Chicago White Sox

Here is something you will not see much in these pages.

It is not a bad thing. It is just not my favorite thing.

Still, I did say I would write about teams other than the Cubs when I began this blog. Of course, I was thinking about the Univerity of Illinois baseball team, the Peoria Chiefs, the Iowa Cubs, etc.

My son and I were playing catch tonight (See the “Spring” entry in the “Dimm View of Life”) and he reminded me he prefers the Sox to the Cubs since they win World Series’. I gritted my teeth, but I realized that I should put something on paper about the Sox.

Looking at the team, there has not been wholesale changes since winning the Series in 2005. Names like Joe Crede and Paul Konerko, Mark Buehrle and Jon Garland and more still litter U.S. Cellular Field.

There are some new names this year, including Darin Erstad and Rob Mackowiak. There is some strong power on this team. Whether this team can compete or not is going to appear on the rubber.

Jose Contreras may be considered the ace of the staff on the south side, but that does not bode well for the club. In fact, all of the starting pitchers had spring ERAs over 5.00. Time to panic? Not really. There should be some concern.

The bullpen is not looking all that great either. Bobby Jenks as closer, Mike McDougal and David Aardsma are all people the Sox are counting on for success in the late innings. Each had lukewarm showings in the Cactus league. Only Matt Thornton giving up only one earned run and one walk in nine innings pitched.

The late bloomer, who came to the the Sox from Seattle last year, turns thirty this September. If the rest of the pen shows signs of strain, they may be leaning more and more on this young man to keep the ship afloat.

Overall, we wish the Sox a good season. Not a better season than the Cubs, but a good year nonetheless. See you in May!