Chicago White Sox: At .500, This Club Still Offers Hope in the AL Central

The Chicago White Sox are even for the 2012 season after a 4-1 win Sunday over Boston. An 11-11 record may not be worth writing home about, but faced with the poor start of a season ago, fans can take heart that the White Sox offer hope of an interesting summer on the South Side.

We're less than a month into a long season and Chicago only avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Red Sox. However, the White Sox pulled to within a game of first place behind Cleveland in the division standings.

The Indians lead Detroit and Chicago despite an 11-9 record. So far, the Central has followed form in that no one is running away with anything. That's good news for the White Sox, who were 5.5 games out in 2011 through 22 games.

Chicago was 8-14 by this point a year ago on the way to a 10-19 start that saw them ten games down in the standings by May 1. Despite dropping the series to Boston this weekend, there were some encouraging signs.

Jake Peavy tossed another gem Saturday, going the distance in losing a 1-0 decision. Sunday the White Sox broke through, led by Adam Dunn's towering home run to left that drove in Alex Rios in the first inning. Rios got the scoring started by driving in Alejandro De Aza.

The 3-0 advantage was all the White Sox would need. Gavin Floyd carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Addison Reed and Matt Thornton closed out the game.

Rios and Dunn, who were gaping holes in the batting order at this point in 2011, are putting up good numbers. Dunn's homer was his fifth of the season, while Rios joins Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski as White Sox hitting over .300.

The starting pitching has been strong. Jesse Crain is on the DL, but Thornton has a 0.82 ERA in 12 appearances this month, picking up his first save of the season Sunday.

Closer Hector Santiago blew his second save of the year Wednesday in Oakland. He has four saves on the season, though we'll have to see if skipper Robin Ventura keeps handing him the ball in the ninth.

Young infielders Gordon Beckham and Brent Morel are the players struggling this season. Both players are hitting well under the Mendoza line, earning them an afternoon off in Sunday's series finale.

Konerko also sat out of the game with a stiff neck, but has an extra day of rest before Chicago resumes their homestand Tuesday when Cleveland visits for three games. Following the Indians series, the White Sox are on the road in Detroit and Cleveland.

These next ten games could see Chicago take a lead in the Central Division. They could also see the White Sox fall off the pace in a hurry. Hey, unlike this time last year, the White Sox enter May in a position of relevance.