Jerry_Manuel
09-24-2002, 01:54 PM
With their three-game weekend sweep of the Twins and 20 wins in their last 28 games, the White Sox have answered one big question.
They're not quitters.
But with little to play for but pride, it's time to ask some questions about the 2003 season.
Q. Will the Sox contend for the playoffs in 2003?
A. If general manager Kenny Williams lands a proven veteran starting pitcher over the winter, the answer is a resounding yes.
"I feel very good about the position players,'' White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said Sunday. "But I'm still somewhat concerned about the pitching. I'd like to have a better handle on where we are with the pitching.''
For the past five years, the Sox have loaded up on offense and tried to outscore everybody.
This season, the Athletics, Angels, Yankees and Twins sit at the top of the American League in team pitching, and that's the main reason they're all heading for the playoffs.
Q. Who's in the White Sox' starting rotation next year?
A. Mark Buehrle, obviously.
Jon Garland also seems to have a spot locked up, but he needs to show much more consistency. Ditto for Dan Wright.
Q. What about Todd Ritchie?
A. Ritchie (5-15, 6.11 ERA) has been one of the biggest busts in baseball this season.
Still, the Sox are prepared to offer the 30-year-old right-hander salary arbitration over the winter and bring him back in 2003.
That speaks volumes about the scarcity of quality pitching available, but the Sox think Ritchie is going to be much better after straightening out his mechanics.
Q. What about Keith Foulke?
A. Like Ritchie, Foulke failed to perform when the season was on the line. But the former closer has been dominant down the stretch, allowing only 1 run over his last 29 innings.
If Williams can't find a suitable starter outside the organization, Foulke should get a shot at winning a job in the rotation.
Q. Is Frank Thomas coming back?
A. That's the $10 million question.
Look for the White Sox to trigger Thomas' "diminished skills'' clause at the end of the season, which gives the 34-year-old designated hitter 45 days to shop himself as a free agent.
Some members of the Sox' front office have grown tired of the turmoil that always seems to surround Thomas. If he departs via free agency, the White Sox could plug in Carlos Lee at DH and play promising rookie Joe Borchard in left field.
Q. Who is going to be the White Sox' leader next year?
A. Paul Konerko and Jose Valentin both qualify, but Buehrle is emerging as the Sox' best leader.
"If you ever had to have a model for a pitcher or a person or a teammate, it would be Mark Buehrle,'' Manuel said. "He's really one of the true leaders on the team. He's a guy I'll ask questions to get a pulse on the team.''
Q. Can all of these new guys really play?
A. We'll hold off on that answer until the stakes are higher at the start of next season.
But so far, third baseman Joe Crede looks like a budding all-star and second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez has been outstanding.
And don't forget center fielder Aaron Rowand. Not only is his bat coming to life, Rowand is cutting down base runners who test his throwing arm.
Q. With all of the talent on hand, why aren't the White Sox positioned to go to the playoffs?
A. A lack of consistent pitching put the Sox in a deep hole before the all-star break, and they didn't have enough time to dig out of it.
But the offense's lack of clutch hitting also hurt, as did some bone-headed base running.
In just about any other organization, Manuel and Williams might have been let go when the season slipped away. White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is a very patient man, but he's going to expect much better results in 2003.
They're not quitters.
But with little to play for but pride, it's time to ask some questions about the 2003 season.
Q. Will the Sox contend for the playoffs in 2003?
A. If general manager Kenny Williams lands a proven veteran starting pitcher over the winter, the answer is a resounding yes.
"I feel very good about the position players,'' White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said Sunday. "But I'm still somewhat concerned about the pitching. I'd like to have a better handle on where we are with the pitching.''
For the past five years, the Sox have loaded up on offense and tried to outscore everybody.
This season, the Athletics, Angels, Yankees and Twins sit at the top of the American League in team pitching, and that's the main reason they're all heading for the playoffs.
Q. Who's in the White Sox' starting rotation next year?
A. Mark Buehrle, obviously.
Jon Garland also seems to have a spot locked up, but he needs to show much more consistency. Ditto for Dan Wright.
Q. What about Todd Ritchie?
A. Ritchie (5-15, 6.11 ERA) has been one of the biggest busts in baseball this season.
Still, the Sox are prepared to offer the 30-year-old right-hander salary arbitration over the winter and bring him back in 2003.
That speaks volumes about the scarcity of quality pitching available, but the Sox think Ritchie is going to be much better after straightening out his mechanics.
Q. What about Keith Foulke?
A. Like Ritchie, Foulke failed to perform when the season was on the line. But the former closer has been dominant down the stretch, allowing only 1 run over his last 29 innings.
If Williams can't find a suitable starter outside the organization, Foulke should get a shot at winning a job in the rotation.
Q. Is Frank Thomas coming back?
A. That's the $10 million question.
Look for the White Sox to trigger Thomas' "diminished skills'' clause at the end of the season, which gives the 34-year-old designated hitter 45 days to shop himself as a free agent.
Some members of the Sox' front office have grown tired of the turmoil that always seems to surround Thomas. If he departs via free agency, the White Sox could plug in Carlos Lee at DH and play promising rookie Joe Borchard in left field.
Q. Who is going to be the White Sox' leader next year?
A. Paul Konerko and Jose Valentin both qualify, but Buehrle is emerging as the Sox' best leader.
"If you ever had to have a model for a pitcher or a person or a teammate, it would be Mark Buehrle,'' Manuel said. "He's really one of the true leaders on the team. He's a guy I'll ask questions to get a pulse on the team.''
Q. Can all of these new guys really play?
A. We'll hold off on that answer until the stakes are higher at the start of next season.
But so far, third baseman Joe Crede looks like a budding all-star and second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez has been outstanding.
And don't forget center fielder Aaron Rowand. Not only is his bat coming to life, Rowand is cutting down base runners who test his throwing arm.
Q. With all of the talent on hand, why aren't the White Sox positioned to go to the playoffs?
A. A lack of consistent pitching put the Sox in a deep hole before the all-star break, and they didn't have enough time to dig out of it.
But the offense's lack of clutch hitting also hurt, as did some bone-headed base running.
In just about any other organization, Manuel and Williams might have been let go when the season slipped away. White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is a very patient man, but he's going to expect much better results in 2003.