Erstad will start season as White Sox starting CF

Darin Erstad will begin the regular season as the White Sox everyday center fielder and hit second in the lineup, thus relegating Brian Anderson to bench duty. Coming off an injury-plagued year in which he played just 40 games because of ankle woes, Erstad is said to be in good physical shape. Batting in front of Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome and Paul Konerko gives the 32-year-old a chance to score a good deal of runs, though it isn't out of the question that the younger Anderson could steal playing time down the line.
Source: MLB.com

Buehrle having rough spring

Mark Buehrle's final spring training start in Arizona was a little rough. "Today obviously wasn't one of my better ones," Buehrle said after his first start in a regular spring training game in 15 days. "I'm healthy and the pitch count got up and the innings got up. The results aren't ... what I wanted there, especially that last inning, but I felt pretty good." Buehrle, who had pitched in two intrasquad games since being raked for six hits and six runs in a four-inning outing March 10 against the Rockies, gave up 12 hits and four runs over six innings. "Buehrle threw the ball better. Always his hits are going to be high," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He's got another outing and he should be ready for the season."

Buehrle went 12-13 last season, his first losing record in six full major league seasons. He really struggled in the second half after making the All-Star team, going 3-7. The one-time White Sox ace is now the No. 3 starter. His contract expires after the season, so he could be motivated for a big year, but his struggles the past season-plus making him more of a late-round flier at this point, especially because he doesn't strike batters out.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Jenks: In danger of losing closer role?

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has voiced concerns about closer Bobby Jenks, whose ERA rose to 10.50 in Wednesday's win against the Giants. "I worry about Bobby -- I'm not going to lie," said Guillen of Jenks, who allowed all three runs in the sixth but bounced back with a scoreless seventh. "If you're not ready 1 1/2 weeks [before] the season starts, we have problems." With Jenks' velocity down and his location off target, fantasy managers shouldn't necessarily dismiss this as another case of "Ozzie being Ozzie," especially since the White Sox tend to let performance dictate team roles. Given the late-inning anxiety, locking up setup man Mike MacDougal as insurance has to be considered no-brainer for Jenks owners.
Source: MLB.com

Podsednik: Could Be Ready By Opening Day

Making his first Spring Training appearance in a “B” game vs. the Rockies, Scott Podsednik went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Podsednik had no problems running, which is a good sign for a player expected to deliver significant help in the stolen-base category, and his timing at the plate was surprisingly sharp considering how much time he’s missed. The 30-year-old still won’t offer a target date for his return, but there’s a chance he could be good to go by Opening Day.
Source: MLB.com

2007 White Sox Projected Lineup

2007 Chicago White Sox

Batting Order

1. LF Darin Erstad
2. 2B Tadahito Iguchi
3. DH Jim Thome
4. 1B Paul Konerko
5. RF Jermaine Dye
6. C A.J. Pierzynski
7. 3B Joe Crede
8. CF Brian Anderson
9. SS Juan Uribe

Projected leadoff man Scott Podsednik may not be ready for the start of the season after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia. That leaves Erstad the only one with leadoff experience. Once Podsednik is healthy, Anderson could be squeezed out if he doesn't show significant improvement from last season's .225 average.

Rotation

Jose Contreras
Mark Buehrle
Jon Garland
Javier Vazquez

5th spot
Gavin Floyd and Charlie Haeger are the main candidates battling for the fifth spot in the White Sox rotation. Floyd has been roughed up this spring and may start the season in Tripe-A.

Closer: Bobby Jenks

Thome Gearing Up For Another Big Year

Jim Thome launched two homers, including a mammoth blast over the 40-foot center-field wall of Tucson Electric Park, drove home four and walked twice vs. the Padres on Monday. Owners can expect the fearsome slugger to deliver plenty of performances like this one over the course of the 2007 season. Though he was slowed by hamstring and wrist problems after the All-Star break last year, Thome still finished with 42 jacks, 109 RBIs and 107 walks.
Source: MLB.com

Garland Has "Knot" In Shoulder

After his second subpar outing in three spring training starts, White Sox SP Jon Garland said Friday he has a "knot" in his right shoulder. He said it doesn't hurt but it makes it difficult to throw the ball where he wants to. "I kind of have that same feeling that I did towards the end of spring last year," Garland said after the White Sox lost 4-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks. "It just feels tight. Last year somehow it worked its way out, and hopefully it works its way out this year."

Garland's arm feels the same way it did last spring -- and that's not good. Garland gave up four runs and eight hits Friday vs. Arizona -- including two homers -- in three innings. He walked one and struck out three. Garland figures to play a big role if the White Sox are to reclaim the AL Central title this season. He's won 18 games each of the last two years, becoming the first White Sox pitcher to do that since Jack McDowell from 1992-93. Last year, the problem went away shortly after the regular season started, Garland said. He's hoping the same thing will happen this year. He gets the wins, but he doesn't strikeout many hitters and his ERA can get high at times. But he can be a decent middle of the road Fantasy starter in most formats.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Vazquez Gets Three-Year Extension

Javier Vazquez and the White Sox have agreed to a three-year, $34.5 million contract extension. The White Sox must be paying closer attention to the fantasy news wires than traditional baseball stats; though Vazquez has gone 36-37 with a 4.72 ERA over the last three years, he’s also posted a 1.28 WHIP and a strikeout/walk ratio of 3.2 over that span. Furthermore, the right-hander has proven to be durable over his nine-year big-league career and, at 30, may only be starting to hit his stride. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to follow the White Sox lead and invest in Vazquez’s talent this year.
Source: MLB.com

Jenks Leaves Game With Shoulder Tightness

Bobby Jenks faced just three batters in the White Sox exhibition opener before departing with tightness in his right shoulder. A White Sox spokesman said Jenks felt no pain and that he was taken out for precautionary measures. The burly closer will be re-evaluated Thursday.
Source: MLB.com

White Sox Cautious With Podsednik

Scott Podsednik refused to give an exact timetable as to when he expects to be fully recovered from sports hernia surgery, though he thinks he could be ready sometime around Opening Day.

The White Sox are going to be cautious with Podsednik after groin and shoulder problems contributed to his slow start last year. Regardless, it’s never good to hear about lower-body injuries from a player who earns his fantasy paycheck with his legs. Podsednik will remain a valuable source for stolen bases this year, but his days atop the American League leaderboard are most likely over.
Source: MLB.com

Vazquez Poised For Big Season

White Sox right-hander Javier Vazquez has been talking more confidently in training camp this year, and seems to believe that he is poised for a big season.

Vazquez cites his frequent changes of address -- which brought him into contact with differing pitching coaches and philosophies -- as the main reason for his struggles in recent seasons. Now, he’ll have the chance to begin his second consecutive season with one club for the first time since 2003. Will it be enough to make a difference? Given his baffling inconsistency since establishing himself as one of baseball’s best young pitchers with the Expos, it’s possible that the comfort factor really is a big deal to Vazquez. Regardless of how much stock you put into that theory, it’s worth investing in a 30-year-old pitcher with an impressive career ratio of 3.2 strikeouts per walk.
Source: MLB.com