2012 Chicago White Sox Baseball, Tickets, Schedule, Team Predictions and Expectations

The upcoming baseball season has already brought a different demeanor to the Chicago White Sox clubhouse. Out is feisty manager Ozzie Guillen (who has taken over in Miami for the Marlins) and in his place management has installed big league rookie skipper Robin Ventura; Ventura was a popular player for the White Sox in the 1990’s.

The White Sox finished sixteen games behind the Tigers last year and really have their work cut out for them this year, especially with Detroit improving their offense by signing free agent first baseman Prince Fielder. It might be a very challenging year for Chicago but I like Ventura as a skipper and see no reason why he will not be successful, as long as management is able to make smart moves and help him out.

If you are interested in purchasing Chicago White Sox tickets visit Major League Baseball’s website here: White Sox tickets

The 2012 regular season for the White Sox can be viewed here: schedule

Kosuke Fukudome - outfielder

Mark Buehrle – left handed starting pitcher

Jason Frasor – right handed relief pitcher

Carlos Quentin – outfielder

Sergio Santos – right handed relief pitcher

I am a little bit confused at the lack of additions to this roster; it does make you scratch your head a little bit knowing the only significant addition to the team was a new manager. For White Sox fans it has to be frustrating to see Detroit improve and your team standing pat, especially when you finished so far behind the Tigers in the previous season.

Offensively the team took a hit dealing Quentin to San Diego. He wasn’t going to hit .300 but he would give you 20 plus homers and 60-70 RBI’s. Without adding anyone to supplement this loss it appears that Chicago is relying heavily on their current roster to pickup the slack.

The biggest bat that needs to start pulling his own weight is Adam Dunn. Dunn had a terrible 2011 campaign posting career lows in basically every statistical category. For the White Sox to absorb the loss of Quentin Dunn simply cannot replicate the poor numbers from last year.

Looking at the rest of the returning offensive players there just isn’t too much to be concerned about.

Outfielder Alex Rios is a decent threat and second baseman Gordan Beckham holds his own but then age starts to become a concern. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski and first baseman Paul Konerko are both in their mid thirties. Both men still can play but father time is really working against them and it remains to be seen if they can still contribute like they have been.

The starting rotation lost an inning eater in Buehrle. He always seemed to have one or two games where he got shelled but he was always a reliable arm for the White Sox; however I do not think he is worth the four year $58 million dollar contract he signed with Miami.

With Buehrle gone Jack Peavy, John Danks and Gavin Floyd will have to step up and anchor down the rotation because the team will need their experience to set a positive example for the younger arms. If they struggle the White Sox might be forced to lean on the younger guys earlier than they would like and it might not go to well. Personally I am really looking for Peavy to shake the lingering injuries and re-establish himself as a premiere pitcher like he was in San Diego.

The entire pitching staff is very young with only four guys over thirty and seven under twenty five. Even more reason to hope the veterans can get established early in the season and not force Ventura’s hand.

2012 really looks like a competition for second place in the American League Central between the White Sox and Cleveland Indians. I just don’t see either team competing with Detroit if I am objectively looking at each of their rosters. Injuries may change this prediction but right now it looks like a repeat of 2011 at best. I will say that Chicago better be careful because Kansas City is getting better and if the White Sox don’t look in their rear view mirror the Royals may sneak past them and take third this season.