Coming into tonights series opener at Detroit, the Chicago White Sox record is 12-13. Not bad, not great, but still only a game-and-a-half out of first. This time last year, the team was 10-15, but struggling in many facets of the game.

This year, the Sox are determined to make sure last year was an aberration. Hence, change will come, maybe not quickly, but it’ll come.

Case in point.

They started the year with Hector Santiago as the closer. Through 3 appearances Santiago looked un-hittable, picking up saves in each opportunity. However, in his next 4 times out, Santiago ERA was 10.97, so he was out as closer.

Matt Thornton’s days as a closer are sure to end…soon.

Enter Chris Sale. Sale, who, as a starter, is 3-1 with a 2.87 ERA, is the new closer.

Recently, Sale came down with a tender elbow, making it the perfect time to give him the 9th inning.

Understand the move, to a point. Sale hides the ball well, and with his pitching motion should succeed as the man at the end.

However, he was starting to find his rhythm in the rotation, and his replacement, Dylan Axelrod is not in the same category as Sale. That is not meant as a slight to Axelrod, it’s just that Sale’s stuff is downright nasty.

Finding a reliable closer is not easy, just ask the Angels. The Sox are hoping against hope that Sale fills the bill.

My one question. Sale is the same guy now that he was in the spring. He still weighs 90 pounds. He still has the herky, jerky motion. Why go through all the headache of making him a starter if, at the first sign of injury or others in-affectiveness, he is moved from where he is successful to where he is an unknown?

Next up.

Is the grim reaper hovering over Gordon Beckham’s locker? The embattled 2nd baseman, who has started out rather slowly (great game at Detroit though), appears to be on the clock.

News out of Birmingham is the Tyler Saladino has been moved from short to second. Small move to the untrained eye, but a huge move to everyone else.

Saladino is the Sox’ golden boy. He impressed everyone in the organization during the spring, and continues to do so during the season.

In Birmingham, Saladino is hitting .255, which to all Sox decision makers is awesome. Birmingham, you see, is in the Southern League, which is considered a pitchers league. Evidently, .255 is awesome.

Beckham, before his 3 hits in game 1 at Detroit, came in hitting a paltry .203. Can you see what I see? Sounds like a Christmas song.

I know nothing, and I’ll admit that, but I still believe Beckham will be a better than average player, either in Chicago, or somewhere else.

To catch you up.

Sale is the new closer, while Beckham’s days could be numbered.

Finally.

What are the Sox gong to do with Dayan Viciedo? Viciedo has the tools, but so far they haven’t made their way out of the box. The Cuban defector is hitting a tad better than Beckham.

If Birmingham stats are the yard stick, could Jarod Mitchell be that far from the South Side? Mitchell is hitting 57 points better than Saladino in roughly the same amount of at bats. Only time will tell, I guess.

I think things are way too early for position changes (except closer), but the Sox have to be concerned with Brent Morel too.

Uh oh, Sox just lost to Detroit as Matt Thornton gave up a walk off bomb to Jhonny Peralta. Maybe moving Sale to the closers spot isn’t a bad idea after all.