Countdown to Opening Day: #23 Chicago White Sox

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#23 Chicago White Sox: The Missing Sock

PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Alejandro De Aza
3B Jeff Keppinger
1B Paul Konerko
DH Adam Dunn
RF Alex Rios
LF Dayan Viciedo
C Tyler Flowers
SS Alexi Ramirez
2B Gordon Beckham

PROJECTED ROTATION

Chris Sale
Jake Peavy
John Danks
Gavin Floyd
Jose Quintana

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Addison Reed

Set-up: Matt Thornton

Top Prospect: Courtney Hawkins (OF)

Chris Sale

Sometime the innings CAN tell the story.
This story has no happy ending. There once was a rail-thin lefty with a nasty slider and an all-star game nod. His career looked like it was on the fast path to stardom. But a 121 jump in innings from 2011 to 2012 made it difficult to stay healthy in the future. Chris Sale was his name.
After three years of injury concerns Jake Peavy made one of the most remarkable comeback stories. The former Cy-Young winner came back from a detached lattimus dorsi muscle to throw 220 innings in 2012. Turns out he used his final bullets and his team did not even make the playoffs.
The two main reasons the White Sox won 85 games last year was becuase of the unexpected brilliant seasons out of Sale and Peavy. Hey, if they can do that again, and John Danks can return from his injury plagued 2012 year - look out. The White Sox would be AL Central contenders. But health is something I am prepared to predict for this squad, and with one of the worst farm systems in the league, an injury could make it a very long season on the South Side.

Robin Ventura

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - Robin Ventura was pretty impressive as a first year manager. Now the former big leaguer has a full season under his belt and knows his roster more than ever. With everyone other than catcher A.J. Piersynski back in the fold, the White Sox gel and never look back. The 11-17 record in September last season is just the motivation this group needed to knock off the defending champ Tigers.

REAL TALK - Every team comes to camp with questions, and while the White Sox may answer some, I think there are too many overcome. Sure, Sale may repeat his breakout year, but for that to happen and for Peavy and Danks to pitch up to par, and for Alex Rios to finally put back-to-back seasons together is asking for too much to go right in my opinion.

Breakout: Addison Reed (RHP)

Bust: Jake Peavy (RHP)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Alejandro De Aza (OF)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 85-77 (2nd in AL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 77-85 (4th in AL Central)

**Check back tomorrow for the Pittsburgh Pirates**