Sox pitcher Chris Sale ready to blaze his own trail

Expectations are not exactly sky high for the White Sox as the upcoming season approaches — nor should they be.

Much like last year, the Sox are placing high hopes on players like Adam Dunn, Alex Rios, Jake Peavy and Gordon Beckham.

At this stage, the foursome is not inspiring much confidence.

On the other hand, you still have to play the season and the White Sox are not going to concede anything.

Starting pitching can carry a team a long ways, and the Sox' projected rotation — even without Mark Buehrle — is still the obvious strength heading into spring training.

John Danks is your new ace, likely followed by Gavin Floyd, Peavy, Chris Sale and Phil Humber.

Not too shabby, assuming Danks doesn't get off to another 0-8 start, Floyd shows up for all six months, Peavy really is healthy, Sale makes a smooth transition from the bullpen and Humber builds off his breakout 2011 campaign.

Sale is the one to keep a close eye on.

He made a quick jump to the South Side after being drafted No. 13 overall in 2010.

Sale joined the Sox in less than two months after leaving Florida Gulf Coast University and was 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA, 4 saves and a 1.07 WHIP in 21 games.

Last year, the lanky left-hander got off to a slow start out of the bullpen, but Sale allowed only 10 earned runs in his final 54⅓ innings (1.66 ERA).

Now, he is looking forward to starting for the White Sox, the same role he filled in college.

“Don't get me wrong, I had a good time and good moments out of the bullpen,” Sale said on a conference call Monday. “But I guess you can say (starting) is something I have worked toward and I am very excited that it's here and I was given the opportunity.”

Sale has some big shoes to fill, but the power pitcher has a completely different style than Buehrle and is looking to blaze his own trail.

“There is not going to be another Buehrle,” said Sale, who just returned from a late honeymoon in Maui. “He's a one-of-a-kind player and person. I had a great couple of years with him. I had good conversations with him and he was nothing but great. But I'm not going to get caught up in that.

“The only thing I can focus on doing is pitching my game and giving it everything I've got.”

Damage control:As we first reported Friday, former manager Ozzie Guillen was upset by insinuations from Peavy that Guillen quit on the Sox with two games to play in the 2011 season.Guillen lashed out via Twitter and threatened to #8220;kill people's feelings.#8221;With SoxFest coming to the Palmer House Hilton this weekend, chairman Jerry Reinsdorf stepped in Monday to set the record straight.#8220;Regarding Ozzie Guillen's departure as White Sox manager last September, I want to make it clear that he left with our organization's blessing and at my urging,#8221; Reinsdorf said in a statement. #8220;Ozzie told me he wanted to finish out the year, the Marlins really wanted him in Miami for the conclusion of the season, and I told him that he had no choice but to go given the excitement surrounding the opening of their new stadium and the unveiling of their new uniforms. Ozzie needed to be in Miami at the end of the season for the Marlins.#8221;I heard from many readers after the original story ran Friday, and everyone was tired of this whole affair. Let's hope Reinsdorf pulled the plug for good, although that's probably wishful thinking.See you in the spring:White Sox pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 23, and 18 nonroster players received invites Monday.Notable names include pitchers Brian Bruney, Eric Stults and Jacob Petricka, infielder Tyler Kuhn and outfielders Jordan Danks, Jared Mitchell and Trayce Thompson.Minor matters:The White Sox promoted Buddy Bell to vice president, player development and special assignments.Nick Capra moves up to Bell's old job #8212; director of player development. And Kirk Champion, long one of my favorite people in the Sox' organization, was promoted to minor-league field coordinator.