Charting The Competition: Chicago White Sox

Sale's good and Rodon will be good but ... man, that's a tough roster to get excited about.  I would think they are more likely to win 71 than 90.  I wouldn't be surprised if they looked at moving Abreu at some point this season.  

Strong starting pitching and improved defense.

I refuse to look past them.

Strong starting pitching and improved defense.

I refuse to look past them.

I will say that Jose Quintana might be the most underrated good pitcher in baseball.  Something about soft tossing 90 mph lefties gets people to underrate them.  But he's really good.

I think sitting here and talking about "going forward" is intentionally moving the goalposts.  We're charting them for 2016 and, at least on paper, they have a stronger roster.  

But that's arguably been the case a lot and the performance on the field doesn't match up.  

I think sitting here and talking about "going forward" is intentionally moving the goalposts.  We're charting them for 2016 and, at least on paper, they have a stronger roster.  

 

I'm not sure that's even true, though.  I think the Twins have the advantage at most positions now.  Although some of that is based on projection since we don't know how some of our young guys will do this  year.  But I'd rather have Park at DH than LaRoche.  I like Dozier and Plouffe over Lawrie and Frazier. Escobar over Saldino. I like our OF of Rosario/Buxton/Sano a lot more than their OF.  They have an advantage at first base but even catcher might be a draw. 

They certainly have a better front of the rotation.  

I'm not sure that's even true, though.  I think the Twins have the advantage at most positions now.  Although some of that is based on projection since we don't know how some of our young guys will do this  year.  But I'd rather have Park at DH than LaRoche.  I like Dozier and Plouffe over Lawrie and Frazier. Escobar over Saldino. I like our OF of Rosario/Buxton/Sano a lot more than their OF.  They have an advantage at first base but even catcher might be a draw. 

 

They certainly have a better front of the rotation.  

Simply checking off who has a better player isn't fair analysis though.  Tom Brady is better than both Andy Dalton and Johnny Manziel, but the difference isn't the same.  The White Sox rotation is significantly ahead.  And it's a known quantity.  I would probably agree about 2B/3B and the OF, but the margin isn't significantly in the Twins' favor.  At least not until Buxton steps up.  

Is Park better than Laroche?  I'm not ready to say that.  Abreu is miles better than Mauer.   I also like their bullpen, in general, better than ours.  

So, yeah, I'd say on paper where they have an advantage it is much more stark than anywhere we have one.  But some advancement by young guys could change that.

The Twins will have a better record than the White Sox in 2016. How much better will depend on the performance of the youngsters.

I disagree we are guaranteed to be better.  We are depending on a lot of young players and anyone that tells you they can predict their production with any certainty is lying.  This could be an adjustment year for us, or we may just hit the ground running.

But let's not pretend that the two biggest advantages between these teams favor the Sox.  Their rotation and 1B production is much better than ours. 

Simply checking off who has a better player isn't fair analysis though.  Tom Brady is better than both Andy Dalton and Johnny Manziel, but the difference isn't the same.  The White Sox rotation is significantly ahead.  And it's a known quantity.  I would probably agree about 2B/3B and the OF, but the margin isn't significantly in the Twins' favor.  At least not until Buxton steps up.  

 

Is Park better than Laroche?  I'm not ready to say that.  Abreu is miles better than Mauer.   I also like their bullpen, in general, better than ours.  

 

So, yeah, I'd say on paper where they have an advantage it is much more stark than anywhere we have one.  But some advancement by young guys could change that.

Well sure, this is just back of the napkin stuff but generally, I think our lineup is better and deeper than theirs - substantially so, actually.  I like their front of the rotation more.   Bullpens could go either way.  But I think we're past a point where we can say they have the better roster "on paper."  I just don't think they do.  

Well sure, this is just back of the napkin stuff but generally, I think our lineup is better and deeper than theirs - substantially so, actually.  I like their front of the rotation more.   Bullpens could go either way.  But I think we're past a point where we can say they have the better roster "on paper."  I just don't think they do.  

I disagree, but largely that's because I don't know what to expect out of ours more than theirs.  So some of this is obviously guesswork as it always is.

I'm a Brian Dozier Fan but I'd rather have the Frazier/Lawrie combo over Plouffe/Dozier.

The Twins top the White Sox in youth, depth and SS. Everything else is a push or a clear (on paper) White Sox advantage.

I've often thought... If the White Sox fix their defense... look out.

Frazier and Lawrie and Saldano firms up the infield nicely.

If they get Fowler for the OF. Bullpen become their only weakness.

I refuse to look past them