The White Sox are in a semi-rebuilding process right now, but they are going to have no worries at 1B in 2012. 35-year old righty swinging Paul Konerko played in 149 games for the Pale Hose last year and he was 163 for 543 (.300 avg, .906 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 31 homers, 105 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 1,917 games in his first 13 years with the White Sox and he is 1,976 of 6,961 (.284 avg, .866 OPS) with 1,019 runs scored, 389 homers, 1,232 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Konerko has now played in 1,998 games in his first 15 years in the majors and he is 2,024 of 7,185 (.282 avg, .858 OPS) with 1,040 runs scored, 396 homers, 1,261 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Konerko played in 111 games at 1B for the White Sox last year and he made 5 errors. He’s an average defensive 1B. The White Sox pay him to hit and I think he’s going to have another good year in 2012.

32-year old lefty swinging Dan Johnson is going to have a decent shot of making the team this year. Johnson played in 31 games for the Rays last year and he was 10 for 84 (.119 avg, .389 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs. He has now played in 399 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 305 for 1,298 (.235 avg, .739 OPS) with 162 runs scored, 53 homers, 188 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Johnson only made 1 error in 21 games at 1B for the Rays last year but he’s a very average defensive player.

Adam Dunn played in 35 games at 1B last year for the White Sox and he made 4 errors. Dunn is one of the worst defensive players in baseball, but he could get more P.T. in the field if it helps him start to hit like he used to.

35-year old lefty swinging A.J. Pierzynski and 26-year old righty swinging Tyler Flowers are going to have to hit well to make up for their much less than stellar defensive prowess. Pierzynski played in 129 games for the White Sox last year and he was 133 of 464 (.287 avg, .728 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 8 homers and 48 RBIs. He has now played in 933 games in his first seven years with the Pale Hose and he is 954 of 3,417 (.279 avg, .730 OPS) with 384 runs scored, 91 homers, 383 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Pierzynski has now played in 1,494 games in his first 14 years in the majors and he is 1,512 of 5,316 (.284 avg, .746 OPS) with 613 runs scored, 128 homers, 653 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Pierzynski played in 120 games behind the plate for the White Sox last year and he had 4 errors and 4 passed balls. He only threw out 14 of 118 (11.9%) base stealers last year and White Sox’ pitchers had a 4.04 ERA with him behind the plate. Pierzynski is going to have to keep hitting the ball to make up for his weak throwing arm.

26-year old righty Tyler Flowers played in 38 games for the White Sox last year and he was 23 for 110 (.209 avg, .719 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 5 homers and 16 RBIs. He has now played in 56 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 27 for 137 (.197 avg, .682 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 5 homers and 16 RBIs. Flowers played in 31 games behind the plate for the White Sox last year and he had 2 errors and 3 passed balls. Flowers threw out 6 of 33 (18.2%) base stealers and White Sox’ pitchers had a 3.96 ERA with him behind the plate. Flowers could earn his way into a platoon with Pierzynski if he could just start hitting the ball a little better.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: C-

The White Sox have signed 34-year old lefty swinging outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to a 1-year, $1 million dollar deal. Fukudome played in 146 games for the Cubs & Indians last year and he was 139 of 530 (.262 avg, .712 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 8 homers, 35 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 572 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 491 of 1,888 (.260 avg, .760 OPS) with 262 runs scored, 42 homers, 191 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. Fukudome will challenge Alejandro De Aza for the starting job in LF this spring.

The White Sox are likely going to be pretty thin in the bullpen in 2012. If Jake Peavy is ready to roll when the 2012 season begins, righties Zach Stewart and Dylan Axelrod could work out of the pen in 2012. Here is a look at how the bullpen stands as of right now:

Closer: Matt Thornton: 35-year old lefty Matt Thornton has a big time arm and he will be the White Sox’ closer when spring training opens up. Thornton pitched in 62 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 2-5 with 3 saves, a 3.32 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has now pitched in 398 games (0 starts) in his first six years with the Pale Hose and he is 27-22 with 20 saves, a 3.21 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Thornton has pitched in 472 games (1 start) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 28-28 with 20 saves, a 3.52 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. I have a feeling that Thornton is going to step up and be a good closer for the White Sox in 2012.

Set-Up Man: Jesse Crain: 30-year old righty Jesse Crain is going to be the set-up man for the White Sox in 2012. He pitched in 67 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 8-3 with 1 save, a 2.62 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Crain has now pitched in 443 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 41-24 with 4 saves, a 3.30 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Crain should be pretty solid in setting up Matt Thornton in 2012.

Righties: Addison Reed: 23-year old Addison Reed is a hot prospect for the White Sox and he is likely going to have a big role in the pen in 2012. He pitched in 6 games (0 starts) in his first taste of the majors with the White Sox last year and he was 0-0 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Reed also pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 2-1 with 5 saves, a 1.26 ERA and a 0.73 WHIP. He only gave up 43 hits in 78 1/3 innings in the minors last year while whiffing 111 batters and walking only 14 batters. Those are some pretty darn impressive numbers.

Brian Bruney: 29-year old Brian Bruney pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 1-0 with a 6.86 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP. He has now pitched in 272 games (1 start) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 18-12 with 13 saves, a 4.70 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. If Bruney can start throwing strikes, he could be an asset to the White Sox as he still has good stuff.

Jhan Marinez: 23-year old Jhan Marinez came to the White Sox as part of the return for Ozzie Guillen. He pitched in 56 games (0 starts) in AA-ball last year and he was 3-8 with 3 saves, a 3.57 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Marinez also pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last year and he was 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP.

Lefties: Will Ohman: 34-year old Will Ohman pitched in 59 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 1-3 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has now pitched in 451 games (0 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 12-14 with 3 saves, a 4.11 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Ohman will likely pitch a little better than he did in 2011 for the White Sox in 2012. Call it a hunch.

Donnie Veal: 27-year old Donnie Veal pitched in 19 games (5 starts) last year in four levels of the minors and he was 0-2 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. His only major league experience came back in 2009 with the Pirates. He pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the Pirates that year and he was 1-0 with a 7.16 ERA and a 2.33 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012: C-

The White Sox have signed 34-year old lefty swinging 1B Dan Johnson to a minor league deal. Johnson played in 31 games for the Rays last year and he was 10 for 84 (.119 avg, .389 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs. He has now played in 399 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 305 of 1,298 (.235 avg, .739 OPS) with 162 runs scored, 53 homers, 188 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Johnson will try to win a job on the White Sox’ bench in 2012.