2011 Chicago White Sox Predictions
After winning 88 games and taking second in the AL Central last season, the Chicago White Sox appear ready to contend for their first division title since 2008. History, however, may not be on their side, as the Sox have only won two Central division championships in the last 10 years. The White Sox are listed at +2500 to win the 2011 World Series.
Pitching: Adding former San Diego Padres ace Jake Peavy to a starting rotation that included Mark Buehrle, John Danks and Gavin Floyd was supposed to make the South Siders the team to beat in the Central. Unfortunately, Peavy disappointed in 2010 before being lost for the season with a detached lat muscle. He may not be ready for the start of the season but isn’t expected to miss much time. How well he performs will go a long way toward determining whether Chicago can win the division.
Buehrle went just 13-13 with a 4.28 ERA in 2010 but remains extremely durable. He is eligible for free agency following the season, so there is a good chance he could be motivated enough to have a bounce back year.
Whether Danks gets his first Opening Day start is still to be determined, but I feel he is deserving. He went 15-11 with a 3.72 ERA a season ago.
Floyd was brilliant for the Sox from June on. In fact, only Felix Hernandez, Max Scherzer and CC Sabathia had a better ERA in the AL after June 8.
The Sox are also expecting a lot from Edwin Jackson, who went 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA after coming over from Arizona late last season.
The quick emergence of southpaw Chris Sale enabled Chicago to part with closer Bobby Jenks. Sale, who boasts 100-plus mile per hour heat, will get his chance to start soon enough. In the meantime, the Sox will likely use him in the ninth.
Lineup: The White Sox packed plenty of power in 2010 as one of only four AL teams to have four hitters with at least 70 RBIs. The Sox should have even more pop at the plate in 2011 with the addition of Adam Dunn. With a lot less protection in the lineup at Washington, Dunn cracked 38 round trippers and drove in 103 base runners. Since 2004, only Albert Pujols has hit more home runs than Dunn’s 40-per-year.
First baseman Paul Konerko should only benefit from the addition of Dunn. Konerko hit .312 with 39 jacks and 111 RBIs last season. Third baseman Brent Morel, shortstop Alexei Ramirez and second baseman Gordon Beckham join him in the infield. Morel should get most of the work at third as long as he can hit. Ramirez has quietly become one of the game’s best shortstops, probably deserving the Gold Glove over Derek Jeter in 2010. The 18 home runs and 70 RBIs he had at the plate were more than a nice bonus. Beckham took a step back last season but a big second half gives him a springboard into 2011.
Juan Pierre, Alex Rios and Carlos Quentin give the Sox a nice mix of speed and power in the outfield. They combined for 104 steals, 48 home runs and 222 RBIs.
Prediction – 2nd AL Central: The Sox have a team capable of dethroning the Twins, but I’m a bit reluctant to think they will do so. Minnesota has six division titles in the last nine seasons while the Sox have only two. One thing is certain, Chicago’s starting pitchers must do better than the 4.26 ERA they posted in 2010 if they hope to take the Central. MLB odds makers have listed the White Sox at +200 to win the AL Central.
