Chicago White Sox Community Roundtable: Week 1

I'm fishing for something to be disappointed in, and the only things I can come up with are Mike MacDougal still being on the roster and Alexei Ramirez not making a good enough first impression. I was really hoping Alexei would get off to a fast start, but it looks like he is the most likely candidate to be sent down when Jerry Owens arrives.

JJ Stankevitz: The way Alexei Ramirez has been handled. It was painfully obvious in the first two games of the season that he needs some seasoning down in AAA, but the Sox seem to have decided to keep him on the team as a utility player. Problem is, they already have a player just like him in Pablo Ozuna. When Jerry Owens, returns, hopefully they'll send Ramirez to AAA instead of Brian Anderson. 

 

It's still early, but how confident are you with this team?

Thomas Barbee: I’m fairly confident—I guess cautious optimism would be a better way to put it. However, given the way the roster looks and the way the team’s playing, the Sox are poised to make a run for the division so long as they stay healthy. Consider the White Sox at this point something like the KC Royals, a dark horse that could very well make a lot of noise.

Steve Jankowski: If they can hit the way they are showing they are capable of, and the bridge to Jenks stays strong, I think they can challenge Cleveland.

Corey Dowlar: I would describe my feelings towards this team as cautiously optimistic. Detroit is eventually going to start winning some ball games, that is a given. If the bullpen can pitch well and the offense can continue to churn out some runs here and there, this team could make a run this summer.

TJ March: In all honesty, and I have said this since the second week of spring training, I think that they are one or two moves away from being legit contenders in the division and league. I think they are relying too heavily on Floyd and Contreras.

Picking up one starting pitcher, whether it be proven veteran who is on the outs or in the free agent market still (Freddy Garcia, Kei Igawa, ect.) or taking a shot on a young pitcher who is out of a starting job could really shore up the rotation.

The second move is more of an opinion, rather than a need. They need a left-handed bat to come off of that bench. Whether it be a power or contact hitter does not really matter, but as of tonight, The Sox have a purely right-handed bench and it would not be a terrible idea to provide some difference against some tough righty closers in that division. (Alfredo Amezaga, FLA, Eric Hinske, TB, Jack Cust, OAK, just to name a few).

Jake Widlowski: I am very confident going into this week because we are (supposed to be) playing against easier opponents than last week. And to make things better, we are at The Cell, so this week will be fun to begin life in Chicago again.

Aaron Rusnak: I don't think the Tigers will do this all year and the Sox will contend, but I still think they end with just about 90 wins and in third place.

Isaac Sorsa: I'm quite confident. I was more confident than most Sox fans were before the season because this team has great depth and versatility. This is a club that underachieved badly last season even with minor league caliber players like Luis Terrero and Andy Gonzalez. We no longer have anybody like that, and I don't expect Konerko, Dye and the rest of the hitters to struggle like they did last year. I look at the 2006 ballclub which won 90 games, and I feel like this one is better then that one.

JJ Stankevitz: I'd say cautiously optimistic. I really like how the team has looked here in the first week, but the sting of 2007 has yet to wear off. Hopefully, the team can keep playing like they have and we can all forget about the debacle that was last year, though.

And finally...how do you think the eventual return of Jerry Owens will affect the team?

Thomas Barbee: It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Owens, especially given the fact that he’s battling a groin injury. They’ll certainly want to be cautious with him, so they may decide he’s better suited in AAA until he proves he can play everyday and stay healthy.

What the Sox need to avoid is rushing Owens back like they did with Scott Podsednik, as that could potentially ruin the team chemistry, not to mention Owens’ season.

Steve Jankowski: It will help. They don't have a lot of team speed (I'm looking at you, Paulie, and AJ, and Thome, and Crede). With him at the top of the order, Ozzie can play his brand of offensive baseball that was so successful in 2005, and we know how well that worked.

Corey Dowlar: Hopefully it wont change much. While it gives you some speed at the top of the order, these guys seem to be clicking really well right now. If it isn't broke, don't fix it.


TJ March: With the way Swisher is playing center field and getting on base, it is the old idiom, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Swisher is getting on base and the Sox are driving him in. Between Quentin, him, and Dye running left to right in that outfield, there haven't seemed to be many problems.

Not to mention, Swisher has shown full well that he can play center. I do not know if Owens will affect the team. The worst thing that could happen would be for Owens to return and remove Quentin's hot bat from the lineup, as well as the team.

Jake Widlowski: The return of Jerry Owens could have definite complications because Carlos Quentin is doing such a great job in left field. When Owens comes back, Guillen will definitely have a tough choice on whom to play between the two of them.

I don't really have a prediction on who will play, but I must say that Quentin is impressing me so far. (Except for that missed can-o-corn in the outfield tonight. DOH!)

Aaron Rusnak: I hope that with the way the team is playing now, they don't rush to get him back. And when he does come back, I hope he doesn't take over someone’s job who may earn it by when he's due to return.

Dieter Kurtenbach: Carlos Quentin had a great series against Detroit, but I do think that Owens should be given his shot at the top of the order. I doubt that Quentin is a long term starter for the team. As for now, I wouldn't worry about rushing Owens back, let him heal 100 percent and more.

Isaac Sorsa: I think this offense can hit and score runs no matter what, and Jerry certainly won't hurt that. The problem I see is that someone is going to have to get sent down, and I love everyone who is up here right now. I mentioned that Alexei was the most likely candidate, but I think given some time to improve he can be better then Owens can ever be. Carlos Quentin is clearly a guy who can contribute a ton to this team so he can't go anywhere. Let's not forget that Josh Fields is sitting in AAA as well. Crede's bat and glove has looked good and at this point, but I don't want to just send him packing if we aren't improving the team for this season. We seem to have the problem of too many good players, which is something I'm sure Ozzie and Kenny are happy to have to deal with as opposed to the problems we were faced with last year.

JJ Stankevitz: I'm not so sure brining Owens back is a good thing. I really like what I've seen from Carlos Quentin and also think that Nick Swisher is a fine leadoff hitter who takes a lot of pitches and will get on base by any means necessary. That being said, if the middle of the lineup's production significantly slows down, Ozzie may have to consider moving Swisher back down to fifth or sixth to get him more RBI opportunities. However, for now, I'm satisfied with the way things are going and don't want anything to change.

 

 

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