MLB Chicago White Sox: 3 Diamonds in the Rough from a Tough Season

The 2011 season mercifully came to an end Wednesday for the Chicago White Sox, but not without one last dig at the few fans who stuck around to the bitter end.

A ninth inning meltdown by Chris Sale allowed Toronto to spoil the White Sox finale. There wasn't a lot to enjoy over the course of the season, but there were some performances worth noting as we close the book on a disappointing year.

Here are three White Sox who stood out for various reasons in 2011.

Paul Konerko

The White Sox offense revolved around Konerko this season. He wrapped up his 15th season with another All-Star appearance and a .300 average, 31 homers and 105 RBI.

A left leg injured when he was hit by a pitch at the end of July hounded him the rest of the season, but Konerko still hit .291 in the last two months. He faded a bit in September after Chicago fell out of contention and did not play in the final series against the Blue Jays.

Despite being hobbled badly, Konerko's season was well worth the price tag of $112 million. If others had played up to the price of their contracts like the captain did, it might have been a different story for the White Sox.

Alejandro De Aza

De Aza, thought to be nothing more than a fourth outfielder on the roster, made a strong case for the leadoff spot in the 2012 lineup.

Hitting .329 in 54 games over the last two months, De Aza led the team with a .400 on-base percentage and also stole a dozen bases. He took charge of center field when he saw time there, and should get strong consideration there next spring.

Dayan Viciedo was the prospect fans clamored for most of the season, but De Aza had the biggest impact of Chicago's midseason call-ups.

Brent Lillibridge

Lillibridge, who was on the bubble for a roster spot in the spring, turned in a surprisingly effective season both with the glove and the bat.

Playing in 97 games before a broken hand ended his season September 8th, Lillibridge hit 13 home runs in just 216 plate appearances. He also saw a lot of time in the outfield in the first half of the season, making several highlight-reel catches. Later in the season, Lillibridge took over for Konerko at first base.

Though 2011 ended on a somber note, Lillibridge's season was a promising one. At this point, White Sox fans need all the positives they can take into the winter.