Sun Tzu:
"I would actually give Detroit a better chance of winning the division than the pale hose."
WHY?
not disrespecting you or your opinions, just curious as to why you don't like the white sox chances.
Ozzie Guillen unfortunately came into managing this team a couple years too late. The talent was there for them to win the central two years ago. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jerry Manuel was one of the worst game time managers in baseball. Guillen might not be much better, but players respond to him, and I believe that he got the most out of his players last year. Sophmore year should be a little smoother.
Remember, im betting that one of the top teams will be the twins or the white sox. I think there is value with the white sox, and if they don't win then i break dead even if twinkies do.
Starting staff for Sox:
Mark Burhle: career 69-45 16-10 last year
Freddy Garcia: carer 85-54 9-4(with sox) last year
El Duque: career: 61-40 8-2(with yanks)last yer
Jose Contreras: career: 20-11
John Garland career: 46-51
picking up contreras allowed them to move garland to 5 and if he can't handle it Cotts and Hermanson can spot start. They badly needed a 5th starter and got it.
Bullpen: Takatso is a pretty darn good closer. Koch was never the same when he went to the Sox and played like garbage there. Getting rid of him allowed Takatso to shine, although the guy got no national publicity. He saved 19 and I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I doubt he blew more than 3. He's not a hurler whos gonna blow it by you, but he knows how to pitch and proved he has mentality to close last year. Marte is great as a setup guy, as the majority of his crap outings have been trying to close, or mop up innings. he has the stuff, mentality is his question mark. Hermanson had the arm when he first came up with expos but never developed. Had a good 2003, but faltered last year.
Position: Losing Mags was a blow, but he didn't play much last year. Frank Thomas is a hall of famer, but he won't make the hall. Make sense? He won't be ready to start the year, and he really is a question mark. Konerko is the most fluent swing in baseball. Really struggled last year, if he gets back to 2003 numbers hes an All-Star. Crede is the sox future star for five years running now and he's been average, but has all the potential. Uribe can hit, Pierzynski is a huge unknown what he will do. Even more unknown is Tadahito Iguchi from Japan. A real stud over there, but who knows how he fares in the states. He can't be any worse than Willie Harris, so that's an upgrade if they were gonna put willie at 2nd.
Playing in comiskey is a hitters dream (i refuse to call it cellular field) Pitching is a key, and Sox have it.
The main competition in the division is the twinkies. Their staff:
Santana (no stats needed, STUD)
Radke career .500 pitcher 127-118
Kyle Lohse nice young 40-39 pitcher, but struggled big time last year 9-13 with a 5.34 era
Carlos Silva Real good young arm
Joe Mays, pretty poor pitcher coming off missing an entire year due to injury.
Bullpen: Everyday Eddie bit the farm and went to the ICHIROS last year. Nathan had an All-Star year last year with 44 saves. Pitched Nails in big innings.
Position Players: Is there a better outfield in the American league than Stewart, Hunter, and Jones. Maybe, but not many. Great fielders and they can all flat out hit. Their infield is average devensively and BELOW average with the bats. Morneau, Rivas, Punto and Cuddyer hardly strike fear in any pitchers mind. Mauer is a nice prospect with tons of publicity, but his rookie campaign was all injuries.
I'm too tired to get deep into the Tigers tonight Tzu
Their staff:
Jason Johnson: last year 8-15 5.13 ERA
Mike Maroth: last year 11-13 4.31 ERA lost 20 games in 2003
Jeremy Bonderman:last year11-13 4.89 ERA
Nate Robertson: last year 12-10 4.90 ERA
Gary Knotts: last year 7-6 5.25 ERA
Bullpen: Love the edition of Percival, but he is nearing the end of his career. I also really like Ugeth Urbina. But you can absolutely count this team out if Kyle Farnsworth gets in the game in any kind of meaningful situation.
Bats: Only meaningful ones are Ordonez (who knows how healthy he really is). Pudge, and Guilen.
Look, there staff isn't a bad group if you want 5 pitchers who are all trying to learn to win. They are definitely on the rise, but aren't ready yet IMO
gl will add more later
