Chicago White Sox 2003 Finish: 86-76, AL Central	Select Team Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs Devil Rays Diamondbacks Dodgers Expos Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Orioles Padres Phillies Pirates Rangers Red Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees

Esteban Loaiza Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Batting Order
2B	Willie Harris Speedy player with much to prove.
CF	Aaron Rowand Last chance to show he's more than fourth outfielder.
RF	Magglio Ordoņez Interesting to see how he handles questions about his future.
DH	Frank Thomas Skills have diminished, but he's always produced when healthy.
LF	Carlos Lee Some believe he could be standout first baseman in the future.
1B	Paul Konerko Nightmare season included a .218 batting average with RISP.
SS	Jose Valentin Juan Uribe should be the regular in 2005, if not sooner.
3B	Joe Crede Could start working his way toward No. 5 or 6 spot.
C	Miguel Olivo Teams run on him at their own risk.
Rotation
RHP	Esteban Loaiza Key to 2003 success was right-handed hitters batting .192.
LHP	Mark Buehrle 53 wins and 742 innings before 25th birthday.
RHP	Jon Garland Compiled a 3.97 ERA in his last 25 starts.
LHP	Scott Schoeneweis Worked 205 innings for the Angels in 2001.
RHP	Jon Rauch Has a 37–21 record as pro despite run of injuries.
Bullpen
RHP	Billy Koch 84 games in 2002 took a toll on his arm.
LHP	Damaso Marte ERA in 2003 was second-lowest for Sox reliever since 1970.
LHP	Kelly Wunsch Opponents hit .139 against him last year.
RHP	Dan Wright 60-of-66 career appearances have been starts.
RHP	Jason Grilli Former first-round pick appears on track after injuries.
RHP	Shingo Takatsu Sox not sure what to expect from Japanese veteran
Prospects
CF	Joe Borchard Could be an impact player if he learns to make better contact.
LHP	Neal Cotts Not overpowering but has struck out 11.2 per 9 IP in minors.
RHP	Kris Honel Local boy could jump to the big leagues late in 2004.

Ozzie Guillen was a shortstop with great range, a hitter who slapped the ball all around the park and a merry prankster. Now the Chicago White Sox are going to find out if he can drive players as well as he does flashy cars. With Bartolo Colon and five other free agents departing, there's not as much talent on the roster in 2004 as in '03, when the Sox blew a two-game lead in September and cost Jerry Manuel his job. Can Guillen turn less into more?

Given the emergence of Esteban Loaiza, the White Sox hope to be strong at the front of the rotation. Loaiza never had won more than 11 games before a breakthrough season in which he won 21 games after signing a minor league deal with the Sox. Loaiza and lefthander Mark Buehrle, who agreed to a three-year contract extension in the offseason, carry tremendous responsibility for a rotation that could include Jon Garland as the only other veteran. Garland will pitch almost all of next season at age 24 but already has logged 571 innings and 34 victories. He could benefit from the managerial change: Manuel often seemed to have a quick hook with him, allowing him to complete only one of 94 starts. Scott Schoeneweis gets a chance to show he can start, with the other spot likely to come from either a late-signing retread or a prospect like Jon Rauch or Neal Cotts. Dan Wright could get back into the mix but is needed in the bullpen.

Without his 98 mph fastball, Billy Koch is like Superman without his cape. That was the case in 2003 when he was a major flop, losing the closer's job and watching his ERA soar to 5.77. The Sox are counting on the guy with the billy goat beard to get it back together, as they were unable to re-sign Tom Gordon. Left-hander Damaso Marte, one of the best-kept secrets in the majors, could play a huge role if Koch cannot regain his velocity. Submariner Kelly Wunsch gives Guillen another decent option from the left side, but the Sox are very thin from the right side. The White Sox signed 35-year old Shingo Takatsu from Japan to shore up this area of concern. Wright, who lost his spot in the rotation last year, will get a look as a possible setup man. Jason Grilli, acquired in the Rule 5 draft, is expected to add depth. But this area will clearly be a work in progress and a major concern for Guillen.

Given their financial squeeze, some felt the Sox should not have exercised a $5 million option to keep shortstop Jose Valentin. His power has been important from the left side in a lineup that has long tilted to the right, but his batting average has dropped three years in a row. He's worthless from the right side of the plate and experimented batting strictly left-handed in Puerto Rico over the winter. He's always been an accident waiting to happen in the field but has benefited from working with coach Rafael Santana. Willie Harris takes over at second base. He has speed and range but might not get on base enough to hold onto his job.

Third baseman Joe Crede is a solid pro, if not a rising star. His development ends a relay that saw the Sox start different third basemen on Opening Day for seven consecutive years. Crede is one of the Sox's most solid fielders and showed his mental toughness by recovering from a bad start to hit .308 with 11 homers after the All-Star break last year. Paul Konerko likewise dug deep to salvage his season, hitting .285 after July 11 to raise his average from .184 to .234. He's under the gun to return to his form of the previous four seasons, when he averaged 26 homers and 95 RBIs. He's an average fielder and could lose at-bats to Ross Gload if he starts slow again.

Magglio Ordoņez and Carlos Lee are as solid as they come on the corners, but the White Sox have juggled center fielders since Lance Johnson's run as the regular ended nine years ago. Aaron Rowand returns for his fourth season as a semi-regular. He lost the job last May but returned to hit .403 over 62 at-bats in June and July, which didn't stop the Sox from trading for (the since-departed) Carl Everett. That speaks loudly about the lack of trust they have in Rowand. There's lots of talk about the “breakout” season Lee had in 2003, when he set career highs with 31 homers and 113 RBIs, but he was actually a better hitter in 2002. The difference is that he got an extra 131 at-bats, partly because Manuel started him more but also because he was much less patient at the plate. He hit 27 points higher but his on-base percentage dropped from .359 to .331. If this was a salary drive, it worked. He signed a two-year deal with a third-year option worth $15 million guaranteed. This could be the final season in Chicago for Ordoņez. The four-time All-Star could even be traded in mid-season because he's eligible for free agency next winter and has priced himself out of the Sox's budget.

Miguel Olivo was solid behind the plate in his rookie season. His strong arm allowed him to pick off three baserunners and catch 36 percent of the runners attempting to steal against him. He works well with pitchers and should improve his hitting with experience. Don't be surprised if his average jumps 40-plus points, as it did in his second trip through the Southern League. Sandy Alomar Jr., who has become practically a player-coach for the White Sox, probably won't catch more than twice a week.

Frank Thomas is more worried about power than his average, which hasn't been over .267 since 2000. He is a productive hitter and remains an important part of the lineup even as the Sox try to phase him out. The bench is extremely thin. Juan Uribe, acquired from Colorado, and Gload figure to get the bulk of playing time. The smooth-fielding Uribe will probably play short against most left-handers, but he's hit only .227 in his career away from Coors Field. Gload, who is no kid, hit only .226 in two short trials with the Cubs and Rockies. If he hits like he did over the winter in Mexico, he will get 250-plus at-bats as a backup at first base, in the outfield and at DH. The arrival of Jeremy Reed or Joe Borchard could turn Rowand into a fourth outfielder.

General manager Ken Williams has been on a roller-coaster ride since taking over for Ron Schueler three years ago. He has depleted Chicago's once-rich farm system by trading for veterans, but he did have Manuel positioned to win in 2003. Guillen has no managerial experience, making him a huge risk for a franchise that more and more plays second fiddle in the Second City to the Cubs. Jerry Reinsdorf's ownership group operates on a tight budget but reportedly has been losing money in recent years. The trend here is disturbing.

The standard is low in the AL Central, where second-place teams have averaged only 82 victories the past eight seasons. But, while they were once poised to replace Cleveland as the division's dominant team, the White Sox have seemingly been passed by both Minnesota and Kansas City. Their long-term hope lies in producing and keeping more players like Buehrle, Ordoņez, Lee and Crede.

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