RECAP: White Sox vs. Angels;Spring Training Game One

The White Sox lost there 2009 Spring Training opener to the LA Angels by a score of 12-3. I have a few notes about today's game:

• Don't get frustrated with Dotel. Coop tells his pitchers in the first few games of Spring Training to throw more fast balls. The same thing happened to Gavin Floyd last year
• Look for A.J. to hit number 2 during the season if he continues to produce in ST
• Don't be discouraged with Tyler Flowers defense. He just started playing catcher a couple years ago. He will be fine if he progresses like he should
• 1 bad game from someone will not cause them to lose a spot or position on the roster
• Brad Salmon sucks
• Clayton Richard looks to have an early hand on the 5th starter spot, after showing good velocity and mixture of pitches today

You can access the box score by clicking here: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2009_02_25_chamlb_anamlb_1

FANTASY:Top White Sox Fantasy Performers

Today, I will be projecting the top White Sox fantasy performers for the 2009 fantasy baseball season. Here is my list:

1. Carlos Quentin

2. Alexei Ramirez

3. Jermaine Dye

4. Bobby Jenks

5. Jim Thome

6. John Danks

7. Mark Buerhle

8. Gavin Floyd

9. Paul Konerko

10. A.J. Pierzynski

PREVIEW: Catchers

Coming into Spring Training, the Sox once again bring back A.J. Pierzynski to call balls and strikes. A.J. will be heading into his fifth season with the squad after joining the team before the championship 2005 season. A.J. will call one of the best games in the majors, but is a liability on the field. Pierzynski had an inability to throw out runners this year, and all years he has played with the Sox. A.J. will bring a good offensive input, as he hit .281 with 13 homers and 60 RBI. During Spring training, the White Sox will likely pick a back-up catcher unless they sign the likes of Ivan Rodriguez, who has beenlinked to discussion as a possible number 2 catcher. The battle for catcher seems to be between Donny Lucy and Cole Armstrong. Cole hit .320 at AAA Charlotte and is good defensively. The only liability with him is that he is a lefthanded bat. He would likely get starts against southpaws, but dd hit .318 against them. Donny Lucy would probably be the most logical choice. He is better than Armstrong defensively and is right-handed. The only downside to him is that he was injured for almost all of last season and we don't know how that will affect his play.

My Prediction

1. A.J. Pierzynski

2. Cole Armstrong

3. Donny Lucy

4. Paul Phillips