White Sox Bats Are Blazing Heading Into Key Series

In what will undoubtedly be billed as a playoff preview the White Sox welcome the AL East leading Tampa Bay Rays into US Cellular Field tomorrow night for the first of a three game set.  If both the division leaders do end up going to the playoffs there is a probability that they would see each other in the first round. 

So far this season the White Sox have held their own against the Rays, winning 3 of the 7 games they have played, all on the hostile turf in Florida.  The White Sox team comes in absolutely killing the baseball.  Up and down the lineup they are producing, often times finishing teams off by the 5^th or 6^th inning. 

Sure a lot of that damage has been done against inferior starters but when an offensive team like the White Sox gets rolling, it can be very hard to stop them, even if you are an ace pitcher, just ask “King” Felix Hernandez.  Though it may well prove to be a playoff preview this weekend’s series is big for several reasons.

Las Piranhas

The team from Minnesota refuses to go away.  Much like the Sox have for the last week or so the Twins have proven that they will beat bad teams.  In fact they have been beating bad teams for what seems like weeks now.

This weekend the pesky Twins are in Anaheim to face one of baseball’s best teams for four games.  If the Sox can stay hot at home they should be able to pad their lead over the Twins by a game or two.

The Wild Card Picture

Even if the Twins do keep winning the Sox can increase their playoff chances by winnings games and gaining ground on Boston.  If the Sox can move ahead of Boston in the standings it gives them a backup plan in case the Twins beat up on them in the dome in the last week of the season and steal the division.

Boston has their own problems and they have a much tougher schedule than the Twins do down the stretch, with big games in New York and Tampa.  With Josh Becket a question mark, and Manny Ramirez gone, this Red Sox team is a different beast than the one that won it all last year.  

The Overall Best Record

It may sound far-fetched but as of today the Sox trail the Rays by only four games in the standings.  They trail the Angels by five for the best overall record in the American League.

Though the focus needs to be on winning the division the White Sox are certainly capable of catching one or both of the teams ahead of them in the race for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Tampa has a tough September with big games against the Red Sox, Yankees, and Twins.  Anaheim, with their division nearly won, may have trouble keeping their edge.  If the Twins keep pushing the White Sox they may just end up with the most wins in the AL. 

To win two or three this weekend would put them in place to at least catch the Rays.  If this is indeed a playoff preview it would be real nice to get to open up the first round at US Cellular Field where the Sox don’t just beat teams, they destroy them.

That sounds a lot better than having to play two games on the turf in Tampa before even getting back to the south side.  Remember just making the playoffs shouldn’t be the White Sox goal. 

If they want to win their second championship in four years they may need to grab home field advantage for the first round.   This weekend could go a long way in determining whether or not they can do it.  One thing is for sure, if the White Sox keep hitting the ball they way they are, this pennant race may be in the words of Hawk Harrelson, “over!”