CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The Hose finished in third place, 79-83.

Like their record, their stats were very mediocre: 18^th in runs scored, 17^th in batting average, their on base percentage was 15^th in the league and their slugging percentage was 20^th.

Pitching wise they were 19^th in ERA, 11^th in quality starts and their BAA was 21^st.

Mark Buehrle SP 32years old signed with Miami for 4 years $58,000,000, their biggest loss in the free agent marketplace, and along with Buehrie they also lost Juan Pierre  a lifetime .296 16HR 484RBI’s, who went to Philly.

The Chicago White Sox and starting pitcher John Danks have reached an agreement on a five-year contract extension, a major league source told ESPNChicago.com.

Paul Konerko is the Sox saving grace, last year with a .300 season, 31 HR’s and 105 RBI’s. Of course they will miss Juan Pierre, and you wonder how they will replace that hole in center field? Lillibridge and Ramirez will probably have to step it up somewhat, and maybe it is time for a phenom in center to make up for the loss of Pierre.

There were n major acquisitions in the free agent market, and minor league contracts are just that, iffy players trying to hang on.

With the loss of Mark Buehrie to Miami, there isn’t much hope without decent starting pitching, I’m picking them to fall back to 4^th place this year, especially with the loss of Ozzie Guillen as manager.