I've closed the book on 2008. 

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry refused to call it a salary dump, but the Cubs wound up saving a few bucks Tuesday. 

Baseball 

Baseball 

The White Sox went from a joke in 2007 to the AL Central champions in '08, but general manager Ken Williams has refused to sit on his hands this winter. 

Being ousted in the first round of the postseason by Tampa Bay and taken to the wire in the Central Division race by Minnesota didn't go unnoticed by the White Sox, who saw speed on the basepaths and on defense counter their power-first approach. 

--3B Josh Fields and OF Jerry Owens are getting the benefit of the doubt from general manager Ken Williams on their dismal 2008 seasons, mostly because both were injured. 

Being ousted in the first round of the postseason by Tampa Bay and taken to the wire in the Central Division race by Minnesota didn't go unnoticed by the White Sox, who saw speed on the basepaths and on defense counter their power-first approach. 

--3B Josh Fields and OF Jerry Owens are getting the benefit of the doubt from general manager Ken Williams on their dismal 2008 seasons, mostly because both were injured. 

The White Sox went from a joke in 2007 to the AL Central champions in '08, but general manager Ken Williams has refused to sit on his hands this winter. 

While the White Sox made their major off-season moves early -- trading Javier Vazquez and Nick Swisher -- they may not be done retooling in hopes of going deeper than four games into the playoffs, as they did last season. 

Before we roll into 2009, let's say goodbye to a lousy 2008 season in local professional sports. 

The Hall of Fame ballot 

What do Manny and Chase Utley have in common? Find out as we look back on baseball's strangest performances of 2008. 

Being ousted in the first round of the postseason by Tampa Bay and taken to the wire in the Central Division race by Minnesota didn't go unnoticed by the White Sox, who saw speed on the basepaths and on defense counter their power-first approach.