Cubs, Sox won’t be dull in ’12

The White Sox and Cubs get along about as well as rush hour and snow.

But getting together on a marketing slogan for the 2012 baseball season isn’t the worst possible idea.

Perhaps billboards with something along the lines of, “Chicago Baseball: Not As Terrible As You Think!’’

Of course, it may very well be just that terrible.

But it won’t be dull.

As players report to Arizona, it is usually the time for optimism. This time around, neither team is talking much about their own expectations.

What they know for certain is that the fans and media have none.

“As far as what you (media) guys think,’’ said A.J. Pierzynski, “we don’t really care.’’

That may be true, but the reality is the Sox have no idea what to expect. They know the Tigers are loaded and that there won’t be a wild card coming from the Central Division of the American League.

They might try to make a case by thinking Adam Dunn and Alex Rios could rebound and Jake Peavy could stay healthy, and that Detroit could suffer the same kind of disappointments that plagued the Sox’ lineup a year ago.

Throw in the Tigers’ infield defense and maybe an injury or two on their pitching staff and suddenly you’ve got a formula.

But that’s a whole lot of hoping and not a whole bunch of knowing.

“And last year everyone knew the White Sox would win the division and everyone knew the Red Sox would win the World Series,’’ said Sox manager Robin Ventura. “There are surprises every year and there are disappointments every year. I think you have to stay positive and control the things you can control and let the chips fall.

“But you have to play the games. Nobody’s won anything yet that I’m aware of.’’

At least the Sox won’t lack for drama, as Ventura and GM Ken Williams will face scrutiny from start to finish, and every Rios and Dunn plate appearance will be dissected and discussed until they produce so regularly that everyone forgets 2011.

Dayan Viciedo and Alejandro De Aza have much to prove and Addison Reed and Tyler Flowers could take over huge roles at some point in 2012.

As for the Cubs, they have finally done the unimaginable, tanking a season in order to start a genuine rebuild, taking dead aim at sustainable success at the major-league level.

That comes from loading up the minors, a process that could take years.

In the meantime, it may not be pretty on the North Side of Chicago this year while the Reds look very good, the Brewers got a huge break Thursday with the Ryan Braun suspension reversal and the Cardinals won’t be terrible.

“We consider every major-league season to be sacred, and we never just give up on one,’’ said new Cubs GM Jed Hoyer. “But there’s no way to put a timetable on getting this organization to where we want it to be.

“But you look at what we did in San Diego in 2010 when everyone picked us last and we were in first place until the last week of the season.

“No one picked Arizona last year, but they went from last to first and ran away with it in the second half.

“You just never give up on a season because there’s so many things that can go right or wrong and there are no guarantees for anyone.’’

The only thing you can realistically expect from the Cubs is to be entertaining, on and off the field.

They will be sprinkling in big-name prospects like Anthony Rizzo and Brett Jackson as soon as they are deemed ready, and Starlin Castro’s development will be worth monitoring all season.

They have some new names in — or competing for — the rotation, like Paul Maholm, Chris Volstad and Travis Wood, all of whom have the opportunity to be here awhile if they perform.

The Cubs might be dealing veterans like Matt Garza, Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano if they can get in return the type of prospects and cost-savings that speed up the rebuilding process.

There also will be much attention paid to the draft, and the Cubs will continue to shop on the international market.

So while there’s little optimism on either side of town for a playoff run in 2012, it’s not as though the Cubs and Sox won’t be interesting.

It’s even possible that Chicago baseball won’t be as terrible as you think.

At least you have the right to hope.

brozner@dailyherald.com

ŸListen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score#146;s #147;Hit and Run#148; show at WSCR 670-AM, and follow him @BarryRozner on Twitter.