Chicago White Sox: Ineptitude Against the AL Central Must End Now

The Chicago White Sox 4-1 defeat at the hands of last-place Kansas City illustrates the team's failure to take care of business in the American League Central.

Winning the division means beating divisional opponents.  The While Sox don't seem to be able to do that. Chicago dropping their series with the Royals leaves them with a 7-13 record against the rest of the division.

That's disheartening news when you are in the opening stages of a 19-game stretch of division games.

For all the struggles and offensive droughts, the White Sox still find themselves just four and a half games behind the Indians.  A series win at home could bring them closer to the pace before the All-Star break.

Problem is, those four games are with Minnesota.

Whether the Twins are at the top or the bottom of the standings, they continue to be an enigma for the White Sox.  Chicago is 0-4 in games with Minnesota this season.  In three of those games, the difference has been a single run.

The Sox have been victims of shutouts in two of this year's meetings, including a no-hitter by Francisco Liriano, who isn't slated to appear in the four-game series. Carl Pavano, who beat the White Sox 4-1 on June 15, starts the opener Thursday night against Phil Humber.

Humber has won five of his last six starts and has been the ace of the Chicago staff.  Another big start is needed to get the White Sox their first win over the Twins this season.

The course is clear for the crew on the South Side.  Win the next five series with Minnesota, Detroit, Kansas City, Cleveland, and Detroit and expect to be knocking on the door, if not on atop the AL Central.

Lose those series and it may be flag waving time.  White flag waving time.