The South Side Youth Movement: How Will It Effect the White Sox In 2009?

Following a dramatic 2008 that culminated in a division title, the White Sox' plan this offseason has been to get younger and cheaper. 

That plan manifested itself in the Nick Swisher and Javier Vazquez trades, which were centered around players without any major league experience (Jeff Marquez in the Swisher trade, Tyler Flowers in the Vazquez trade). The most money the White Sox spent this offseason has been $10 million on 19-year-old third baseman Dayan Viciedo.

However, the trades and the Viciedo signing likely won't have an impact on the White Sox until 2010 at the earliest. That doesn't mean that the White Sox won't get a much-needed injection of youth into their roster in 2009, though.

The White Sox roster already has some good, young talent that had success in 2008. John Danks (23), Carlos Quentin (26), and Alexei Ramirez (27) were integral parts of the 2008 White Sox and should be back in full force in 2009 (note: I didn't include 26-year-old Gavin Floyd because I think he's due for a regression in 2009).

Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome, and AJ Pierzynski will be back as will Mark Buehrle and most of the bullpen.

Youth movement or not, the White Sox will still be a largely veteran team in 2009. 2010—when Gordon Beckham, Brandon Allen, Viciedo, and Flowers might be ready to contribute—will be when the real youth movement takes hold. Aaron Poreda also might get a shot at the starting rotation in 2010 if he doesn't earn a rotation spot this year.

But for 2009, the beginnings of the youth movement may begin to take hold in a few places:

Second base

The White Sox are committed to youth at second base in 2009, with Chris Getz, Brent Lillibridge, and Jayson Nix projected to compete for the starting job in spring training. The 25-year-old Getz is the early favorite after posting a .814 OPS at triple-A Charlotte in 2008, but Lillibridge or Nix could overtake him with overwhelming performances in March.

Getz only has seven major-league at-bats, though, so he's certainly an unknown.

The winner of the second base job will almost certainly end up hitting ninth in the White Sox order at the beginning of the season, so whoever wins it will have a low-pressure situation in which to develop.

If Getz/Lillibridge/Nix succeeds in 2009, it could create a middle infield logjam in 2010 if Beckham progresses nicely through the White Sox farm system this year. That's a long way off, though, but it's clear that the White Sox are going to stick with youth at second base for at least the next two or three years.

Center field

Jerry Owens looks like the early favorite to win the starting job in center heading into spring training. Of course, he was projected to be a starter on the 2008 White Sox until groin injuries and Carlos Quentin kept him in the minors for much of the year.

If Owens falters or gets hurt in March, Brian Anderson likely will end up as the starting center fielder on opening day.

The difference between the center field and second base battles is that both Owens and Anderson have track records as starters for the White Sox. Anderson had 365 at-bats in 2006 as a rookie while Owens logged 356 in 2007, also as a rookie.

While Anderson struggled in 2006, Owens had some success in 2007, hitting .267 with a .324 OBP and 32 stolen bases.

The White Sox need a leadoff hitter, and that's why the 27-year-old Owens has the inside track at the starting job in center this year.

Both Owens and Anderson will see good amounts of playing time in 2009, with Owens getting most the starts against righties and Anderson against lefties. Of course, that means Owens will get the majority of the starts.

Owens' low OBP and slugging percentage are reasons to be concerned if he earns the starting job in center. Owens needs to find a way to take more walks (0.43 BB/K in 2007) and hit more doubles (nine doubles in 95 hits in 2007) if he wants to be an effective leadoff hitter. 

Granted, Anderson probably wouldn't do a whole lot better on the OBP and slugging categories than Owens. And while Anderson is the far superior defensive player, Owens does have good range (6.6 UZR in 2007) despite lacking much of an arm.

Third base

With Joe Crede out of the picture, Josh Fields finally will have a real chance at earning the starting third base job. Fields hit 23 home runs in 373 major-league at-bats in 2007 before struggling to regain that success with triple-A Charlotte in 2008.

Knee injuries likely had something to do with that, but Fields still comes into 2009 as a question mark. But it's not Fields' bat that the White Sox should be concerned with: it's his defense.

Fields was nothing short of a butcher at third base in 2007, costing the White Sox 10 runs using the UZR formula. Fielding metrics weren't even necessary to tell the story of Fields' defense: anybody who saw him play at third in 2007 knew he was below average.

There's a chance that Fields' defense will improve to the point where his defense won't cost the White Sox such a large number of runs. Chances are, though, that if Fields hits well, the Sox will overlook his defensive shortcomings.

Ultimately, Fields' best fit with the White Sox may be as the heir to Jim Thome's DH throne. He'll get his chance to play third base in 2009, but if he falters and Dayan Viciedo succeeds in the minors, we could see a switch a third base sometime this summer.

Fifth starter/bullpen

With the signing of Bartolo Colon, there will be one rotation spot open for either Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Lance Broadway, Jack Egbert, or Marquez.

Richard and Poreda are likely the two favorites heading into spring training. Richard made eight starts for the White Sox in 2008 and saw success when he kept the ball down. Richard's ceiling isn't any higher than a middle or back-of-the-rotation starter, but he might be the most major-league ready pitcher out of the group.

On the other hand, Poreda has the highest ceiling but hasn't pitched above double-A in his career. The 22-year-old lefty features a blistering high-90's fastball and nice slider, but will have to throw his changeup with a lot of consistency if he wants to have success at the MLB level.

If Richard and Poreda both pitch well in spring training, expect Richard to earn the spot in the rotation and Poreda to be moved to the MLB bullpen for the time being.

Richard also could be a good bullpen option if the Sox decide Poreda is worthy of a spot in the starting rotation. He made two very nice appearances out of the White Sox' bullpen in the 2008 ALDS and could be a very effective long reliever if necessary.

There's a chance that if [when] Colon gets hurt, Poreda or Richard won't move to the rotation, though, because it would give the White Sox an unorthodox rotation that features four left-handed pitchers.

Ultimately, Richard and Poreda are probably the two best options for the starting rotation, so unless Broadway, Marquez, or Egbert blow the Sox' brass away in March, it will probably remain that way.

The White Sox have too many unknowns heading into 2009 to call them a contender for the AL Central. However, it might take less than 90 wins to take the division crown for the second straight year, so anything could happen.

Youth may ultimately be the deciding factor in whether or not the White Sox contend in 2009. Youth perhaps was the No. 1 reason why the White Sox made the playoffs in 2008, and if the franchise wants to make back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in its 107-year history, the White Sox' youth is going to have to step up again.

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