The Chicago White Sox need Paul Konerko to rebound with the bat in 2009. In the previous 4 seasons before 2009, Konerko averaged 90 runs scored, 36.8 homers and 105 RBIs per year. But, last season Konerko played in 122 games in which he was 105 for 438 (.240 avg, .792 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 22 homers and 62 RBIs. Konerko also made 7 errors in 116 games for the White Sox last season and he needs to improve in that area. Look for him to have a better year in 2009 then he had in 2008 for the White Sox.

32-year old lefty swinging Ben Broussard might also get some playing time at 1B if he makes the team out of spring training. He played in 26 games for the Rangers last season in which he was 13 for 82 (.159 avg, .493 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 3 homers and 8 RBIs. Broussard is a much better hitter than he showed last season as he has a .263 career batting average with a .774 OPS in 705 major league games. He also needs to improve on defense as he made 3 errors in 26 games last season at 1B.

32-year old lefty swinging Brian Myrow is the definition of a AAAA-player…..too good for the minors but not good enough for the SHOW. Myrow played in 97 AAA games last season in which he was 103 for 328 (.314 avg, .951 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 12 homers and 59 RBIs. But, Myrow also played in 21 games for the Padres last season in which he was 3 for 21 (.143 avg, .494 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: B

The White Sox don’t have many appealing backup catchers for different reasons in 2009 so they will be counting on A.J. Pierzynski to handle a heavy workload. The 32-year old lefty swinging Pierzynski played in 134 games for the White Sox last season and he was 150 for 534 (.281 avg, .728 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 13 homers and 60 RBIs. It was a track meet with Pierzynski behind the plate as he only threw out 11 of 107 (10%) basestealers last season while pitchers had a respectable 4.23 ERA with him behind the dish. The White Sox have to hope that Pierzynski’s batting continues to outweigh his inability to throw the baseball.

The White Sox might be reluctant to go with 23-year old righty swinging rookie catcher Tyler Flowers as Pierzynski’s backup n 2009. He played in 122 games in A-ball last year and he was 119 for 413 (.288 avg, .921 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 17 homers and 88 RBIs. Flowers does show good plate discipline as he walked 98 times last season in the minors. The White Sox will probably decide to let Flowers have more time in the minors as he will likely be Pierzynski’s eventual replacement some day soon.

25-year old lefty swinging Cole Armstrong will have a chance to compete for the backup job this spring. He played in 99 games in AA + AAA ball last season for the White Sox and he was 93 for 356 (.261 avg, .710 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 8 homers and 48 RBIs. Armstrong has a limited upside but he might be better than the alternatives if the White Sox determine to let Flowers have more time in the minors.

32-year old righty swinging Corky Miller can’t hit but he’s a good defensive catcher which the White Sox will likely value. Miller played in 31 games for the Braves last season in which he was 5 for 60 (.083 avg, .285 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 5 RBIs. Miller did throw out 6 of 15 (40%) basestealers last season and Braves’ pitchers had a 3.83 ERA with him behind the plate. Still, it will be interesting to see if the White Sox can overlook the fact that Miller has a .176 career batting average with a .554 OPS in 132 major league games.

27-year old righty swinging Chris Stewart could finally get an extended shot in the majors if he can beat out Armstrong and Miller in spring training. He played in 1 game for the Yankees last season and he was 0 for 3 (.000 avg). He also played in 86 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 76 for 272 (.279 avg, .723 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 2 homers and 24 RBIs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: C

The White Sox have signed 32-year old lefty swinging 1B Ben Broussard to a minor league contract. He played in 26 games for the Rangers last season and he was 13 for 82 (.159 avg, .493 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 3 homers and 8 RBIs. Broussard has now played in 705 games in his major league career in which he is 561 for 2,136 (.263 avg, .774 OPS) with 275 runs scored, 87 homers and 314 RBIs. This was a good low risk move for the White Sox as Broussard has been a productive hitter in the not so distant past.

The White Sox decided to get rid of some expensive players and replace them with youngsters with upside. Jayson Nix, Wilson Betemit and Brent Lillibridge will battle rookie Chris Getz for the starting job at 2B. Betemit will also battle Josh Fields for the starting job at 3B. The White Sox also signed Cuban 3B Dayan Viciedo hoping to strike lightning in a bottle once again like they did with Alexei Ramirez last year. Veteran righty Bartolo Colon will be penciled in as the #4 starter for the White Sox this season as long as he makes it thru spring training healthy. Jeffrey Marquez and Jhonny Nunez were brought over in the Nick Swisher trade with the Yankees and they will battle lefty Clayton Richard for the #5 spot in the starting rotation.

OFF SEASON GRADE FOR THE WHITE SOX: D+