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Chicago White Sox:
The Chicago White Sox have soared through the beginning of this 2008 season. The White Sox currently lead the American League Central division with a great 41-31 record, which puts them in 4th place in the American League overall. The White Sox are led offensively at the mound by All-Star pitcher Javier Vasquez, nicknamed "The Silent Assassin" for his quiet personality and dominating performances. Vasquez currently leads the team with 67 strikeouts in about 71 innings pitched. Outfielder Carlos Quentin carries the team offensively at the plate with a solid 14 home runs and 48 RBIs along with veteran, silver slugger Jim Thome 10 home runs and 28 RBIs. The Chicago White Sox look to carry this great beginning to the year into the playoffs and all the way to a World Series Championship. Tickets are selling fast to excited fans hoping that this will be the year they'll bring the pennant and World Series title back to Chicago.
The Chicago White Sox enjoyed a great deal
of success during the 1910’s. During that span they won
a World Series in 1917 and an American League Pennant in 1919.
The 1919 World Series is known for the “Black Sox” scandal.
Before the series a number of White Sox players were approached
by big time gamblers and convinced eight of them to throw the
series. The commissioner vowed to never let any of those eight
players come back into baseball and he stuck to his word. As
of late, the South Siders haven’t enjoyed the same success
they did in back in the day. Their last playoff appearance came
in 2000 when the won the AL Central divisional crown. Last season,
the Sox finished in second place four games out of the playoffs
with an 86-76 record.
This past off-season for the White Sox was better
known for the players they lost then the players they gained.
Players that were let go from the team include Tony Graffanino,
Roberto Alomar, Carl Everett and Scott Sullivan. The team didn’t
spend much money on the free agent market because they retained two of their
All-Stars. Right fielder Magglio Ordonez inked a contract that is paying him
$14 million this year and LHP Mark Buehrle to a contract that will put $3.5 million
into his pocket this year. Their sole trade of the off-season was with the Colorado
Rockies. The Sox sent infielder Aaron Miles to Colorado and got speedy second
baseman Juan Uribe.
Last season the White Sox had some trouble putting
runs on the board. They were eighth in the AL in runs scored
and 11th in team batting average batting a meager .263 average.
At the top of the lineup is utility player Willie Harris and
Juan Uribe. The two combined for 19 steals last season. The
heart of the lineup consists of right fielder Magglio Ordonez,
designated hitter /first baseman Frank “The
Big Hurt” Thomas, and left fielder Carlos Lee. The three hit a combined
102 home runs in 2003. Finishing out the lineup are first baseman Paul Konerko,
third baseman Joe Crede, center fielder Aaron Rowland, and catcher Miguel Olivo.
Last season the White Sox had one of the better pitching staffs in the AL. They
finished 4th in the AL in team ERA and 3rd in strikeouts. The staff is lead by
all-star pitchers Esteban Loaiza (21-9, 2.90 ERA) and Mark Buehrle (14-14, 4.14
ERA). They’re joined by Jon Garland (12-13, 4.51 ERA), Scott Schoeneweis
(2-1, 4.50 ERA), and Dan Wright (1-7, 6.15 ERA).
The White Sox have played their home games at U.S.
Cellular Field, formerly Comisky Park, since 1910. This 47,000
seat stadium has hosted two six ALCS and four World Series.
The stadium is currently undergoing renovations to add on
a FUNdementals section in the park. It will overlook the
field and kids can go and train on a youth sized diamond
with White Sox Training Academy instructors.
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