We warned you yesterday.  And, for better or worse we were right.  The Chicago White Sox have finalized their 25 man roster and while Sox fans are basking in the glow of outfielder Jerry Owens being shown the door, they wince at the prospect that Mike MacUseless has somehow managed to win a spot on the roster.

If Owens clears waivers in 48 hours, he'll go outright to Charlotte.  The odds of Owens clearing waivers is pretty good.  After all, the road to the season is lined with the corpses of fast guys who can't hit (like you, Cory Patterson and you Felix Pie.)  Add to that Owens' mediocre arm and his average defensive skills and you have a player who most likely will be returned to the minor leagues.

MacUseless is a different story.  Expected to be traded, Kenny Williams noted that MacUseless "pitched his way onto the roster."  Ugh. Just when you thought the bullpen was safe from mediocrity.  The good news is he's a free agent after this season.  Obviously his ROI is better on the big roster.  I'm sure The Chairman frowns at the prospect of playing someone over two million dollars who is playing in the minors or releasing them and having to eat the money.

Who else is not going North?  The biggest surprise to me was Jeff Marquez, who most people had penciled in as a long reliever.  Instead, Marquez will enjoy a bus ticket to Charlotte.  Not surprising were the demotions of Jack Egbert, Lance Broadway and utility man Josh Kroeger, even though I thought Egbert had an outside shot.  My biggest disappointment was Randy Williams, a veteran lefty, who surprised everyone over the spring, but didn't make the team.  I thought he pitched better than MacUseless, but then again my name is neither Cooper or Guillen.

So, the Sox opening day roster shakes down like this:

Pitchers (12)
Starters: Buehrle, Danks, Floyd, Contreras, Colon
Bullpen: Jenks, Linebrink, Dotel, Richard, Thornton, Carrasco, MacUseless

Catchers (2)
Pierzynski, Miller

Infield (5)
Konerko, Getz, Ramirez, Fields, Lillibridge, Betemit

Outfield (4)
Quentin, Wise, Dye, Anderson

DH (1)
Thome

DL (1)
Jayson Nix

This is a fluid list, especially the way that Colon and Contreras got lit up yesterday.  You wonder if they get lit up in their final start if they might be held back, in which case Marquez and perhaps Egbert will get a call up.

Coming up Saturday, we'll preview the AL Central and do our annual "Fearless Forecast" for MLB and on Sunday, we'll do the annual White Sox preview piece.