Chicago White Sox: 5 Questions for Them as They Begin the Second Half

Chicago White Sox GM Kenny Williams provided the rallying cry for the 2011 club by proclaiming the White Sox "all in" during the offseason. The team he has assembled has not lived up to the expectations of a $120 million payroll.

That said, Chicago has overcome a poor start to still be a factor in the American League Central through the halfway point of the season. The White Sox remained just four games back of the Tigers after beginning the second half with an extra-inning win in Colorado.

A 4-18 stretch from April 13th to May 6th saw the White Sox 11 games off the pace and fans in a total panic. Since that time, the White Sox have been steadily clawing their way back into the picture.

It hasn't been spectacular, but Chicago has played .556 ball in May and June to get back within striking distance. Are the White Sox capable of reaching the top of the division by season's end?

Here are five questions the White Sox must address as they begin the second half.

1. Will Someone Join Paul Konerko as an Offensive Threat?

Discussion of the White Sox offense starts with the team MVP through the first three months. Williams re-signed Chicago's captain to a three-year deal despite rumblings that Konerko may have taken his last swings in a White Sox uniform.

Thank goodness for the signing, because all Konerko has done is carried the team on his back with another career type of season.

Konerko leads the team in virtually every important statistical category. He's currently hitting .321 with 21 homers and 61 RBI. Konerko is coming off a .369, 10-homer June and should earn his fifth All-Star selection in a few weeks.

Carlos Quentin, who is having a decent year, is a distant second to Konerko and is one of the few starters performing anywhere close to expectations—excluding Brent Morel, who I didn't expect to hit much more than his .246 average.

A.J. Pierzynski and Alexei Ramirez have also produced with the bat, but as a team the White Sox have to step things up.

2. Can the 6-Man Rotation Continue to Work?

Chicago has gone with six starters for a large part of the season, with favorable results.

The team ERA is 3.84, down about a half run from this time a year ago. Even in defeat, the starters have pitched pretty well. Phil Humber and Mark Buehrle each help opponents to just two runs in losses this last week, and John Danks has rebounded from a brutal 0-8 start, though he is currently preparing to return from an abdominal strain.

Matt Thornton didn't last long as the White Sox closer. He gave way to Sergio Santos, who has 17 saves.  Jesse Crain has been the solid bullpen arm Chicago signed him to be.

Despite its share of issues in the bullpen, the White Sox pitching staff has kept the team afloat in the first half. Can surprises like Phil Humber (7-4, 2.89 ERA) keep it up as the summer wanes?

3. Can the Big-Money Disappointments Turn It Around?

These three players had a dismal first half. If the White Sox got value anywhere close to their combined salary of $32.5 million, Chicago is likely looking down at the rest of the division.

Adam Dunn: Much has been said about Dunn, so I'll be brief. All we can do is hope the guy bottoms out, stops worrying about his numbers and starts hitting with some power. 

Alex Rios: Ozzie Guillen pulled Rios from the game Tuesday night for a lack of hustle. Will it spark Rios' bat? He did hit .266 in June to raise his average above the Mendoza line.

Juan Pierre: Guillen is holding firm about keeping Pierre in the lineup, so hopefully he can springboard from a terrific series in Colorado to an improved second half. Pierre was 7-for-14 in Denver and had the big hit in Thursday's extra-inning 6-4 victory.

He even stole a base in the win. That make him 2-for-4 in attempts this month on the way to abysmal results for a guy who stole 68 bags in 2010. He has just 11 so far in 2011, and 20 steals from here on out may prove valuable if he can also keep getting on base.

It appears that this trio of underachievement will continue to see playing time. Their performance, or lack thereof, will figure heavily in Chicago's fortunes.

4. Can the White Sox Get It Done in the Central Division?

July is a make or break month for the White Sox in terms of the AL Central race.

After their interleague showdown with the Cubs, the White Sox have 19 games with division opponents, including six games with division leading Detroit.

Before the season started, I stressed how important it was for Chicago to play winning baseball within their division. So far in 2011, the White Sox are 6-11 against division opponents.

They are 1-5 against the Tigers.

If these trends continue, the White Sox may be out of the race by the end of the month.

5. Will Kenny Williams Buy or Sell?

Last year, Williams picked up pieces that were meant to help fortify a run in the season's final two months.  A poor August prevented that from happening, but the White Sox were buyers in 2010.

Will that be the case this summer?

The Sox have a lot of big salaries, though not many that are attractive to contenders.  An arm like Buehrle or Jackson may fetch some prospects, and perhaps Quentin would be a bat a team could use.

With the White Sox "all in", will Williams add a piece at the trade deadline, even if it means sitting some high-priced players?

More importantly, will Williams begin dismantling the White Sox if they fall further back this month?