YOUKILIS COULD BE SPIRALLING EFFECT FOR SOX

If you're a Chicago White Sox fan, you might want to mark down the date, June 24th.  That's almost five weeks before the non-waiver deadline date of July 31st.....and it's a date Sox fans can look at when the Southsiders acquired  Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis.    

Why is this acquisition so important?   First, is gives the Sox a much needed boost at a position that has been a big black hole all year.  Chicago third baseman had collectively hit only one home run this season and their batting average was a league low.  So that will be an upgrade......as will the on-base percentage.  Youkilis has an outstanding on base percentage...or had.  Hopefully he can return to a partial form of his past numbers.

He just needs to "grind" to show the way....

But the real reason for optimism, I feel, is how it sets the lineup in a 1-9 order.  Youkilis is penciled into second in the batting order tonight against Minnesota...just before major league home run leader Adam Dunn.  Think Dunn isn't excited to have someone batting before him that forces the opposing pitcher to show his full allotment of pitches?  For the young hitters in the White Sox lineup....the plate discipline of not only Paul Konerko, but now Kevin Youkilis will be something they can see the importance of.  But more than anything, the presence of Youkilis, will enable General Manager to work on one other item of concern, the bench.

Orlando Hudson, Tyler Flowers, Jordan Danks and Eduardo Escobar are not names you'd consider as bench strength.....yet there could be some answers there.  Danks has shown some ability in his early since since joining the team several weeks ago.  He has base stealing ability and is known to be a superior defender.  Catcher Flowers is probably set.  So the question is, do you keep Hudson or Escobar?  I'd dump Hudson and call up infielder/outfielder/DH Dan Johnson from Charlotte.  Johnson is a left-handed threat off the bench and has hit 18 homers in his minor league action this season.  Not to mention, he's played post-season ball.  Case in point, the home run he hit last year for Tampa Bay in the bottom of the ninth against the New York Yankees.  At least with Johnson on the pine, there would always be an opportunity for the long ball.  Escobar is a good-looking youngster with great up.  I question if we see injured 3B Brent Morel at all this season

With an upgraded bench, the only concern then would be how the pitching staff lines up.  Jake Peavy, Chris Sale, surprise Jose Quintana and Gavin Floyd should be able to keep the ship afloat until John Danks returns in mid-to-late July.  And then there's Philip Humber.  He will return sometime soon, too, perhaps in long relief....but whatever the role, you have arms and numbers.  The bullpen is a mixture of experience and youth.  But they can all bring HEAT.  Was the acquisition of Youkilis the right one?  I think so.  Should they have gone after a pitcher instead?  I say "no".  Mainly because they have little if anything to give up in their minor league system to trade.  So let the spiralling begin.  

Sit back, relax and strap it down.  You might have fallen into one delirious fun time, ChiSox fans.

Thanks for reading,

John