With so many new faces in new places, the 2008 MLB season will be characterized by how the off season moves will impact each team. The era of free agency has shown how it can create great parity within the league, setting up epic battles between teams in every division. After a lackluster 2007 season, the Chicago White Sox look for their newly acquired personnel to make an immediate contribution. Ozzie Guillen and the Sox look to new Shortstop Orlando Cabrera to thrive not only defensively, but with his quick bat and intelligence at the plate, he is a perfect fit to hit number two in the line-up or possibly even lead-off. Cabrera’s intangibles also excite the club, his leadership will help to bring the club house closer together and make everyone around him step up their play. With the exception of Bobby Jenks, the bullpen last year was bad, that is why the performance of relievers Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel is vital to the success of the Sox. Linebrink’s experience and wicked sinker will help preserve leads and keep opponent run totals down in anticipation for Jenks to come out and rock the crowd. Dotel’s addition deepens the bullpen and takes pressure off of many guys so that the whole crew can perform to their full ability when they get their chance. Teams can never have too many relievers when going up against the big names of the AL Central such as Magglio Ordonez and Travis Hafner. The catalyst of the newcomers this year has to be switch hitting outfielder Nick Swisher. Swisher brings high octane and a genuine excitement to the game. With a chance to be a fan favorite on the south-side, look to Swisher and Guillen to gel well together and bring back that swagger to the Sox that they have been missing for the past two seasons. With so many changes this season, don’t count out the Sox, expect the unexpected in 2008.
