Chicago White Sox 2016 Season Preview

First baseman Jose Abreu was still productive in 2015 despite declining in overall performance.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Posted on 3/18/2016.

Chicago White Sox Batting Lineup

NO.	Batter	POS.	BA	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
1	Adam Eaton	RF	.287	14	56	58	131	18
2	Jose Abreu	1B	.290	30	101	39	140	0
3	Melky Cabrera	LF	.273	12	77	40	88	3
4	Todd Frazier	3B	.255	35	89	44	137	13
5	Brett Lawrie	2B	.260	16	60	28	144	5
6	Avisail Garcia	DH	.257	13	59	36	141	7
7	Dioner Navarro	C	.246	5	20	17	29	0
8	Austin Jackson	CF	.267	9	48	29	144	17
9	Jimmy Rollins	SS	.224	13	41	44	86	12

Chicago White Sox Batting Lineup Summary: I thought the White Sox had an awesome batting lineup last season. Maybe I exaggerated when I stated that. Chicago has a good 1-4 lineup, but if you can get through those batters, the White Sox are beatable. That being said, Chicago's 5-9 batters aren't as bad as people think. At the same time those guys will have to step up if the White Sox plan on making any kind of run in the AL Central.

Chicago White Sox Starting Rotation

NO.	Pitcher	IP	H	ERA	BB	SO	W	L
1	Chris Sale	208.2	185	3.41	42	274	13	11
2	Jose Quintana	206.1	218	3.36	44	177	9	10
3	Carlos Rodon	139.1	139	3.75	71	139	9	6
4	John Danks	177.2	195	4.71	56	124	7	15
5	Mat Latos	116.1	120	4.95	32	100	4	10

Chicago White Sox Starting Rotation Summary: Last year I said the White Sox have a solid rotation, but that they need to win more games. In 2015, you saw some of Chicago's pitchers get more wins.

The ERA's for the White Sox starting pitchers went up last season. That's not good.

It's not the end of the world though. Chris Sale still anchors this rotation. Jose Quintata finally got promoted from the #3 starter to the #2 starter in this rotation, and Carlos Rodon showed he belongs in this rotation after being the best overall prospect in the 2014 MLB Draft. I would not be surprised if Rodon had a breakout year and positioned himself as the #1 starter like Arrieta, but at the same time the White Sox have the luxury of patiently developing him without rushing him into a #1 starter much like the Pittsburgh Pirates did with Gerritt Cole. That careful approach worked for Pittsburgh.

John Danks and Mat Latos were terrible last season. If I said anything positive about them in 2014, you're more than welcome to disregard it. Chicago's batters 5-9 batters have to produce more runs then they are capable of in order to make these pitchers look good.

Chicago White Sox Bullpen

NO.	Pitcher	IP	H	ERA	BB	SO	W	L
LR	Jacob Turner	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
LR	Jake Petricka	52	56	3.63	18	33	4	3
MR	Matt Albers	37.1	31	1.21	9	28	2	0
MR	Zach Duke	60.2	47	3.41	32	66	3	6
MR	Dan Jennings	56.1	55	3.99	24	46	2	3
MR	Zach Putnam	48.2	42	4.07	24	64	3	3
SU	Nate Jones	19	12	3.32	6	27	2	2
CL	David Robertson	63.1	46	3.41	18	86	6	5

Chicago White Sox Bullpen Summary: Chicago's bullpen was great in 2014. They were effective, but not as dominant in 2015. Long reliever Jacob Turner belongs in AA.

Prediction: The White Sox have some quality bats. This is a team that is gonna have to score 5 runs a game consistently to make the playoffs. Chicago did not have a pitcher with an ERA below 3.00 in 2015. That's the biggest reason the White Sox finished 76-86. Chicago is capable of going .500, but there are too many questions about them being a playoff team at this point.