For starters, let me just throw out there that this is my take on each player on the White Sox active roster. I didn’t see every game, but I didn’t miss too many of them. I either read about, watched or heard about every game this season. If a player does something right … you usually hear about it from one of your crazed fan / friends. So, my fellow fans, allow me the opportunity to give you a no-holds-barred take on our beloved White Sox, and if I think they should ‘ stick ‘ around.
Mark Buehrle – What don’t you like about good ole #56? Great smile, great resume, consistent, dependable, loyal, etc. Mark had a good season. He was on the brink of having a great season when he was 11-3 and the owner of a perfect game, but went winless in his next handful of starts and didn’t come close to his usual self. He still finished the season strong, however. Most pitchers who throw no-hitters or perfect games usually suffer during a few starts following from some sort of fatigue, whether it be phyical or mental. The stress has to be substantial. As long as Mark Buehrle wants to stick around in Chicago, keep him.
DJ Carrasco – DJ had probably the best season, aside from Matt Thornton, out of the bullpen for the White Sox. Not only in my opinion the best, but one of the most important and most often, overlooked roles. I’m surprised Hawk Harrelson hasn’t given him the knickname ” The Bandage ” for stopping the bleeding so many times. (if not, you heard it here first). His classic baseball appearance coupled w/ his long-relief work (5-1, 3.76 ERA) looks good on the back of a baseball card. His 49 games may not look like a lot, but try 93.1 innings pitched issuing only 29 free passes. Guillen constantly defended and praised DJ’s work this season, and so do I. The White Sox definitely need DJ back in their 2010 bullpen.
John Danks – A young star in the making. A career year for Danks in terms of victories (13) and innings pitched (200.1). However 11 losses can be imrpoved on and a bunch of no-decisions but a 3.77 ERA and only surrendering 184 in 200+ innings, is good. As Danks continues to grow and improve the little things about his game as far as composure, his pick-off move & other intangibles, the Sox are lucky to have him and I expect a better year from Johnny Danks.
Octavio Dotel – Octavio showed flashes of brilliance during the season and other times he was the guy struggling to get one or two outs. Overall I’d say O-D had a pretty good year w/ a 3-3 record and 3.32 ERA. Dotel did have three blown saves and a few mis-handled holds but 54 hits in 62+ innings pitched can’t be overlooked. He mostly came in to get a tough out or in a tight jam – so his composure is commendable. However, he is a free agent and it is unlikely that he will return to the White Sox. Would I keep him if the price were right? Yes.
Gavin Floyd – Even though the Phillies are doing alright for themselves being in their second consecutive World Series and all … I bet they’d love to have this kid back The numbers won’t scream Cy Young at you about Gavin, but he had a better year than it looks. The fact is, he’s solid, he’s young and he’s on the White Sox … and that’s a good thing. He is in command on the mound and he has good stuff – a ton of upside. Hopefully a long, and successful career in the making on the South Side.
Freddy Garcia – What more can you ask for when you’re only paying $1 – 1.5 million? Freddy came up with some big performances and seemed to be getting stronger with each start towards the end of the season. A low-risk gamble the Sox can afford to take. Sure his statistics weren’t the greatest, but he was what they needed, when they needed it. However, simply relying on Garcia alone to anchor the 5th spot in the rotation is not a good idea. It would be smart to have Daniel Hudson or Carlos Torres handy – or one of those kids we got in the Swisher trade. Johnny Nunez or Jeffrey Marquez – if they’re capable.
Dan Hudson – Another young and potential long-term starter in the White Sox system. Hudson saw limited action towards the end of the season, but you have to like what you see so far from the youngster. He will continue to get better and hopefully find a competitive, impact spot in the bullpen as a long reliever / spot starter.
Bobby Jenks – The closers job is a tough job. The way Jenks burst onto the scene in 2005, in the playoffs as a youngster and conquering his troubled past in the Angels organization – Jenks fought hard and proved himself, and often. He was huge for the Sox – and in some ways, still is. However – this is often a game of ” what you done for me lately?”. Jenks has steadily delined in his production the past few years. His appearances, saves, innings pitched all have declined since 2007 – while failing to reach the 30 save plateau for the fourth consecutive season. While every blown save is, some of his 6 blown saves were very, very costly. Sure he gets an occasional minor, nagging injury but doesn’t miss much time. He gives me heart-attacks because of his patented ‘put a couple of guys on base every appearance during a save situation’ – but he is a competitor. The type of competitor you want on your team.
The cries for dumping Jenks don’t outweigh the risks of having a shaky bullpen. Look who’s out there to replace Jenks if he leaves. Let’s look in-house. Matt Thornton? Very, very good reliever. One of the better left-handed stoppers in all of baseball. Now he has yet to show he can hold up for a full season in the closers role. Scott Linebrink? Please read what I have to say about him. He gets his own paragraph. Octavio Dotel is not expected back w/ the White Sox. So, there aren’t too many big name free-agent closers on the 2010 slate to begin with. Keeping Jenks will continue to solidify what could potentially be another disaster of a year. We don’t want another Billy Koch experiment. My opinion would be keep Jenks and demand that he keep in as good as physical shape as his body will allow him.
Scott Linebrink – Overpaid and over-rated. Sorry to be so blunt. I don’t hand out knicknames like ” Linestink ” easily. Entering into the third of a four year ($19 million) deal, the Sox are stuck with him – like it or not. Throw a dart at the calender between April and late September and you might be lucky enough to predict what game Linebrink will be solid enough and not fall apart. He had a brilliant start to the season, and for the second season in a row – fell apart as the year progressed …. when you need your big money relievers the most. Does he have good stuff? Yes. When he’s good, he’s good alright – but when the wheels fall off … whoa!
Jake Peavy – 3-0, 1.35 ERA 20 IP, 11 H, 18 Ks – pretty darn good. This was a great trade for both teams involved. San Diego are rejoicing after dumping Peavy’s contract while acquiring four very good young pitchers in return. I’m kinda bummed out Aaron Poreda had to go, but you give to get. That’s life. The ways Peavy can contribute to the White Sox were shown in his brief, three start effort in 2009. The movement on his pitches are filthy and they make you want to watch them in slow-motion and look for the string attached to the ball. Not only will he put butts in the seats in 2010, he’ll keep them there. Peavy is part of one the best rotations in baseball, on paper. I am excited to watch him pitch a full season for the White Sox.
Tony Pena – I wish this name had the resume or potential that the great catcher, Tony Pena had. Pena came to the White Sox after a trade w/ the Diamondbacks. He has a ton of up-side, he just had a hard time showing it at times. I believe a full season (including spring camp) w/ his new team will allow him to settle into the role we expect him to fulfill after Dotel leaves for free-agency. Pena’s numbers were so-so in 2009, so he has a lot to prove coming to a contender. Hard to judge anyone’s statistics coming from an Arizona team that just really fell off the map after the injury to Brandon Webb.
Matt Thornton – Matt had an excellent year. Expect to see him in a Sox uniform for a long time if he keeps up his domination out of the bullpen. The talk around SoxWorld is that Thornton should become the new closer for the Sox … leaving a void in the role that Thornton did so well in. I say the Sox aim to keep Jenks and Thornton where they are … but explore Thornton in the closers spot at the first sign of trouble for Jenks.
** Position Players Coming Soon! **
Dan McGuinness 