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| Monday, April 2 Chicago White Sox preview ESPN.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2000 record: 95-67 (1st in AL Central), lost in Division Series Runs scored: 978, 1st in AL Runs allowed: 839, 7th in AL Three key issues for 2001 1. The health of the starting rotation. James Baldwin had offseason shoulder surgery and is expected to join the rotation April 22. Cal Eldred also must prove he can remain healthy. 2. Will Jose Valentin be able to handle the defensive chores in center field and repeat his solid year at the plate? 3. Are any of the young pitchers ready to step forward? Jon Garland, Jon Rauch and Kip Wells are all excellent prospects. Garland and Wells struggled in the majors as rookies. Three key facts 1. Comiskey Park was kind to a pair of Chicago's veterans last season. Frank Thomas hit 30 of his 43 homers at home and Jim Parque's ERA was more than a run lower at home than on the road. 2. Seven Chicago pitchers made their major-league debuts in 2000, while eight White Sox pitchers won their first big-league game. 3. The White Sox blew past the Indians when they won 11 straight road games last June, the longest streak in the majors since 1984.
Best case: David Wells wins 20, Jose Valentin can play center field, the White Sox score 1,000 runs and repeat as AL Central champions. Worst case: The rotation is ravaged by injuries, center field and third base become problems, the White Sox can't find last season's swagger and stumble to 81 wins.
* Position rank, compiled by ESPN.com's baseball staff, compares each AL team's strength at that position, including platoons, based on players' total projected value (offense, defense, durability) for the 2001 season. AL position players and bullpens ranked on a 1-14 basis, with 1 being best. AL starting pitchers ranked on 1-56 basis, with 1 being best. Cumulative rankings of starting pitchers are combined with bullpen and closer for overall pitching index, with more weight given to starters. In both rankings, 1.00 is the best possible score, 14.00 the worst. Click here for AL position-by-position rankings.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | ALSO SEE Complete team previews | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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