Today's MLB preview is on a team that made some major moves in the off-season and would clearly seem to be improved. But perhaps not by as much as some think, at least according to this observer.
The Chicago White Sox were pretty awful in 2014. That doesn’t figure to be the case in 2015. There’s virtually no argument to the premise that the Chisox did some good things over the winter and I would definitely agree they’re likely to at least be a respectable entry this season.
But there are still some serious holes on this roster. Second and third base are potential problem areas, particularly the former. Ditto for behind the plate. The projected regulars at those three spots are each just a shade over replacement level according projected WAR figures. The outfield should be okay with Melky Cabrera, Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia, but there’s little in the way of depth so any injuries among that trio could be critical.
Adam LaRoche is serviceable as a 1B/DH but he’s also getting up there in years and is not going to set the world on fire at this point. Alexis Ramirez is solid as a rock at SS and then there’s Jose Abreu, who was absolutely sensational in his debut and has quickly established himself as one of the game’s most feared sluggers.
The starting pitching looks to be a genuine strength. Chris Sale might miss a little time at the start of the season, but he’s a true ace. Jeff Samardzija will be an asset as long he’s wearing a White Sox jersey, but if the team is not contending, he could once again be a rental possibility. Jose Quintana is an underrated lefty, and then there’s Carlos Rodon.
Rodon was projected as the top overall pick in last year’s draft before his stock took a mini-dip thanks to an ordinary year at North Carolina State. But that whole team was a disappointment and I think the White Sox stole this lefty in a sense. I felt the Astros should have taken him with the top overall pick. Rodin has a vicious slider that stamps him as a potential ace and if the Chisox are serious about making a playoff push, it’s my belief he should be in the rotation from opening day.
The back end of that starting staff without Rodon appears to be John Danks and Hector Noesi. That’s not going to cut it for a team striving to make the post-season. The bullpen, an absolute disaster last season, can’t be worse, and David Robertson should firm up the ninth inning. The Zach Duke addition is a plus as well. But the rest of the pen is at best still an unknown quantity.
Robin Ventura is still the head man in the dugout and there is plenty of mixed opinion as to his managerial skills. Regardless of one’s stance on that count, there’s probably little question that Ventura heads into 2015 on the hot seat to some extent.
I see this team as being headed in the right direction, but not quite as much as the current O/U might indicate. I have the White Sox tabbed at right about 77-78 wins. There are just too many question marks here for me to project them as a winning team, so I believe Under the win total is the way to play with the White Sox.