.
After winning the World Series the year before, Williams added designated hitter Jim Thome to the White Sox' lineup.
"Didn't work out so well,'' Williams said of the Sox' third-place finish.
To their credit, the White Sox did win 90 games in 2006 before slipping to 72-90 last season.
Not only are the Tigers looming in the AL Central, so are the defending champion Cleveland Indians.
"Those two teams are coming off real good years,'' first baseman Paul Konerko said. "They haven't lost anything, and they've gained something. So they should be picked higher. If we use that, kind of embrace the underdog role a little bit, we have the talent here to compete.''
2. Starting rotation. Mark Buehrle and Javier Vazquez both are being considered to start the first game of the season -- assuming the March 31 opener at Cleveland isn't snowed out.
After that, the White Sox can only hope Jose Contreras bounces back from a miserable season (10-17, 5.57 ERA) and youngsters John Danks and Gavin Floyd mature in a hurry.
3. Heart of the matter. While Cabrera, Swisher, Linebrink and Dotel are skilled enough to help the White Sox return to contender status, Konerko, Jermaine Dye and A.J. Pierzynski need to bounce back from subpar seasons, and Thome needs to keep his troublesome back healthy.
Survivor Tucson
1. Joe Crede. Don't believe for a second the story that appeared in Thursday's Tulsa (Okla.) World that Josh Fields is contemplating retirement.
Fields is coming off an eye-opening rookie offensive season (23 home runs, 67 RBI in 100 games) and is likely to be the White Sox' starting third baseman for the foreseeable future.
Fields' rapid emergence has made Crede expendable, and the slick-fielding fan favorite is expected to be traded during spring training as long as he shows his surgically repaired back is healthy.
Crede is eligible for free agency at the end of the season. Scott Boras is his agent, so a contract extension is not going to happen.
2. Juan Uribe. He lost his starting job at shortstop when the White Sox acquired Cabrera in a trade from the Los Angeles Angels for starter Jon Garland, but Uribe still is on the roster.
There is a chance Uribe could win the starting job at second base, where Danny Richar, newcomer Alexei Ramirez and Pablo Ozuna also are competing for playing time.
Uribe still has a solid glove, but his batting average has dropped in each of the past three seasons, and his on-base percentage has been below .300 the last two years.
The Sox are paying Uribe $4.5 million this season. If he winds up in a utility role, a trade is almost certain.
The Apprentice
The White Sox head to training camp with 13 players 30 or older, but plenty of young faces are vying for roster spots.
1. Carlos Quentin. "You're going to like this guy,'' Williams said.
Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a Dec. 3 trade for minor-leaguer Chris Carter, the 25-year-old Quentin was Arizona's No. 1 prospect in 2005.
He played in 81 games with the Diamondbacks last season, batting .214 with 5 home runs and 31 RBI. He had surgery Oct. 9 to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his left shoulder and is expected to be ready at the start of spring training.
A career .313 hitter in the minors, Quentin could emerge as the Sox' starting left fielder if he can stay healthy.
2. Alexei Ramirez. He put up big numbers in Cuba and has been compared to the Cubs' Alfonso Soriano.
The Sox are looking forward to seeing Ramirez in person. While he prefers playing shortstop, the 26-year-old import is expected to split time between second base and center field.
Last season, Ramirez batted .335 and had 20 home runs and 68 RBI for Pinar del Rio in the Cuban League.