The South Side Slugger and the Kids of the White Sox

The South Side Slugger and the Kids of the White Sox

 

The Chicago White Sox in my opinion are the most unpredictable team in baseball coming into the 2014 season. They have a very young core with very little experience, which of course is a negative, but if these guys prove to be the players the team thinks they are and can meet or even surpass expectation, this could very well be a wild card team.

Chris Sale is the ace of the staff and one of the top pitchers in the game, and not just from the left side. Behind him in the rotation are certainly not guys who will strike fear into opposing hitters but are serviceable pitchers who can get the job done. The Sox traded for Adam Eaton to be their starting centerfielder and leadoff man and Matt Davidson to man the hot corner. Playing right field will be Avisail Garcia, or as he is most affectionately known, Mini Miggy, for his similar look and build to Miguel Cabrera. The White Sox could only hope and pray for the same type of production.

The biggest question mark and unknown this season for the White Sox is their new first baseman, Cuban defector Jose Abreu. Reading up on expectations for Abreu there are some who say this guy could very well lead the American League in home runs. His raw power and slugging are arguably unmatched in the game and he could burst onto the scene just like fellow Cuban Yasiel Puig. No matter how he performs offensively Abreu is a clear defensive upgrade over an aging Paul Konerko and the corpse of Adam Dunn.

I personally see Abreu finishing somewhere in the .255-.265/23-26HR/84-90RBI range for his first season. Getting acclimated to Major League pitching, the 162 game schedule, and the travel that comes with being a big leaguer will drag his numbers down some. I definitely see him drawing his fair share of walks with his patient approach and pitchers unwillingness to give him anything to hit especially with men on.

I don’t see this being the year for the White Sox as far as making the playoffs is concerned but they will definitely be a fun team to watch develop. They need one more top of the rotation pitcher to pair with Sale and need their young core to keep maturing and progressing. The Windy City is certainly blowing in some change on both the South Side and the North Side (that’s a matter for another day) and it is an exciting time for baseball in Chicago.

We will be back tomorrow with a look at the Arizona Diamondbacks and if they’ve done enough to compete with the Dodgers in the NL West. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.

All Eyes on Ryan Braun

All Eyes on Ryan Braun

 

Opening Day 2014 will mark the first time since last July that Ryan Braun’s name will appear on a Brewers lineup card. Braun will face a tremendous amount of scrutiny and pressure this season, (well deserved by the way, as he brought all of this on himself) and many are wondering not only how he will react but what type of player will we see. There’s no question Braun is talented and has the ability to be the player he was before, even if those stats and numbers were somewhat inflated by PEDs. He can return to being a premiere player in this league but his road to redemption will surely be a tough task. Before getting into what to expect from Braun statistically we will first look at what he needs to do to repair his image.

Since the first day of news breaking about Braun failing a test this whole saga has been a complete and utter fiasco. From Braun’s outright denial to his lawsuit and overturned suspension to his lies about why his name appeared in books belonging to Anthony Bosch about payments, the circus was in town and Braun was the clown entertaining the masses. Braun would eventually admit to making mistakes and not being perfect, however, there was no true admission of guilt, just an apology and acceptance of his punishment which would turn out to be the remainder of the regular season. Friends, teammates, and the Brewers front office felt slighted and lied to as they stood by Braun and pledged his innocence throughout the whole process. This was no ordinary player caught in a cheating scandal. This was one of the top 3-5 players in the game and an MVP Award Winner. Braun’s actions brought unwanted attention on both him and the game. By not accepting blame from the beginning and getting out in front of the mess, Braun ruined his name in the sport. Guys like Andy Pettitte and Jason Giambi do not walk around with the stigma and scarlet letter of cheaters because they came clean and admitted doing so. We as a public are very understanding and forgiving when it comes to the truth. Be open and honest about it and all is forgiven. Lie about it left and right only to admit guilt later, or even worse, keep defending your innocence (Hello A-Rod and Bonds) and forget it, you’re done as far as the public is concerned.

Braun will face a hard time in his own clubhouse; never mind what he will go through on the road with opposing fans and players. He will say he’s strong enough to handle it and will zone out negativity but we all know that’s a lie. He will hear every boo and every insult and it will make him press to prove people wrong. In addition to that, this Brewers team is not nearly as strong as previous clubs they’ve fielded so Braun’s numbers will take a dip from that also. With a weaker offense around him, mediocre pitching, and competition from St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh, this will be a lost season for Braun and the Brew Crew.

This summer in Milwaukee they will be witness to a soap opera and a swarm of media thanks to the black cloud hanging over them. The fans just need to hope that cloud is passing through and not a sign of the heavens opening to unleash a downpour on the city and the rest of the team.

 

We will be back tomorrow with a look at Jose Abreu and the impact he can have on the White Sox. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.