Opening day is roughly one month away. That’s one month away from the journey that will leave many White Sox fans crying their hearts out, World Series or not. The Captain, beloved 37-year-old Paul Konerko, is retiring at season’s end.

Paulie has worn the black pinstripes since 1999, and he’s been one of the better players in the game since then. 

Countless fans, myself included, have grown up watching Konerko dig into the batter’s box and hit one of his 434 home runs, or dig out a short-hopped throw to complete a double play.

Yet the lasting memory of Paulie will be him securing that final out on October 26, 2005.

In the nine years since then, the Sox have made the playoffs once, fired Ozzie Guillen and had two 90-loss seasons, including 99 losses in 2013.

It’s easy to say they will not contend soon, but don’t underestimate them in 2014. The South Siders will rebound this season and surprise.

Pitching will carry this team. Chris Sale is a legitimate Cy Young candidate. Jose Quintana is not overwhelming, but solid, and John Danks is finally healthy. Erik Johnson will turn some heads, as he is expected to join the rotation full time.

There is no need to be worried about the trade of closer Addison Reed. The Sox have a history of finding and developing closers because of pitching guru Don Cooper. This is an organization that once converted a shortstop into its closer, after all.

General manager Rick Hahn did not make a ton of flashy offseason moves. The biggest was the six year, $68 million signing of Cuban star Jose Abreu, a 27-year old slugger with a monster swing.

Playing in hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field on those hot summer days will put Abreu in great position to hit close to 40 home runs and 100 RBIs.

With Konerko retiring and Adam Dunn in the last year of his contract, a much needed youth infusion is happening. It all started with the deadline deal last year when Hahn landed outfielder Avisail Garcia and continued with low-key acquisitions.  

Center fielder Adam Eaton will quickly become a fan favorite because of this gritty play, and Matt Davidson looks like the cure at third base, a position that has not been solidified since Joe Crede.

This youth infusion will result in many hustle plays defensively and on the basepaths that have been lacking from seasons’ past.

However, there are still many concerns. The catchers are weak, Gordon Beckham has yet to be consistent offensively and shortstop Alexei Ramírez seemingly regressed in both phases.

So it seems reasonable to expect a 72- to 80-win total.

That’s a safe prediction. But this being the world of sports, anything can happen. Come October, Chicago could be celebrating a White Sox World Series title.

Or come Aug. 1, the old veterans can all be on new teams as the Sox head toward a 100-loss season, making baseball on the South Side quite miserable.

The only certainty to come after the season will be the many tears shed for PK14.   

Erik is a senior in Media. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @e_prada.