Tony Andracki

Bringingheat.com Lead Journalist

OK, so the Twins are still probably the team to beat in the AL Central. They can never be counted out. No matter what happens, you can turn your TV on the day after the regular season ends and there will be some sort of preview for a Twins game, whether it’s game 163 or the first game of the AL Division Series.

However, this may be the year that the White Sox finally make that push that the other teams in the division have been trying to make for the past couple years. 2010 could be the year of the White Sox. Will it be? I don’t know; I’m not a mind-reader, even though that would not only be super cool and it would have to be the top icebreaker of all time. Think about all you could do with that power…

OK, I digress. The White Sox. Ah, yes, the cream of the crop in the AL Central. They will be in the postseason in 2010. Mark my words. (Keep in mind I just said I am not a mind reader, but I’m a confident individual and when it comes to things in life, I’m right a scary amount. Ask those close to me, they’ll tell you.)

Why, you ask? Well, first off, stop talking to your computer. It can’t talk back. Well, not officially anyways.

Secondly, and more importantly, the White Sox will be contenders because of Kenny Williams. The Cubs get more press in Chi Town, but not rightfully so (hey, I’m a Cubs fan, but it’s true). As such, Cubs’ General Manager Jim Hendry gets more press in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, on Comcast SportsNet…you get the idea. But, Kenny Williams is the real big man on campus, if the campus spanned across Chicago, that is.

The White Sox GM has done nothing short but make some magic with his moves of late. OK, Ken Griffey, Jr. as the DH wasn’t exactly a great personnel move, but he is one of the top players ever to set foot on a baseball diamond, so it was worth a shot.

But, the moves that have paid off? Geez, we can look at Carlos Quentin for starters. Quentin is the top offensive threat in the ChiSox lineup, a perfect fit in the three hole. Which brings me back to my point. Assuming he’s at least somewhat healthy in 2010, his consistent production will be a huge boost to the lineup.

But, it’s Williams’ moves the past six months are really what have me singing like Steve Perry (get it, from “Don’t Stop Believing,” the song deemed White Sox theme song).

Jake Peavy, Alex Rios, Juan Pierre, Andruw Jones, Mark Kotsay, J.J. Putz, Omar Vizquel and Mark Teahen. Williams has brought all of these guys to the South Side since July and in that span, the only worthwhile players the Sox lost were Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye, but they’re on the way out and don’t figure into the plans for 2010 anyways.

First off, Peavy. He’s a bonafide ace worthy of sitting atop the rotation. There was a lot of risk attributed to the trade for Peavy, both because of his ankle and because there was a lot of rumor that he couldn’t make the transition to the AL seamlessly. In his time in September, Peavy proved it was much ado about nothing and should be poised to take the reigns as the ace. Even if he’s pitching bad, his presence alone will be enough to help the Sox out, as he will take the pressure off Mark Buehrle (who trailed off a little bit after his perfect game) as the ace. His presence also moves Gavin Floyd to the three-spot and John Danks as the No. 4 pitcher, and there may be no better 3-4 option in the ML today.

Putz’s arrival makes an already strong bullpen just that much stronger. Bobby Jenks is a serviceable closer, but his strikeout rate has reached a scary total for a closer, so Putz offers a guy that has proven he can be the stopper. If Jenks stays around, Putz gives the Sox another reliable arm in the late innings. Matt Thornton is just unstoppable as the left-handed 8^th inning guy, but Putz could alleviate any pressure either Thornton or Jenks would feel, or could just slide in and pitch the 7^th inning in close games.

Vizquel doesn’t provide an immediate impact, but his tutelage over Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham will be invaluable and whenever the two need a break, the Whiz Viz could step in and provide a productive glove and bat, even at his advanced age.

Pierre is Scott Podsednik, but better, a lot better. He can be the leadoff man and the pressure-applying baserunner that Podsednik was in ’05 when the Sox won the World Series. Neither Jones nor Kotsay are in their prime anymore (and by that, I mean, Jones isn’t on steroids anymore, not that he was for sure, but I’d have to imagine he was), but they are still productive in small doses. Kotsay is a consummate professional and if his balky back is healthy, he will be a true veteran presence. Jones can provide some power and the two should make for a talented platoon duo at the DH slot.

Rios was once one of the highest touted prospects in the game and he has had a couple of successful MLB seasons, but he has been quite quiet of late. Betting on a rebound? At 29, yes, very much so. He is still fast on the basepaths and can provide some power. His average, runs and RBIs should round out to his career norms and the best part is, the Sox don’t need him to produce much more than his numbers last year, thanks to a talented roster surrounding him.

I’ve always liked Teahen and he can definitely surprise this year as a decent power-speed option.

All in all, the lineup should shake out like this:

1. Pierre LF
2. Beckham 2B
3. Quentin RF
4. Konerko 1B
5. Kotsay/Jones DH
6. Rios CF
7. Ramirez SS
8. Pierzynski C
9. Teahen 3B

One through nine can really bring it with the stick, and even though the lineup only features two guys who can hit at the 30-homer level, each guy besides Pierre should reach double digits and each could reach the 20-bomb plateau.

Couple that with an already solid pitching staff that has added Jake Peavy and J.J. Putz and you have yourself a volcano ready to burst. Just wait and see. Come season’s end, I’ll be right. The only thing that could hold this team back now is manager Ozzie Guillen (I hate Guillen, by the way. He’s a terrible manager). Assuming Williams’ next move is getting Guillen out of town, this team is built to win now and in the future.