How Chicago White Sox can shock baseball, make playoffs

Young rotation has to emerge

Given a starting rotation that may feature at least three pitchers age 25 or younger, this is a given. The young pitching staff must grow up, and quickly.

Much of this revolves around Rodon finally getting healthy and producing the way he’s capable of doing when at 100%. Injury struggles and inconsistency have led to a tumultuous start to the former No. 3-overall pick’s career.

Lo and behold, Rodon’s rehabilitation for surgery he had to relieve bursitis in his throwing shoulder is running long again. In fact, he’ll likely miss the start of the season. And when he does return, will how will he pitch?

More than probably, more inconsistency will follow in his return. But if he’s good, he’ll make things interesting.

Furthermore, can Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez hold things down in his absence?

Giolito simply balled out in his seven starts with the White Sox last year, posting a 2.38 ERA in 45.1 innings, including a WHIP of  0.946 and a strikeout/walk ratio of 2.83. More of that, please.

Lopez struggled a bit more in his starts (4.72 ERA in 47.2 innings), especially in giving up the long ball (seven home runs allowed). Keeping the ball in the park should be his top priority this season. If he can, he certainly has the ability to go on strong runs as he did last summer at Class AAA Charlotte.

And lastly, what will the Chicago White Sox get from Carson Fulmer and Kopech?

Fulmer had a strong finish to last season with the big club and could nab a rotation spot with a big spring. And Kopech is one of the biggest rising stars in the organization, with stuff that simply overmatches opponents.

One of them could be a dark horse for the fifth and final rotation spot, assuming that Miguel Gonzalez and James Shields nab the other two alongside Giolito and Lopez to start the year.

Whichever one does claim it has to pitch lights out for as long as they get the opportunity. In the process, that might lead to the Sox shedding Shields, who isn’t the same pitcher he once was. From there, all bets just might be off.

Next: Chicago White Sox pitchers, catchers report

All of this, of course, is incredibly hypothetical. And as Soria said before, almost half the roster has to have breakout seasons to even foster ideas of contending, let alone actually winning anything.

But hey, it’s spring. And right now, anything really is possible. Even the Chicago White Sox making the playoffs.