With opening day just days away, the questions looming around the White Sox will undoubtedly unravel to show which direction the Sox area headed.

The biggest question for many Sox fans is, “How will the off-season acquisitions pay-out in the end?” Kenny Williams has been busy since the 2007 season ended. He brought-in a young outfielder with signs of great potential in Nick Swisher. Kenny also pulled-off a win-win trade with the Angels as well that sent Jon Garland for their shortstop Orlando Cabrera. These two moves highlighted the off-season for the White Sox and their early starts (Swisher and Cabrera) will be under the proverbial microscope as the season begins.

Another question for Sox fans is regarding the play of their team’s offensive studs: Paul Konerko, Jermaine Dye, and Jim Thome. While none of the players had a “bad year”, they did however have seasons where fans thought more would have come. Konerko and Dye had disappointing years but that’s fine, bad years happen, but how will they rebound from it? Will last season’s declining year begin a trend of more of the same, or was last season just a hiccup and the train will be set back on the tracks?

While Thome did have a very good year, his age and injuries are becoming more and more of a concern. Comparing against the 2006 season, 2007 saw a decrease in hits, RBIs, runs, walks, average, and slugging. This could be because he played 13 less games or it could be because he added another candle to the birthday cake.

Overall, the outlook for the White Sox is foggy. The Detroit Tigers, and all of their key additions (Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera, and Edgar Renteria), are the clear-cut preseason choice to win the A.L. Central (maybe even the pennant), but the Sox aren't going to stay idle and let the Tigers repeat.

The Sox and the Cleveland Indians will be dueling all season long to over-throw the Tigers atop the Central standings. Sure the Minnesota Twins will make some noise as well, but with Johan Santana and his numerous pitching records and awards now sporting the NY Met logo, that trump card is no longer a worry for opponents. Then you have the Kansas City Royals.* insert cricket noise * * cue tumbleweed * Well, at least the Jayhawk state still has basketball unless Davidson upsets them.

With much of the team from the 2005 championship still intact, much of Chicago (at least the South siders for sure) hope that the Sox will regain the luster they had just three seasons prior. The catalysts are still there in Buehrle, Pierzynski, Konerko, Dye, Thome, Jenks, and Crede, but it will be an uphill battle for the 2008 squad.

The team will immediately get their chance to start the season on top of the division with two fierce opening series at Cleveland and then at Detroit. After those six games the Sox will come home for the first time when they play versus the Twins for a three-game-set and then against the Tigers again, this time at home.

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