white sox outsider 2013 preview

7/29/2019 White Sox Outsider 2013 preview

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2/8

Transaction Register

The following moves are the official transaction notices for the 2012 season, as posted on theofficial site of the Chicago White Sox, with explanations regarding why moves were made, andwhat they ultimately accomplished. Starting with the last move of the 2011 season:

9/29/11: TradedManager Ozzie Guillen andRHP Ricardo Andres to Florida

Marlins forRHP Jhan MarinezandSS Osvaldo Martinez; outrightedC DonnyLucy andRHP Jhonny Nunezto Charlotte Knights.

Usually, the Transaction Register begins with the first move of the offseason. Not so this time!The trade of Ozzie Guillen to the Florida (soon Miami) Marlins officially turned the page on the2011 season, as well as the never-ending struggle between Guillen and Kenny Williams for JerryReinsdorfs favor.

Williams won that battle, and he also pulled off a very small victory by getting two mildly

interesting players from the Marlins for a manager they had no interest in retaining. Had the Soxmerely fired Guillen, they would have been on the hook for his 2013 salary. Instead, the Marlinsponied up a couple fringe prospects for the privilege of signing Guillen to a four-year, $10million contract (only to fire him after the first season).

9/30/11:ActivatedC Ramon Castro andOF Brent Lillibridgefrom the 15-daydisabled list.

And now the offseason has begun.

10/14/11: OutrightedRHP Shane Lindsay,LHP Leyson Septimo,RHP Josh

Kinney,RHP Kyle Cofieldto Charlotte Knights; releasedRHP Tony Pena.

The 40-man roster underwent its annual fall cleaning, which meant that five relievers had to findthemselves a new home. Two of these players would return to the White Sox organization, andone played a bigger part than most expected.

10/30/11: LF Juan Pierre, C Ramon Castro,IF Omar VizquelandLHP MarkBuehrle elected free agency.

As expected, the White Sox didnt retain any of their free agents. The remote chance of bringingback Buehrle disappeared when he signed a four-year, $58 million deal to join Guillen in Miami.

11/3/11: Signed free agentRHP Brian Bruney.

The White Sox designated Bruney for assignment in rather abrupt fashion in August, but he stillsaw the White Sox as his best chance to return to the big leagues in the near future. Time didntprove him wrong.


3/8

2012: Season in Review

June: Then came Youk

Interleague struggles

Over the last few seasons of Ozzie Guillens tenure, the White Sox offense treated June as thestart of the season. Not by coincidence, June is when National League teams showed up on the

schedule. The Sox were kings of interleague play since its inception. Their 153-111 recordagainst the NL from 1997-2011 was second only to the Yankees (157-107). The Sox seldom

passed up an opportunity to paste the Senior Circuit.In his first season, Robin Ventura didnt enjoy the same success. Maybe its because he neverhad aspirations to manage a National League team, but the White Sox were uncharacteristically

flat during the interleague portion of the calendar.The Sox finished interleague play with a 9-9 record in 2012, but they lost points from the judgesdue to a low degree of difficulty. Heres how those 18 games were divvied up (with the teams

2012 record): 4-2 vs. Cubs (61-101) 2-1 vs. Brewers (83-79)

1-2 vs. Dodgers (86-76) 1-2 vs. Cardinals (88-74)

1-2 vs. Astros (55-107)

All of those head-to-head records can be defended with exception of the Houston series fromJune 8-10. The Sox shouldnt have dropped two of three, especially at home. Really, anything

less than a sweep would have disappointed.For the Astros, those two wins at The Cell constituted 10 percent of their 2012 road win total(20-61). It looked even worse when the Astros left Chicago and promptly lost 15 of their next 16

road games (including 13 in a row). Extend it further, and Houston dropped 26 of 29 at onepoint. They wouldnt win another road series until they took two out of three in Cincinnati three

months later.Breaking even against the National League didnt kill the White Sox. The Tigers fared better at11-7, but not noticeably so. Plus, the White Sox maintained their grip on first place the entire

time. However, their inability to find another gear at their typical time told us that separationfrom Detroit and second place wasnt going to be easy, if it was even possible. Addition by subtraction

On June 1, the White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners, 7-4, for their ninth straight victory. Thelongest winning streak put the Sox at 30-22, with a 1 game lead in the AL Central. But the Sox still carried their share of dead weight. Thankfully, it was much cheaper this time

around. Adam Dunn broke away from his 2011 course for good with an 11-homer May, and


4/8

Down on the Farm

2012 Draft in Review

No. 1: Courtney Hawkins (first round, 13th overall)

OF, Carroll HS, Corpus Christi, Texas

The last time the White Sox used their first pick on a high school player? 2001, when theyselected Kris Honel 16th overall. So what was Courtney Hawkins appeal? A 6-foot-3-inch, 210-pound frame with athleticism that reveals itself in many ways. He showcased it in the MLBNetwork studio on draft day by performing a backflip in dress pants, but he also has big-timepower with intriguing speed and arm strength. The White Sox signed him for the exact slotrecommendation ($2.475 million), then shoved him through Bristol and Kannapolis for a brieffive-game trial with Winston-Salem in the Carolina League playoffs. His final line:.284/.324/.480 with eight homers and 11 steals in 249 plate appearances.

No. 2: Keon Barnum (1-48)

1B, King HS, Tampa, Fla.

Two first-round picks, two high school players. While Hawkins attracted the Soxs attention withhis bag of tools, Keon Barnum is a limited player who only stands out for his power. However,its the kind of power that draws comparisons to Ryan Howard, and it was enough to convincethe Sox he was worth a supplemental-round pick. He hit three homers in 13 games at Bristolbefore a shoulder injury sidelined him the rest of the season.

No. 3: Chris Beck (2-76)

RHP, Georgia Southern

At his peak, Chris Beck had better than second-round stuff. In the Cape Cod League, he featureda mid-90s fastball with a great cutter. Throw in a working slider, and it seems like a hardcombination to match. But over the last year, he lost his arm slot, which led to lost velocity, andnow hes pretty hittable. Beck gave up 117 hits over 103 innings at Georgia Southern, and then51 over 40 innings at Great Falls. The Sox used their third-round pick with the hopes they canrestore his delivery.

No. 4: Joey DeMichele (3-108)

2B, Arizona State

The White Sox finally selected a polished collegiate hitter in Joey DeMichele, and he showcased

that skill immediately upon signing. After a brief, successful stint in Bristol, he spent the rest ofthe season in Kannapolis, where he hung in well enough against A-ball pitching (.261/.319/.436over 256 plate appearances). His ceiling isnt too high he has gap power, and hell have towork to stick at second base so his left-handed bat will have to carry him up the minor-leagueladder.


5/8

White Sox EulogiesBidding farewell to the players who left the White Sox for one reason or another, starting withthe 24th player of the 2005 World Series champions to leave the organization.

A.J. Pierzynski

A.J. Pierzynski came to Chicago in need of redemption. He formed his reputation as anunpopular opponent while playing a key role in the Minnesota Twins revival, but when theTwins traded him to San Francisco before the 2004 season, it wouldn't take long for Giantsteammates to start resenting him. By May of that year, he had earned the clubhouse cancerlabel, and at the end of his worst offensive season (in more ways than one), the Giants didnttender him a contract.

The White Sox needed a catcher, and Hawk Harrelson, who knew Pierzynski all the way back toPierzynskis days at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, urged Kenny Williams to sign him.

The Sox gave him a one-year, $2.25 million trial for the 2005 season, and Pierzynski set out onhis road to recovery.

Im not qualified to say if Pierzynski was humbled after the Giants discarded him, and it iscertainly hard to imagine him being contrite. What we do know is that Pierzynski meshed wellenough with the White Sox to sign three more contracts, ushering in an eight-year reign ofstability at the catching position. Pierzynski wasnt really reformed, but the professional-wrestling enthusiast refined his heel act and rediscovered how to use his jerk-assed powers for(mostly) good.

Pierzynski played the game with an unmatched combination of intensity and shamelessness, andhis lack of decorum allowed him to see opportunities other players didnt or couldnt. Can youimagine anybody else selling a nonexistent HBP to help derail a no-hit bid? Does any other Soxplayer throw out an elbow and sell phantom contact during a rundown to draw an interferencecall?

And, of course, does anybody else take off for first after swinging and missing to end the ninthinning in Game 2 of the ALCS? Pierzynski had nothing to lose but his dignity after DougEddings made an apparent strike-three-third-out sign when Pierzynski swung over the top of asinking pitch. But Pierzynski didnt have that kind of dignity, so when he heard something hit thedirt, he said what the hell and ran like hell in his penguin gait to first, and waited to see if hiseffort was desperately silly, or a no-holds-barred brand of brilliant.

Doug Eddings gave Pierzynski the benefit of the doubt, and that changed the course of the WhiteSoxs World Series run. Instead of being a swing of the bat from trailing the Angels 2-0, PabloOzunas stolen base and Joe Credes swing of the bat knotted up the series. The White Soxwouldnt lose again that year, and Pierzynski was the one who started that wave.

The rest of his stay in Chicago would feature a highlight-reel of heel turns, solidifying hisreputation as an out-and-out winner. In reality, his White Sox career was a little morecomplicated. While his impudence added some fire to the Soxs on-field product, harmful side


6/8

Looking ForwardCharting the course for 2013

A year after launching a nearly successful sneak attack on the Detroit Tigers in 2012, the WhiteSox are in a position to be underestimated once again. In Rick Hahns first offseason at the helm,

the Sox were by far the AL Centrals quietest team, and that makes it quite easy to think the Soxlost a considerable amount of ground.

Consider!

Detroit: Re-signed Anibal Sanchez to a four-year deal, signed Torii Hunter for two years, getVictor Martinez back from a torn ACL.Kansas City: Acquired James Shields from Tampa Bay for Minor League Player of the YearWil Myers, an unofficial announcement of their intentions for contention.Cleveland: Hired Terry Francona, traded Shin-Soo Choo for Trevor Bauer and Drew Stubbs,signed Nick Swisher and Brett Myers.

Minnesota: Traded their two center fielders (Denard Span and Ben Revere) for big-armedpitching prospects.

Hahn started his winter by re-signing Jake Peavy for two years and $29 million, which hinted ata full-on push with the same aging core that nearly got the Sox there in 2012. That idea endedwhen Hahn showed no real interest in retaining the services of A.J. Pierzynski. Instead, all theWhite Sox had to show for their offseason in terms of new faces were a pair of secondarysignings (Jeff Keppinger and Matt Lindstrom) and the acquisition of 25th-man contenders(Angel Sanchez, Blake Tekotte, Bryan Anderson).

Its an uninspiring compromise, especially since the White Sox need to gain ground on Detroit,

and the Tigers made their own improvements. Alas, the most prudent course isnt always themost exciting.

The Sox always seem to be caught between contending and rebuilding, and this offseason was nodifferent. Rebound seasons from Peavy, Alex Rios and Adam Dunn pushed them closer to theformer, but the rebound adjective is an inherently restraining one. With each player recoveringfrom their own catastrophes, they still need to prove that they can be relied upon to contributestar seasons. Until that happens, they dont have much (if anything) in the way of trade value,because theyre being paid retail or above.

The significant talent on the roster is more or less frozen in place. The good news its not that

awful, and it wont be for that long.

The White Sox got enough out of this cast of characters to win 85 games, even though theyreceived the leagues worst production out of third base, and two-fifths of the original rotationhad nothing to offer after April. The Sox addressed the former by adding Keppinger, whorepresents a significant improvement over a bad-back Brent Morel. Likewise, the startingrotation looks sound through the first four spots, and whatever John Danks can offer aftershoulder surgery is a bonus.


7/8

Looking Forward

Dylan AxelrodStarting pitcher | Birthdate: 7/30/85

Contract

Contract purchased by White Sox 9/5/11

Stats

W-L G IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP

Chicago 2-2 14 51.0 56 32 31 8 21 40 5.47 1.51

Charlotte 7-5 16 97.0 81 34 31 8 31 92 2.88 1.16

2012 recap

The surprising emergence of Dylan Axelrod was one of the few bright spots in the otherwisemiserable 2011 season. Plucked from the Windy City Thunderbolts of the independent Frontier

League in 2009, Axelrod and his 87-mph fastball began a steady climb up the minor-leaguechain, resulting in a September promotion at the end of 2011, and a wildly successful one, given

his background.

The feel-good story continued into 2012, although that line with the White Sox doesnt reflect it.Axelrod served his purpose as a seventh starter, a guy to whom Robin Ventura could turn on

short notice and stand a chance of winning a game. The Sox needed Axelrod more than theyprobably hoped, as he filled in for Jesse Crain, Philip Humber and Gavin Floyd when they hit the

DL. The Sox actually came out ahead in Axelrod starts, going 4-3 on the season.

If you only saw him start on the road against AL East teams, you might wonder why he wasntgetting a turn every five days. His three best starts of the season came against what has

historically been the toughest division in baseball.

June 28: Axelrod pitched seven innings of two-run ball against the Yankees in the opener of a

four-game series in the Bronx. It resulted in a no-decision, but the White Sox emerged victoriouswhen Dayan Viciedo hit a three-run homer off David Robertson in the ninth inning. The Sox

split the series, with Axelrod outpitching Jose Quintana, Jake Peavy and Gavin Floyd.

July 16: Axelrod encountered early trouble in Fenway Park by giving up three straight singles in

the first inning, leading to a run. But he settled down and held them scoreless through the nextsix innings. Leyson Septimos control lapse opened up the game in the eighth, and the White Soxlost, 5-1. Two days later, Axelrods value was even easier to recognize when Pedro Hernandez

made a spot start and was beat up for eight runs over four innings.

Aug. 29: One day after the Orioles knocked out Chris Sale after four innings, Axelrod steppedup and befuddled Baltimore, holding the Os to one run on three hits and four walks over 7

innings. The White Sox won 8-1 for their only victory in a four-game set at Camden Yards.


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