Andy Sisco will miss the 2008 season for the Chicago White Sox because he needs Tommy John Surgery. The fireballing lefty will have a long rehab but he will likely throw the ball even harder when he’s ready to return to action in 2009. The White Sox will be very patient with Sisco because not many people on this planet can throw a baseball left handed like Sisco can.

Jerry Owens will start the season on the 15-day disabled list with a slight tear in his right abductor muscle. This could wind up costing Owens a starting job as Carlos Quentin will get a lot of at bats while he is out. If Quentin tears the cover off of the baseball it will be hard for Owens to bump Nick Swisher out of CF and back to LF.

The White Sox will be without 25-year old lefty swinging 2B Danny Richar for 4-6 weeks with a stress fracture in his rib cage. Richar played in 56 games for the White Sox last season and he was 43 for 187 (.230 avg, .695 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 6 homers and 15 RBIs. Juan Uribe will start while Richar is out and he could wind up taking his job if he plays well.

The White Sox have signed 34-year old switch hitting Jeff DaVanon to a minor league contract. He played in 39 games last season for the A’s & Diamondbacks and he was 19 for 89 (.213 avg, .578 OPS) with 14 runs scored and 6 RBIs. DaVanon has now played in 528 games in his major league career and he is 333 for 1,288 (.259 avg, .749 OPS) with 205 runs scored, 33 homers, 150 RBIs and 59 stolen bases. This was a nice depth signing for the White Sox who will stash DaVanon in AAA.

The White Sox decided to tighten up the bullpen in front of closer Bobby Jenks so they signed Octavio Dotel and Scott Linebrink to get the game to the closer. 27-year old righty reliever Bobby Jenks has incredible stuff as hitter’s often appear to be at his mercy. He pitched in 66 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last season and he was 3-5 with 40 saves, a 2.77 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. Jenks has now pitched in 165 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 7-10 with 87 saves, a 3.26 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He has whiffed 186 batters in only 174 innings in his major league career and that shows what kind of dominating stuff he has.

34-year old righty Octavio Dotel pitched in 33 games (0 starts) last season for the Royals & Braves and he was 2-1 with 11 saves, a 4.11 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Dotel has now pitched in 428 games (34 starts) in his major league career and he is 39-32 with 82 saves, a 3.76 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He also whiffed 773 batters in only 641 career major league innings which shows what kind of stuff he has.

31-year old righty Scott Linebrink will likely handle the 7th inning for the White Sox this season. He pitched in 71 games (0 starts) for the Brewers & Padres last season and he was 5-6 with 1 save, a 3.71 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Linebrink is a solid pitcher and he will do a good job in 2008 for the White Sox.

31-year old lefty Matt Thornton will be the top man from the port side in 2008 for the White Sox. He pitched in 68 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last season and he was 4-4 with a 4.79 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Thornton also whiffed almost a batter an inning last season (55Ks, 56.1 innings) which shows how deep and powerful that the White Sox bullpen is.

31-year old righty Mike MacDougal will need to pitch better this season or the White Sox won’t hesitate to cut him loose. He pitched in 54 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last season and he was 2-5 with a 6.80 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP. MacDougal is a better pitcher than that though. He has pitched in 241 games (3 starts) in his major league career and he is 13-20 with 50 saves, a 4.18 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. MacDougal is effective when he throws strikes, which isn’t that often.

23-year old lefty Boone Logan will be the lefty specialist for the White Sox in 2008 and they need him to pitch a little bit better this season. He pitched in 68 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last season and he was 2-1 with a 4.97 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP.

26-year old righty Nick Masset will be the long reliever for the White Sox this season. He basically made the team because he was oout of options so there will be pressure on him to produce this season. Masset pitched in 27 games (1 start) for the White Sox last season and he was 2-3 with a 7.09 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP.

27-year old righty Ehren Wasserman didn’t make the team because he still had minor league options left. But, he will be the first reliever called up by the White Sox this season. He pitched in 33 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last season and he was 1-1 with a 2.74 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

25-year old lefty Andy Sisco has a big time arm but he doesn’t know where the ball is going. He pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last season and he was 0-1 with a 8.36 ERA and a 2.14 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON: B+