MRKARNO
02-22-2004, 12:17 PM
:boston
Justifiably, the White Sox think they can win with a lineup that has Ordonez, Carlos Lee, Frank Thomas and company. Colon and Tom Gordon are big losses, and Ken Williams didn't have the cash to hit the market, so they face two big questions. The first is whether Miguel Olivo, Willie Harris and Aaron Rowand can produce up the middle (although Jeremy Reed could come vaulting out of the farm system). The second is finding starting depth after Mark Buehrle, Esteban Loaiza and Jon Garland, as well as the bullpen around Damaso Marte, Billy Koch and Japanese import Shingo Takatsu. This is a team that should have won based on the numbers and didn't. Ozzie Guillen's energy will be a fascinating component.
Chicago led the division in run differential, fewest runs allowed, most homers, fewest strikeouts and most walks by their hitters, best starters' ERA and most pitchers' strikeouts and did not finish first
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=1741440
This article is more about the indians than anything, but still a not terrible preview of the division.
Justifiably, the White Sox think they can win with a lineup that has Ordonez, Carlos Lee, Frank Thomas and company. Colon and Tom Gordon are big losses, and Ken Williams didn't have the cash to hit the market, so they face two big questions. The first is whether Miguel Olivo, Willie Harris and Aaron Rowand can produce up the middle (although Jeremy Reed could come vaulting out of the farm system). The second is finding starting depth after Mark Buehrle, Esteban Loaiza and Jon Garland, as well as the bullpen around Damaso Marte, Billy Koch and Japanese import Shingo Takatsu. This is a team that should have won based on the numbers and didn't. Ozzie Guillen's energy will be a fascinating component.
Chicago led the division in run differential, fewest runs allowed, most homers, fewest strikeouts and most walks by their hitters, best starters' ERA and most pitchers' strikeouts and did not finish first
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=1741440
This article is more about the indians than anything, but still a not terrible preview of the division.