White Sox Camp 2009: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (So Far)
The Good
- Bartolo Colon and Jose Contreras: Both veterans have looked good throwing practice reps and are both way ahead of their rehab schedule. If they are healthy enough to start the season, they will provide the Sox with superior matchups against fourth and fifth starters. In fact, the last time the Sox had five experienced pitchers in their rotation was the year of our destiny, 2005.
- Jayson Nix: He's certainly surprised a lot of people with his hitting and defense this spring. Originally, he was the number three guy in a three horse race, but so far, he's outplayed both Chris Getz and Brent Lillibridge.
- Gordon Beckham: No, he's not ready for prime time yet, but he is showing the Sox a glimpse of their future. Ditto the
- Young guns: Aaron Poreda, Jack Egbert and Clayton Richard have all impressed, although Richard has been inconsistent.
- Paul Konerko seems healthy again.
- DeWayne Wise, a darkhorse for the starting center field job, has hit the cover off the ball. The questions regarding his other tools linger however.
- Corky Miller has taken a decisive lead among the backup catcher candidates.
- Josh Fields defense has improved to the point where people have noticed. No, he won't make you forget Joe Crede anytime soon, but he's become a little less of a liability than was first thought.
- Jeff Marquez has looked very good. In fact, I stopped missing Nick Swisher the minute Marquez got off the bus in Glendale.
- Neither Brian Anderson or Jerry Owens has made a dent in the center field competition. Owens can't hit and has been thrown out all three times he's tried to steal. Anderson hasn't hit, although his defense has been stellar.
- Carlos Quentin is off to a slow start. This means nothing if he can hit in April, but coming off a wrist injury, it may turn into a red flag soon.
- Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye are off to slow starts. This probably also means nothing, although you'd like to see them hitting near the end of the month.
- Wilson Betemit is off to a slow start with both his bat and his glove in trying to become the 2009 version of Juan Uribe. If Betemit keeps it up, you'll be clamoring for Pablo Ozuna again.
- The Sox lead all AL teams in errors with 17. It doesn't really matter who is making them, defense is an organizational thing.
- Octavio Dotel has an ERA above 10 and you know he will make the team. Dotel says he'll be ready on opening day. How about now, pal?
- Young guns Ehren Wasserman(PI) and Adam Russell had an outside chance at the big roster this year, Given the health of Colon and Contreras, the emergence of Marquez and Wasserman and Russell's inflated ERAs, the best either will get will be a bus ticket to Charlotte. Ditto Lance Broadway, who is quickly being looked at as a failed number one pick.
Posted by Chip Ramsey at 3/11/2009 7:54 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Spring Training Gordon Beckham Brent Lillibridge Cuban Sandwich Aaron Proeda Josh Fields
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Spring Training Gordon Beckham Brent Lillibridge Cuban Sandwich Aaron Proeda Josh Fields
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