In the American League last year, only the Mariners allowed fewer runs than the White Sox, but only the M’s and Royals scored fewer runs. General Manger Kenny Williams has made a lot of changes to the White Sox dating back to his acquisition of a then-injured Jake Peavy ^[1] at last year’s trading deadline, but despite all of his tinkering, I’m expecting more of the same from the Sox this year.

In April, the White Sox’ offense–restocked with Mark Teahen, Juan Pierre ^[2], controversial late-season waiver claim Alex Rios, and the ghost of Andruw Jones, the last being far and away the most productive of that quartet–has obliged by scoring just four runs per game (better than only the M’s, Indians, and Orioles), while the bullpen, stocked with veteran arms, leads all major league pens with 11.45 strikeouts per nine innings and is second in the AL to the Tigers with a 2.79 ERA. Twenty-five-year old lefty Jon Danks has been among the league’s best starters in the early part of his fourth season (3-0, 1.55 ERA, 4.33 K/BB, league-leading 0.82 WHIP). The Sox just need the rest of the rotation to shape up to fulfill the team’s destiny as an unbalanced mediocrity.

Fortunately for the White Sox, the guys who need to shape up are Jake Peavy, Mark Buehlre, Gavin Floyd, and Freddy Garcia. Peavy and Buehlre are givens. Floyd has allowed a .406 average on balls in play after four starts, so positive correction is guaranteed. Garcia, well, he’s 35, has made just 23 starts over the past three seasons, and has gone 0-2 with a 5.82 ERA this season despite a .217 BABIP, so maybe he won’t be there, but he’s the fifth starter, so the Sox will take what they can get there.

Looking at this weekend’s series, on paper, Garcia versus Andy Pettitte tonight is a win, and Danks versus Javy Vazquez on Saturday afternoon is a loss, which boils it down to a Sunday rubber game between Buehrle and Phil Hughes. I’m looking forward to that one.

Chicago White Sox

2010 Record: 9-13 (.409)
2010 Pythagorean Record: 9-13 (.409)

2009 Record: 79-83 (.488)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 80-82 (.494)

Manager: Ozzie Guillen
General Manager: Kenny Williams

Home Ballpark: U.S. Cellular Field

Bill James Park Indexes (2007-2009):
LH Avg-98, LH HR-122
RH Avg-99, RH HR-127

Who’s Replacing Whom:

• Andruw Jones replaces Jermaine Dye
• Alex Rios takes over Jim Thome’s playing time
• Mark Teahen replaces Chris Getz
• Juan Pierre replaces Scott Podsednik
• Gordan Beckham takes over the playing time of Brent Lillibridge (minors)
• Omar Vizquel replaces Josh Fields
• Mark Kotsay takes over Brian Anderson’s playing time
• Donny Lucy is filling in for Ramon Castro (DL)
• Jake Peavy takes over the starts of Clayton Richard and Bartolo Colon
• Freddy Garcia takes over the starts of Jose Contreras
• J.J. Putz replaces Octavio Dotel
• Sergio Santos replaces D.J. Carrasco

25-man roster:

1B – Paul Konerko (R)
2B – Gordon Beckham (R)
SS – Alexei Ramirez (R)
3B – Mark Teahen (L)
C – A.J. Pierzynski (L)
RF – Carlos Quentin (R)
CF – Alex Rios (R)
LF – Juan Pierre (L)
DH – Andruw Jones (R)

Bench:

L – Mark Kotsay (OF/1B)
R – Jayson Nix (IF)
S – Omar Vizquel (IF)
R – Donny Lucy (C)

Rotation:

L – Mark Buehrle
R – Jake Peavy
R – Gavin Floyd
R – Freddy Garcia
L – John Danks

Bullpen:

R – Bobby Jenks
L – Matt Thornton
R – Tony Peña
R – Scott Linebrink
R – J.J. Putz
L – Randy Williams
R – Sergio Santos

15-day DL: C – Ramon Castro (bruised heel)

Typical Lineup:

L – Juan Pierre (LF)
R – Gordan Beckham (2B)
R – Andruw Jones (DH)
R – Paul Konerko (1B)
L – A.J. Pierzynski (C)
R – Carlos Quentin (RF)
R – Alex Rios (CF)
L – Mark Teahen (3B)
R – Alexei Ramirez (SS)