Chicago White Sox Half-Term report: Buyers or Sellers at the Deadline?

If the White Sox do not make a blockbuster deal in the second half of the baseball season, I wouldn't be surprised. I can't consider them sellers though, bearing in mind the way they've played the first half of the year. They've got a mid-50s win total. About 40 more gets you the division title.  We have to remember back to the championship season of 2005, when fans berated GM Ken Williams for not making a major move, and yet, the only move he made helped the White Sox win the World Series. I'll support my belief that the White Sox won't make a major deal with a few reasons:

THE PITCHING 

They lead or are one of the top teams in the Major League with their ERA. Sure, the pitchers we thought would carry us (Vazquez, Buehrle) aren't their normal selves. Recently, Buehrle has begun to pick it up, but going into the season, how many fans could have predicted the way Danks and Floyd have pitched so far? A deal to help the bullpen (although it's another strength of the club) may be the best option, but Williams doesn't make deals just to make deals.

THE OFFENSE

Although it's not textbook to win the way they've been winning (Carlos Quentin carrying us on offense through April and May, and Jermaine Dye doing most of the work from June until now), at least they're winning. Orlando Cabrera has been hitting the last month or so from the lead-off spot, and Nick Swisher's beginning to produce also. What may be surprising is the way Jim Thome and Paul Konerko have struggled (granted, Konerko was on the DL and Thome's aging). But both of them are but bound to have a hot streak of a week or two in the second half that could help win some games.

THE DEFENSE

Can the White Sox really add anything here? I know Joe Crede is on pace to set a new career high in errors, but he makes every spectacular play. Alexei Ramirez should be a staple up the middle for years to come, and his baseball smarts helps our team. Ramirez can use a little more experience in the league, but he is the smartest baseball player on our team (as Hawk Harrelson continues to point out). If it's a tight game, Ozzie always substitutes Brian Anderson for Swisher, knowing Anderson plays a better defensive center field than Swisher.

THE BENCH

I'm pretty sure I'm not alone when I say Juan Uribe is taking up a roster space. He can't hit for anything, but what he brings to the table on defense is keeping him here. Most teams never have an above average second catcher, but when called upon once or twice a week, Toby Hall seems to produce on offense and call a good game behind the plate. Pablo Ozuna is good for his speed and a little bit of his bat, but he's cost the team a few wins by

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