Five game into a new season, one with so much promise and hope, people are jumping off.  We refer to them as bandwagoners, people so fickle they change with the wind, and do not deserve the term "fan."  But that is what sports are, to cheer for the team doing the best and delivering a product that entertains and excites.

The first week has been a rough one for the White Sox, but it will not get much worse.  The White Sox always seem to struggle offensively the first few weeks of the season; they lay dormant until something kicks in, and hitting becomes contagious. 

Amid the many negative story lines and calls for management to resign or be fired (typical for a stumble out of the gate), there are some bright spots and hope for a more productive rest of the season:

1) The starting pitching.  It's been no secret the best facet of the team has been our starters, who arguably match up against the best in baseball.  The team ERA will not stay near it's low levels throughout the season, but it will hover nicely around 3.25-3.75.  Some may consider that a little too low for the park they play in, but it's a legitimate goal that can, and should, be achieved.

2) Alex Rios.  He's hit almost everything hard, and he'll start finding holes.  I firmly believe he will win the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award, although many will consider my crazy for such an absurd assumption.  His hitting will be the "virus" that "contaminates" the rest of the team and because hitting is contagious, the bats will come to life.

3) The back end of the bullpen.  If the right deal came along, I'd get rid of Bobby Jenks right now.  I haven't seen enough of JJ Putz to put him in the closer role, but Matt Thornton is playing the Scottie Pippen to Jenk's Michael Jordan, and possibly even more as Thornton is still dominating.  I believe Jenks will be traded by the deadline, as more of a deal that will improve the team, rather than a fire sale.

4) The top of the lineup.  Juan Pierre will steal 50-60 bases, which will prove to have the same effect as Scott Podsednik did in 2005. (Now before you jump on me for implying that Juan Pierre will lead us to the World Series, please don't, because I'm not implying that)  With a stolen base threat on the bases, pitchers seem to lose focus on who is at the plate, and with a future MVP in Gordon Beckham batting second, he'll get a lot of pitches to hit (which only plays to his strengths as a good and smart player) and subsequently Quentin and Konerko will see the same. 

Do I believe the White Sox will acquire Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres before the trading deadline?  Yes.  Will it cost our farm system and then some?  No.  I think it will be a three team deal that involves Jenks, along with possibly CJ Retherford and Jordan Danks, and a host of others.  If the deal involves Tyler Flowers, I'd pull the plug, because he should be our starting catcher next year (no disservice to AJ Pierzynski).  Even with the acquisition of Gonzalez, I'm not implying that he will be our "savior," he will add another potent bat to a lineup that will have woken up and began hammering the ball like they can.

They say a team on paper is just that, a team on paper.  It's playing the games that actually count, and proving that you are worth the hype and hope so many people and real fans place on you as a team.  The White Sox are no exception to the hype; they deserve it.  Whether or not they answer it and prove it has yet to be seen.  But from this fan's perspective, they will.  Things will get better, they'll start winning again.  Just be sure to slide on over as the bandwagon will begin getting full again.