White Sox Defense and Bullpen, Not Wrigley, Making Ozzie Want to Puke on Thursday

Son of a bitch.

Up 5-1 heading in the 8th inning, I was already planning my celebratory post. Then “the best bullpen in baseball” (what idiot said that?) took the ball from Gavin Floyd and it was all downhill from there.

The Cubs scored 4 in the 8th, all unearned, after an error to leadoff the inning by Chris Getz proved costly. Scott Linebrink got the next two Cubs hitters out, but with two gone, Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto went back-to-back to tie it up.

Then, the Cubs tallied another run in the 9th off Matt Thornton on a duck snort by Alfonso Soriano to secure a 6-5 victory and set off a thoroughly annoying rendition some stupid song called “Go Cubs Go” or something like that. Those of us forced to watch the game on WGN were subjected the song and the crowd shots of “the best fans in the world.” Yes, the same fans who were so awesome last year when the Cubs played the Dodgers in the NLDS.

But back to the point: this a game the White Sox have to win if they have serious designs on challenging in the AL Central. Gavin Floyd pitches great, on the heels of a great start by John Danks yesterday, giving up only 1 run and 4 hits through 7 innings. The offense had another solid day manufacturing some runs, with Gordon Beckham having his best day at the plate since being called up (2-2, R, RBI, BB). And Alexei continued being a Cubs killer with an early home run.

But it was all for naught, and Ozzie Guillen has only one group to be making that choke face to: his own clubhouse.

Bad loss White Sox. Now let’s forget about it and take at least two in Cincinnati.

LOTD: Baseball America List of Top 100 Prospects in Baseball Released

Today’s Link of the Day comes to us from the good folks over at Baseball America who, for as long as I have been following baseball, have been churning out annual lists of the best prospects in the game. Earlier today, Baseball America posted their Top 100 Prospects, and much to my excitement the Chicago White Sox made the Top 20.

As you can see in the list broken down below, White Sox 2009 1st Round draft pick Gordon Beckham, a shortstop, came in at #20. Baseball America lists Beckham’s ETA as 2009, which makes sense considering that he is a 22-year old former college player. However, with Alexei Ramirez sliding over to the shortstop for the White Sox this year I wonder where they are expecting Beckham to play.

With 2B still up in the air between Chris Getz and Brett Lillibridge, two solid prospects but who are not on Beckham’s level, I wonder if we could see Alexei slide right back over to 2B to make room for Gordon Beckham this season. I guess we can wait and see how Beckham does the Spring, and how Getz and Lillibridge do, before we promote him to the big league club.

For you other White Sox junkies like me, here are the other White Sox prospects to make the Top 100:

• #61 – Dayan Viciedo, 3B/OF, Age 20, ETA 2009
• #63 – Aaron Poreda, LHP, Age 22, ETA 2009
• #99 – Tyler Flowers, C, Age 23, ETA 2010

For those of you wanting to know the Twins players who made the cut, I’m sure Tyler will break it down for you in a future post (hint, hint Tyler).

And here is the complete list of Baseball America’s Top 20 Prospects in baseball:

*-Age is how old they will be on Opening Day, 2009

Here are the links to the rest of the Baseball America List:

• Baseball America Top 100 Prospect List: 21-40
• Baseball America Top 100 Prospect List: 41-60
• Baseball America Top 100 Prospect List: 61-80
• Baseball America Top 100 Prospect List: 81-100

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And now some other links for you on this bright, fine Tuesday afternoon:

Nate Robinson has a man crush on Will Ferrell — (Total Pro Sports)

Boom Goes the Dynamite makes it all the way to the Oscars — (Awful Announcing)

Joba Chamberlain is a pimp — (Busted Coverage)

The Week that was in College Basketball — (Sparty and Friends)

Devin Harris incredible buzzer-beater — (Black Sports Online)

Tennessee Fans should pay attention to change in presidents — (Mr. SEC)

Chicago White Sox Projected Starters for 2009

This article will be meaningless in a couple months after spring training, injuries and other surprises but it is a quick preview as hype to the 2009 baseball season builds. At this point even Tampa Bay Rays fans…er that’s no longer a good analogy…Kansas City Royal fans think their team has a shot at the world series.

Projected Batting Order from Whitesox.com :

1. CF Jerry Owens:
.276 BA, .346 OBP, 30 SB at AAA Charlotte in 2008 (2007 MLB: 356 AB, .267 BA, .324 OBP, 32 SB, )
2. C A.J. Pierzynski:
.281 BA, 13 HR, 60 RBI in 2008
3. LF Carlos Quentin:
.288 BA, 36 HR, 100 RBI, .394 OBP, .571 SLG in 2008
4. DH Jim Thome:
.245 BA, 34 HR, 90 RBI, .362 OBP, .503 SLG in 2008
5. RF Jermaine Dye:
.292 BA, 34 HR, 96 RBI, 41 2B, .541 SLG in 2008
6. 1B Paul Konerko:
.240 BA, 22 HR, 62 RBI in 2008
7. SS Alexei Ramirez:
.290 BA, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 13 SB in 2008
8. 3B Josh Fields:
.246 BA, 10 HR, 35 RBI for Charlotte in 2008 (2007 MLB: 373 AB, .244 BA, 23 HR, 67 RBI, .958 FPCT)
9. 2B Chris Getz:
.302 BA, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 11 SB for Charlotte in 2008

There is nothing wrong with this projection. Center Field and Second Base are the only positions up in the air and will be decided by Ozzie during spring training. The only other CF options are veterans Brian Anderson with Dewayne Wise being the underdog and fan favorite. One of the two will make the team regardless.

At 2B the options are young or experienced. Besides Getz, Wilson Betemit will get a look as he came from the Yankees in the Swisher trade. In this Baseball-Reference.com link Betemit’s seven year career stats are compared to that of Joe Crede (he gone) who was missing from the lineup more than half of the games in 07 and 08. This also opened the door for Josh Fields getting a solid 100 of major league experience in 2007. But back to Betemit specifically, he could easily get a lot of time if the inexperienced Getz doesn’t impress Ozzie. Though there is a lot of confidence verbally from Ozzie already. Whoever has the better glove in spring training will start the season.

Projected rotation from WhiteSox.com :

1. Mark Buehrle, 15-12, 3.79 ERA in 2008
2. Gavin Floyd, 17-8, 3.84 ERA in 2008
3. John Danks, 12-9, 3.32 ERA in 2008
4. Bartolo Colon, 4-2, 3.92 ERA with Red Sox in 2008
5. Clayton Richard, 2-5, 6.04 ERA in 2008

The pitching staff is closer to being in order after the Bartolo Colon signing by GM Ken Williams. Mark Buerhle is still the number one and has been for some time. Gavin “Pretty Boy” Floyd and John Danks look to improve on stellar 2008 campaigns. Both youngsters were the main reasons “The Good Guys” even made the playoffs last year.

The fifth position with Clayton Richard could be good enough if the former Michigan quarterback can get more strikeouts and give up less base hits. If that doesn’t hold to be true in his first full season in the majors you might see Jose Contreras be the man if his ruptured achilles is healed by the All-Star break.

Aaron Poreda is one of the challengers if Richard doesn’t impress in spring training or catches the injury bug. Poreda is looked at as one of the best pitching prospects in the organization and also the biggest ( 6′6″ 240 lbs). He just turned 22 years old in October and has a dominant stat line after a short 2007 in rookie league and a 2008 season in single and double A: 2.69 ERA 1.09 WHIP 207.1 IP 166 K and only 7 home runs given up in that span.

Pitchers and catchers will report Sunday February 15th so the season is fast approaching. I would say I have the White Sox finishing in first place this year but that wouldn’t be different then any other year. GO GO WHITE SOX!