Week one done... are the White Sox?

Opening week done.

White Sox 2-3.

And I am a happy man right now.

Why is that, you ask? Well, despite the early starter problems, I have seen alot of good from my good guys in Black.

Yes Contreras looked awful. Ushered out in the second inning on opening day? is there a lower low? No. And thats why I have faith he's going to bounce back. The Rotation came out of the gate still in spring training mode. That won't continue. Garland pitched fine, one bad inning. Buerhle just has a bruise. Remember he's still in a contract year, he's got too much to lose to not bring everything he's got this year, and he will. Vazquez showed GREAT stuff shutting down the twins. Ozzie claims twenty games out of him this year, and I believe him if Vazquez can continue that command over such a strong hitting team like the twins. Come on now, one hit against the twins? Thats impressive. And the rookie Jon Danks imppressed me the most. He had a rough stretch giving up 4 consecutive hits including a three-run homer by Morneau, but that was it. The guy kept us in a game with Johan Santana on the other side. Thats alot to ask of a first major league start and he showed alot of poise, especially retiring three straight after morneau's homer.

But what about the offense? I am excited to say the least. The Erstad pick up could turn out to be as valuable as the Podsednik pick up in 05. Immediatly looking comfortable in the black and silver Erstad plunked a homer in his first at bat. I'm not worried about Thome's early struggles, as he is a notoriously slow starter, and it's not like we don't have the offensive weapons around him to keep on going until thome gets running again. With Konerko, Crede, and Dye we'll be scaring alot of pitchers all season long. Moving Iguchi down to the eight hole gives us consistency throughout the line-up. There really isn't a guy in the line-up that you can just assume as an out, especially with the slimmed down Juan Uribe hitting the way he is. Platooning Ozuna and Pods has got to stop. Ozuna is an abomination in left field, and Pods seems to be playing to old form, with a bunt single in the first week. Get him consistently at the top of the lineup and let him continue to produce. The fatal flaw right now for the Sox? The abscence of back-up catcher/free agent aquisition, Toby Hall. A.J.'s knees are going to be feeling pretty sore and that will affect his hitting. He is an important cog in the line-up, a lefty bat late in the order, that make consistent contact and can power the ball here and there. He needs to be fresh all season long, Kenny has to find a way to give him a break.

And on to the bullpen. A few struggles here and there, but the White Sox bullpen looks strong. MacDougal and Thorton are throwing like last year. Aardsma and Sisco are going to walk a couple guys but their velocity looks dominating early. Masset has had to come in and work a lot of innings thanks to the rotations struggles. He's given up a handful but for the most part he looks solid. It all falls on the Rotation to start going. The pen will get very tired very soon, unless those five start pulling weight. Oh and I almost forgot, BIIIIIIIIIIIG Bobby Jenks. What about him? He's lost some zip on his fastball, he's been clocking in the low 90's, which is making his curveball look a little easier. Batters are able to wait back on it a little more. That doesn't mean they're hitting it, just fouling it off. Jenks has to find that velocity again so he can move from being good back to dominating. I'm not asking for the 05 99mph gas. No, he just needs to get back to the mid-nineties, 94-96. That way he can still get a little more break on the fastball, and make that Curve untouchable again.

First week diagnosis? Sox are suffering from a little bit of a cold. Nothing but a little bit of time and some chicken soup, and it'll go right through their system. The Sox have the tools in place to make a run at October. Believe that they will.