New Rotation

[iamkoza]

1) Freddy An
2) Buerhle
3) Conteras
4) Garland
5) El Duque


The way i see it, this rotation can be great.... and it can be horrible. All of these guys are inconsistent. It's going to be up and down this season. Hopefully the more balanced offense will produce runs consistently

[Sxy Mofo]

Sox add another piece to the puzzle
By Scot Gregor Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Thursday, December 23, 2004

http://www.dailyherald.com/photos/inside/20041223_dh_l2_2_1_sc932508.jpgOrlando HernandezConsidering left fielder Carlos Lee is now with the Milwaukee Brewers and right fielder Magglio Ordonez remains on the free-agent market, it's safe to assume the White Sox won't have quite the same explosiveness in 2005.

That's just fine with general manager Kenny Williams.

"We set out to remake the club and make pitching our priority,'' Williams said. "(Our future) was going to begin and end with the pitching. That's how we wanted to reallocate much of the resources we had available to us.''

On Wednesday, Williams added the final piece to the Sox' starting rotation when 35-year-old Orlando "El Duque'' Hernandez agreed to a 2-year, $8 million contract.

The right-hander, who defected from Cuba in 1998, will make $3.5 million next season and $4.5 million in 2006. There are also incentives in the deal.

Last week, the White Sox' No. 1 target - Matt Clement - signed with the Boston Red Sox. They were happy to settle for Hernandez, who was 8-2 with a 3.30 ERA in 15 starts for the New York Yankees in 2004.

"Plan A (Clement) ended up in Boston, but El Duque was right in between,'' Williams said. "He was on our list ahead of some guys that might surprise you.''

While saying he's still awaiting input from manager Ozzie Guillen, pitching coach Don Cooper and Hernandez himself, Williams doesn't see Hernandez working out of the bottom spot in the rotation.

"I see him as a No. 3 guy, assuming that he is strong and, in spring training, he has no reservations,'' Williams said.

With less than two months to go before pitchers and catchers report to training camp in Tucson, Ariz., the White Sox' starting five starters figure to be Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, Hernandez, fellow Cuban Jose Contreras and Jon Garland.

On paper, that's the best starting rotation the Sox have had since Jack McDowell, Alex Fernandez, Wilson Alvarez and Jason Bere were together in the early 1990s.

"(Hernandez) is a competitor,'' Williams said. "And I'm going to have fun watching not only him, but the rest of the guys in the rotation as well. Even though four of them are right-handers, we have five different looks coming at you.''

Hernandez, who has a quirky windup, missed the entire 2003 season following rotator cuff surgery, and he was sidelined for the first half of '04 while he continued rehabbing his right shoulder.

Any chance the Sox are getting damaged merchandise?

"I just got probably the best report on a guy's physical that I've gotten since I've been sitting in this chair,'' said Williams, who took over as GM right after the 2000 season. "The wear and tear in his shoulder and elbow is not indicative of a major-league pitcher. And the X-rays and MRI were as solid as I've seen in a long time.''

Williams said Hernandez is so certain he'll make every one of his starts in 2005 that the pitcher demanded bonuses for winning Comeback Player of the Year and making the all-star team.

According to Williams, Contreras' presence in the rotation didn't influence Hernandez's decision to sign with the White Sox.

Both pitchers were former standouts on the Cuban National team before defecting to the U.S. and signing with the Yankees. "That never came up,'' Williams said. "We were trying to sell him on the opportunity to pitch for a contending team with a bullpen that can support him in a big way.'

This article rings true, on paper this is the best starting rotation we've had in a while. Also, is showy gonna be comin out of the pen? And, I completely agree with your assessment koz. Buerhle and garcia are the most consistent ones, and that's not saying a lot. Also, I hope our offense is more consistent. I was sure getting damn sick of one game getting 15 runs, the next 3 hits; the next 9 runs, the next 2, etc etc etc.


I am glad to see we're focusing efforts on starting pitching.

[Jiddy78]

It would've been nice to land a big name pitcher...but I'm definitely glad that we will no longer have to play the rauch/grilli/danny wright/insert name here game anymore...

Our season now resides on the arms of El Duque and Contreras...I can safely say I know what we get with the other three guys...so if these guys perform fairly well we should be on our way...unless, of course our offense completely dies...in which case we will suck. Hope the Hurt is feeling better...