MLB: Chicago White Sox Have Golden Opportunity Against Tigers

After a terrible start, the Chicago White Sox are still within striking distance of first place in the American League Central Division. They'll find themselves resuming action after the all-star break in a very opportunistic position.

Detroit is the team to chase down in the Central. Chicago is positioned perfectly to quickly gain ground. How convenient.

Now comes the pesky formality of playing and winning games.

The White Sox get back to work with a dozen games against division opponents. This is bookended by six games with the division-leading Tigers. Chicago begins a three-game set in Detroit Friday before traveling to Kansas City and Cleveland. The White Sox then get the Tigers for three games at U.S. Cellular Field July 25 through the 27.

The division race sits right in front of the White Sox. It's certainly there for the taking in the next two weeks.

The only thing standing in Chicago's way is Chicago itself. The trouble is that getting out of their own way this season hasn't been easy.

Despite an underwhelming first half and an 8-16 inter-division mark, the White Sox are still only five games out. Once Detroit leaves town, Chicago's next ten games are against Boston, New York and Minnesota. Making hay before they hit that stretch is essential.

Much is made of Chicago's 1-7 record against the Twins this season. The Sox are also 1-5 against Detroit. Such divisional futility will sink this team if it continues.

The key to turning around things post-break is no mystery. Guys like Adam Dunn and Alex Rios don't have to be red-hot, though no one would mind if both went on second-half tears. Just perform at or even slightly below your career average, guys. It would make a huge difference in this lineup.

There isn't a savior coming to carry this lineup through the last two and a half months. Dayan Viciedo may eventually find his way up to Chicago, but if the big-money boys continue to play abysmally, Viciedo's bat likely won't be able to compensate.

If GM Kenny Williams plays to form, the White Sox will get every chance to contend with the lineup he has assembled. Aside from Carlos Quentin, Mark Buehrle and possibly Edwin Jackson, there are few trade pieces to sell off even if Williams wishes to do so.

Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen apparently still believe in the talent on the field. It is that stubbornness that will keep this team together through the trade deadline.

As a team without a win streak of more than four games this season (which they've managed twice), the White Sox are in desperate need of an extended run of inspired play. Anything approaching the eleven-game streak of a year ago would likely be enough to propel Chicago to the top of the division.

No time like the present to get started on that streak.