with the roster we have today are a 3rd place team in the AL central behind cleveland and detroit. i do see detriot having a down year on account of half their team having career years at old ages (polanco, magglio, renteria).

our batting lineup as of now

CF- Owens - speedy leadoff hitter with no power- ozzies ideal leadoff guy
SS- Cabrera- one of the better 2 hitters in the league, should be a major upgrade to our offense as we added someone who makes contact
DH- Thome- we should see what weve seen so far from thome as a white sox, one stretch during the season where he rakes n actually carries the team unlike Hawk's imaginary uribe
1B- Konerko- should be  good for 30-90 to 35-110 depending on what happens at leadoff
RF- Dye - if healthy 35-120 is possible if not see  2006
3B- Fields- 40 homers a definate possibility but im more interested in whether he can cut his k-rate(which over a full season would have been the major league record) n be more patient at the plate
LF-Carlos Quentin- dont know much about him. looks like we might finally have someone who can get on base though and if he hits for power n average weve got ourselves a carlos lee with defense
C- AJ - will continue to call games n get under the other teams skin, enough from the catcher position + 10-15 hrs n 50-65 rbi
2B- Richar- tough to call could be anywhere from a  .220 BA to .300. a really hit or miss prospect that has the talent to become one of the AL's elite at his position. also makes some exciting plays at 2b

as for the pitching staff

1. buehrle - staff ace, has to pitch like a cy young candidate for the sox to contend with the current roster
   
2. vazquez - should continue to improve as he gets more comfortable in chicago. knows how to use his good stuff to get outs and our only strikout pitcher last year in the rotation
   
3. contreras- complete head case, could be 16 loss pitcher or 16 win pitcher
   
4. danks- i see a great improvment coming from danks as he was learning new pitches n getting used to a new environment all at the same time. with a more developed cutter n change he could start to live up to expectations as the key piece in the mccarthy trade
   
5. gonzalez- i think he will make the rotation out of spring training after dominating the minors at the AA level leading all minor league pitchers in strikeouts in ALL levels. said to have one of the best curveballs in the minors should be able to produce a more than serviceable era at the 5th starter spot.

long relief- charlie haeger - have him pitch here and earn some trade value, plus had some success in this spot last year
middle relief- oneli perez, ehren wasserman, boone logan, matt thornton, mike macdougal
setup man- linebrink - should be the steady bridge the sox have been looking for to get to jenks. he cost us a lot and needs to produce
closer - jenks - one of the best closers in the game and knows how to pitch and not just throw anymore. i dont see another closer id rather have besides maybe paplebon

this team should be able to get about 80-85 wins and we all know that the roster will only improve and probably soon considering the winter meetings are under way now. like i said with quentin added we have a more solid lineup with a guy who can get on base.

id like to hear some feedback on what you guys think