I know we're a little late folks, but blame it on the rain.
Voices from the South Side is back again with your smartest baseball minds and their thoughts on Chicago's "other" major-league team. This week, Thomas Barbee, Collin Whitchurch, and Chris Pennant talk about the recent spate of Sox injuries and the upcoming road trip for the Sox and Twins.
Now, if there are no more interruptions, it's time to talk Sox!
1. After having to deal with the playoff-desperate Blue Jays in back-to-back weeks, the Sox and Twins look a bit bedraggled as a road trip looms for both teams in the near future. Who has the tougher draw? and...
TB: The Twins have a much tougher schedule ahead of them. They're facing an O's team that's much better than their record and a Rays team fighting for the top of the division. The only real threat for the Sox are the Yankees—they should beat everyone else they play.
CW: I honestly think the Twins have the tougher schedule. Both the Orioles and Indians have proven to be teams itching to play spoilers and have a bunch of young players fighting for spots. Couple that with the fact that the Rays are incredibly tough at home and have proven they can win important games in their series in Boston, and I think they have it tougher.
The White Sox are playing the fading Yankees (who don't seem to be playing with any type of energy of a team looking to make a playoff run OR play spoiler) and the Royals. I know the Sox have struggled with the Royals this season, but they always seem to beat them in the clutch. I think, if the White Sox get it done against those two teams, that they will be able to go into Minnesota with a lot of confidence.
CP: The Twins have a rough time of it, as those four games against the Rays are staring them in the face. The three with Cleveland at the Jake won't be a cakewalk either, especially with Travis Hafner back from his season-long injury. Still, the Sox have those four with New York (in their last trip to Yankee Stadium) and the three with the Twins. So right now, you could flip a coin.
2. ...How many do the Sox need to win on their trip?
TB: If the White Sox go 10-6 in the last 16 games, they should clinch the division. This should be attainable since Ozzie's going to have his 1-3 starters pitching in key series games.
CW: Out of the 10 games, I think the Sox NEED to finish 5-5, but I think they CAN finish 6-4. As I said before, the Yankees aren't playing with any energy and I think that worst-case scenario is 2-2 vs. the Yankees, 2-1 vs. KC, and 1-2 vs. Minnesota, which adds up to 5-5. But I still think they can do better then that.
Then again, maybe I'm just way too optimistic.
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