Enemy Lines

an opposing team's scout sizes up the White Sox

"There's a positive attitude to the clubhouse, thanks to Ozzie Guillen. Even Frank Thomas is playing with a lot of energy and appears to have bought into Ozzie's ideas....

The pitching staff isn't sexy, but it's pretty good. Mark Buehrle looks strong, and Jon Garland has made great strides. The big question will be Esteban Loaiza, whose cutter is nowhere near what it was last season. That's his out pitch, and he knows it....

Keep an eye on Joe Crede. He was solid last season and looks like he could have a coming-out year like the Rangers' Hank Blalock had in 2003....

Billy Koch is never going to have the same velocity on his fastball as he did in Oakland, but he's throwing harder and has better command....

They lost some key personnel over the winter, but in this division they can contend. Thomas, Magglio Ordo�ez and Paul Konerko are all swinging the bat like they have something to prove. If Guillen can pull a Tony Pe�a and get this team to play together like the Royals did a year ago, Chicago will be right in the thick of it come September."