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10-02-2002, 04:24 PM
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/cws/news/cws_news.jsp?ymd=20020925&content_id=137469&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp
By Jimmy Greenfield / MLB.com
Anything less than a division title was going to be viewed as a disappointment, but the Sox exceeded their worst fears by falling out of the playoff picture by Mid-July.
The only saving grace was that their early exit from contention allowed White Sox general manager Ken Williams to deal off veterans and prepare for 2003 by "retooling" over the final two months of the season.
Record: 81-81, second in AL Central.
Turning point: The Sox were 15-7 on April 25 after taking three of four in Cleveland and then went into Oakland and got swept three straight by a combined 32-5 score. The eight games over .500 entering that series was their high water mark of the season.
On the bright side: Mark Buehrle and Paul Konerko each made their first All-Star game appearances but even their tremendous seasons couldn't match that of Magglio Ordonez, who had one of the greatest seasons in Sox history and is among the best all-around players in the game.
There's always next year: It's difficult to remember that Todd Ritchie improved to 3-2 on May 4 and had a tidy 3.02 ERA. By August 4, he was 5-15 with a 6.18 ERA and headed for the disabled list.
Surprise, surprise, surprise: While Ritchie was a bust, the Sox made another trade with Pittsburgh just days before the season began to acquire left-handed reliever Damaso Marte. He's leading the Sox in ERA and has 10 saves after the Pirates were prepared to cut him at the end of Spring Training.
Welcome to big leagues: Joe Crede has been worth the wait, even as those clamoring for him still believe he came up too late. Since his recall from Triple-A Charlotte in late July, Crede has shown power at the plate and grace in the field.
2002 statistical leaders
Batting
Average: Magglio Ordonez, .320
Doubles: Ordonez, 47
Triples: Kenny Lofton, 6
Home runs: Ordonez, 38
Runs: Ordonez, 116
RBIs: Ordonez, 135
Pitching
Wins: Mark Buehrle, 19
Losses: Todd Ritchie, 15
ERA: Buehrle, 3.58
Saves: Keith Foulke, Antonio Osuna, 11
Forecast for 2003
Lineup: The Sox believe they've found a leadoff man in second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez, who has 14 walks and 21 runs in 22 games. The bottom of the lineup will be young with Crede, Rowand and perhaps Miguel Olivo, so the big three of Frank Thomas, Ordonez and Konerko must live up to expectations.
Rotation: Buehrle, Jon Garland and Dan Wright will all return, after that it gets sketchy. Ritchie is a possibility unless economics get in the way. Keith Foulke and Jon Rauch are also candidates. Williams says acquiring another starter through trade or free agency is his biggest priority, but he won't overpay to get one.
Bullpen: Marte and right-hander Antonio Osuna will close if Foulke joins the rotation. If not, look for Foulke to win his old job back and give the Sox a healthy and veteran-laden bullpen.
Biggest need: Starting pitching, starting pitching, starting pitching, starting pitching, starting pitch...
One to watch: Olivo. A good Spring Training will probably be enough for Olivo to win the starting catcher's job. He hit .305 at Double-A Birmingham, then homered in his first Major League at-bat against the New York Yankees.
Goodbye: The Sox already have bid farewell to Bob Howry, Ray Durham, Sandy Alomar Jr., Royce Clayton and Kenny Lofton. It's possible Thomas could join them if the Sox exercise the "diminishing skills" clause in his contract, but that's a long shot. Jim Parque is all but gone, Josh Paul has no more minor-league options left and could be used as trade bait.
By Jimmy Greenfield / MLB.com
Anything less than a division title was going to be viewed as a disappointment, but the Sox exceeded their worst fears by falling out of the playoff picture by Mid-July.
The only saving grace was that their early exit from contention allowed White Sox general manager Ken Williams to deal off veterans and prepare for 2003 by "retooling" over the final two months of the season.
Record: 81-81, second in AL Central.
Turning point: The Sox were 15-7 on April 25 after taking three of four in Cleveland and then went into Oakland and got swept three straight by a combined 32-5 score. The eight games over .500 entering that series was their high water mark of the season.
On the bright side: Mark Buehrle and Paul Konerko each made their first All-Star game appearances but even their tremendous seasons couldn't match that of Magglio Ordonez, who had one of the greatest seasons in Sox history and is among the best all-around players in the game.
There's always next year: It's difficult to remember that Todd Ritchie improved to 3-2 on May 4 and had a tidy 3.02 ERA. By August 4, he was 5-15 with a 6.18 ERA and headed for the disabled list.
Surprise, surprise, surprise: While Ritchie was a bust, the Sox made another trade with Pittsburgh just days before the season began to acquire left-handed reliever Damaso Marte. He's leading the Sox in ERA and has 10 saves after the Pirates were prepared to cut him at the end of Spring Training.
Welcome to big leagues: Joe Crede has been worth the wait, even as those clamoring for him still believe he came up too late. Since his recall from Triple-A Charlotte in late July, Crede has shown power at the plate and grace in the field.
2002 statistical leaders
Batting
Average: Magglio Ordonez, .320
Doubles: Ordonez, 47
Triples: Kenny Lofton, 6
Home runs: Ordonez, 38
Runs: Ordonez, 116
RBIs: Ordonez, 135
Pitching
Wins: Mark Buehrle, 19
Losses: Todd Ritchie, 15
ERA: Buehrle, 3.58
Saves: Keith Foulke, Antonio Osuna, 11
Forecast for 2003
Lineup: The Sox believe they've found a leadoff man in second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez, who has 14 walks and 21 runs in 22 games. The bottom of the lineup will be young with Crede, Rowand and perhaps Miguel Olivo, so the big three of Frank Thomas, Ordonez and Konerko must live up to expectations.
Rotation: Buehrle, Jon Garland and Dan Wright will all return, after that it gets sketchy. Ritchie is a possibility unless economics get in the way. Keith Foulke and Jon Rauch are also candidates. Williams says acquiring another starter through trade or free agency is his biggest priority, but he won't overpay to get one.
Bullpen: Marte and right-hander Antonio Osuna will close if Foulke joins the rotation. If not, look for Foulke to win his old job back and give the Sox a healthy and veteran-laden bullpen.
Biggest need: Starting pitching, starting pitching, starting pitching, starting pitching, starting pitch...
One to watch: Olivo. A good Spring Training will probably be enough for Olivo to win the starting catcher's job. He hit .305 at Double-A Birmingham, then homered in his first Major League at-bat against the New York Yankees.
Goodbye: The Sox already have bid farewell to Bob Howry, Ray Durham, Sandy Alomar Jr., Royce Clayton and Kenny Lofton. It's possible Thomas could join them if the Sox exercise the "diminishing skills" clause in his contract, but that's a long shot. Jim Parque is all but gone, Josh Paul has no more minor-league options left and could be used as trade bait.