Josh Fields won the job at third easily, holding off 20-year-old Cuban prospect Dayan Viciedo. As for second, an injury to Jayson Nix, and the fact that Gordon Beckham has only 14 minor league games on his resume, went a long way in allowing Chris Getz to shine. It didn't hurt that, after a slow start, Getz outplayed Beckham in the second half of Cactus League play.

With those two spots filled, the strength of the team remains its power. Carlos Quentin, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye each have 30-homer potential, and Fields gives the White Sox another legitimate threat to hit 25 home runs.

The back end of the bullpen, with Bobby Jenks closing behind Scott Linebrink, Matt Thornton and Octavio Dotel, will shorten games for the starting staff, where Mark Buehrle, John Danks and Gavin Floyd give the Sox as solid a 1-2-3 combination as any team in the Central.

Still in doubt are the health concerns of veteran pitchers Bartolo Colon (elbow cleanup surgery) and Jose Contreras (ruptured left Achilles). If those two can hold up, the White Sox feel confident about the starting staff.

Contreras and Colon also control the makeup of the middle part of the bullpen, with Clayton Richard and Jeff Marquez having to act as safety nets for the two veterans.

The one problem that emerged in spring training was that none one of the three candidates to play center field and lead off -- Jerry Owens, Brian Anderson or Dewayne Wise -- stepped up to grab the spot. Owens was outrighted to the minors; Wise and Anderson might platoon.

An early telltale sign of how the White Sox's season could play out will fall on Contreras and Colon. Even manager Ozzie Guillen has insisted that, "If I have those two to start the year, wow, I'll take my chances."

THE WHITE SOX WILL CONTEND IF ...: They can stay healthy. They have a lineup made up of some China dolls that could break with the slightest touch. Not only do Bartolo Colon and Jose Contreras have a recent injury past, but Carlos Quentin is coming off a broken wrist, Paul Konerko fought with an injured thumb, and there are always concerns about Mark Buehrle's workload over the last seven years catching up with him.

PRIMED FOR A BIG SEASON: RHP Gavin Floyd won 17 games last season but has added a cutter and more confidence to his resume. It doesn't hurt that he has the security of a four-year, $15.5 million contract that he signed in spring training.

ON THE DECLINE: LHP Mark Buehrle skipped several starts this spring as the club took a handle-with-care approach with him. For years he has been the workhorse of the American League in innings pitched, and it seems to be catching up with him.