The key issue for the Chicago White Sox since 2005 center around the revolving door in center field.
Of course that was the year Aaron Rowand left in a trade for Jim Thome following the team's first World Series title in 88 years.
Think of it like the situation the Chicago Bears have been dealing with since the departure of Jim McMahon. Another season, another quarterback.
Same deal with the White Sox. It's been Brian Anderson, Rob Mackowiak, Darin Erstad, DeWayne Wise, Ken Griffey, Jr., and the list goes on.
Currently, Anderson is fending off the likes of Scott Podsednik (Triple-A) and Jerry Owens for the job and is doing a solid job at it. He still probably won't hit much but people are missing the most important thing about the situation.
It doesn't really matter.
The key is the same as it was in 2008. Can the back end of the rotation hold up.
Yesterday's shellacking of Bartolo Colon certainly didn't help the cause and Jose Contreras has been pretty miserable from the get-go.
In Colon's defense, this was his first bad start. In Contreras' defense, he's probably 58-years-old.
As White Sox fans usually do, they are already calling for Contreras to leave the rotation before the first month of the season is over.
The bad news is that there aren't any viable options in the farm system (No, Aaron Poreda isn't ready yet) and there isn't anything better on the current roster either.
That being said, I think Contreras should get two to three more starts to prove he's making some kind of progress before he gets sent to the bullpen.
Besides, Clayton Richard, everyone's pick to click, has an ERA over four and opponents are batting well over .300 against him. Doesn't sound like the answer to me.
If either pitcher continues to nose dive, perhaps calling up Pedro Martinez (my all-time favorite baseball player) or the crusty, trusty, old Paul Byrd.
Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated
0 comments:
Post a Comment