Why so high on 2009 White Sox

Competition is a good thing, and there is plenty to go around. 2nd base 3rd base Center Field the final 2 spots in the rotation, and as always 2 spots in the bull pen are up for grabs, not to mention back up catcher. SO who do we have:
Starting pitching: #1 is Mark Buehrle, enough said. #2 will be Gavin Floyd, has awesome stuff, Don Cooper worked his magic on another teams first round pick that they gave up on. He would probably be #3 but Mr. Johnny Danks pitches too much like Buehrle so Danks the future ACE is #3. #4 we're hoping is Bartolo Colon a former ACE at a bargain basement price. #5 really heats up with Jeff Marquez who we acquired from the Yankees and is thought of as a young Jon Garland. Sinker ball pitchers are always welcome at the Cell. Clayton Richard showed some real promise stepping up big last year in Yankeee Stadium and coming out of the bull pen in the playoffs. Lance Broadway is always considered and never seems to be able to over come the perception that he is just a soft junk baller, but in 2 late season call ups, he's produced. Aaron Poreda is the long shot dark horse, he may go the bull pen to start his MLB career like the SOX did with Buehrle. He will be in the majors probably as a starter or perhaps as the successor to Bobby Jenks? I hope he is part of the 3 headed monster along with Danks & Floyd that leads the White Sox starters for years.

The Bull Pen: The SOX usually carry 7. Locks Closer Bobby Jenks Set Up Men: S Linebrink O Dotel & M Thorton. So there's 3 spots open, a second lefty I think it will come down to Poreda or Richard one of the last 2 should be a long reliever, although Richard could do that also. I like Adam Russell for long relief but Broadway, or Jack Egbert could step up. DJ Carasco did an admiralable job last year, at times it seemed he was the only dependable option and then he wasnt got lit up. Ehren Wasserman seems to be pretty reliable.

Ozzie says no one will be given a job and they will all have to earn their spot. I hope its true, but sometimes when a guy is out of options, he gets the benefit of the doubt. That could come into play again this year, remember last year they kept N Massatt ahead of Waserman because Massatt was out of options. This year Jerry Owens, Jason Nix, infielder Wilson Betemit and outfielder Dewayne Wise are out of options and must clear waivers if they don't make the Opening Day roster.

The locked position players: Catcher A J Pierzynski DH Thome 1B Konerko SS Alexei Rameriez LF Carlos Quinten RF Jermaine Dye, the most under appreciated White Sox ever. I know he's older and not very fast and in the last year of his contract with only partial no trade clause but this guy has carried the club on his own at times, he was the World Series MVP, He is the most consistent hitter we've had and has lead all outfielders in home runs the last 4 years!

3rd Base is Josh Fields to lose and judging by what we heard all offseason about his knee injury healing & him spending time at Camp Cora to work on his defense (Joey Cora says he will shock Chicago with his improved defense) he will probably be the starter. Wilson Betemet was brought in as insurance and the dark horse is the lates Cuban Wonder Boy 19 year old Dayan Viciedo a beast in the batting cages, may need a year in the minors, and may wind up starting in LF next year with Dye gone & Quinten in RF?

2nd Base has 3 viable options, home grown grinder Chris Getz, former Rockie reclamtion project Jay Nix and super speedy possible lead off hitter Brent Lillibridge which got from the Braves for Vasquez. I love Getz, have for awhile, he started to come on last year before an injury shut him down for the season. Lillibridge can also play CF. All are considered better than average defensively but have yet to prove they can hit in the majors. Nix is out of options.

CF: Here we have the ususal suspects. underachieving Brian Aderson who last year seemed to finally get it & is now working hard to be the best he can be. He is the SOX best defensive outfielder at any of the 3 spots and will probably be the 4th outfielder or traded. Jerry Owens really came on the last half of 2007 and had won the CF & leadoff spots in spring 2008 until he was injured again. To me it seems like he is snake bit and will never be a starting player. DeWayne Wise is back. A career journeyman he came up big last year, but i get the feeling that was his 15 minutes of fame, but Ozzie like him. The dark horse hear is Lillibridge, I would love for him to win the CF and leadoff spots, but it appears the SOX are looking at him as an infielder. but you never know, Alexei Ramirez was the starting CF opening day last year. Owens & Wise are out of options, they maybe able to reassign Wise but I am sure Owens would be claimed by another team.

The bench: If the SOX keep 12 pitchers which is likely that leaves 4 bench spots (25 man roster - 9 positition starters including DH - 12 pitchers = 4 spots). One of those spots needs to go to a back up catcher. Tyler Flowers is the future at the position, but he needs to work on his defense big time, so expect him to be in the minors at least to start the season. Cole Armstong is listed as the #1 back up, but I suspect Donny Lucy or Chris Stewart could end up being the back up because they are right handed. Armstrong, is a lefty like started AJ. Corky Miller is also in the mix. If AJ plays in the World Baseball Classic all of these candidates should get plenty of opportunities to impress. Wilson Bettemet I think is as much of a lock as any to make the team. He is really the only 1b & 3b back up they have and has proven to be a servicable major leaguer. He is out of options and he is a switch hitter. Lefty Ben Brousard was just signed and is a non-roster invitee, he ahs played 1st & 3rd. If he has an awesome spring and Betemet falters he could stick. So its down to 2 players you would think a middle infielder and a fourth outfielder. I think Speed for pinch running will out weigh pinch hitting. Brian Anderson is the White Sox 4th outfeilder, he has good speed, can play awesome defense at all 3 postions and can hit for some power. Owens is out of options and will be claimed, the SOX are hoping he wins CF & leadoff, if not he can steal bases as a pinch runner. If you keep Anderson & Owens Betemet is your only middle infielder and he is better suited for the corners. Getz Lillibrige and Nix are all in the mix for 2nd the one who finishes second at 2nd could be the back up middle infielder. I know Lillibridge has played SS I believe Getz can, I havent heard Nix cant. Nix is out of options and Lillibridge could also play CF. Getz maybe the one best suited to succeed not playing every day.

If all the stars aligned my way this is how the SOX would look to start 2009
1. CF Lillibridge RH
2. C Pierzynski LH
3. LF Quinten RH
4. 1B Konerko RH
5. DH Thome LH
6. RF Dye RH
7. SS Ramirez RH
8. 3B Fields RH
9. 2B Getz LH

Ozzie likes the alternating lefty righty at the top of the line up and wants speed at the bottom also, other wise I would but Getz #2, AJ #7 and Ramirez #9 granted he would be the best 9th place hitter in baseball, I would view it as a second lead off hitter

Starting Pitchers
1. Buehrle LH
2. Floyd RH
3. Danks LH
4. Colon RH
5. Marquez RH

Relief
Jenks RH
Lienbrink RH
Dotel RH
Thorton LH
Richard LH
Waserman RH
Russel or Carasco or Broadway RH

Bench
C Dony Lucey RH
IF Betemet SW
OF Anderson RH
OF Owens LH

Now I know I only have Betemet as an infielder, but my back up middle infielder would be Lillibrgide, with Anderson and/or Owens moving to center.

Betemet would be my primary pinch hiter
Owens would be my primary pinch runner especially when I needed a stolen base
Anderson would be the primay defensive replacement

One thing to keep in mind is Jose Contreas could be the mid season additon we could make without having to make a trade. He is rehabing from the blown achiles and is not expect back until July or August. He takes a long time to warm up so the bullpen wouldn't be ideal but if Colons health doesnt hold up or Marquez falters, he could step right in. By the way did you know he has lost 25 lbs this offseason?