Chicago White Sox: What We Learned About Their Sweep of the Cubs

The Chicago White Sox may have righted their season after sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the first meeting of the annual Crosstown Classic. It was the White Sox’s first sweep of the Cubs since 1999, and it was a series that I believe can push them over the top.

We have learned a few things about the Sox during the Crosstown Classic.

If the bats are thumping, the Sox will compete.

During the weekend, the Sox clobbered the Cubs’ pitching with eight home runs, including two by a resurgent Adam Dunn—team leader with 14 dingers. Gordon Beckham hit the eventual game-winning home run in the first game of the three-game series.

The weather in Chicago was hot and it seemed to favor the hitters wearing White Sox uniforms. The team went on to score 16 runs in total. Due to that impressive offensive output, the Sox were never behind.

White Sox skipper Robin Ventura is improving as a manager.

The White Sox are only 42 games into the 2012 season, and Ventura pressed all of the right buttons against the Cubs. He brought in relievers to take the stress off of his starters. He called for successful hit-and-run plays. The defensive alignments were brilliant as well. The Sox committed only one error during the series.

The Sox showed solidarity as a team while respecting the game of baseball.

After Paul Konerko was hit in the face by a Jeff Samardzja pitch, Philip Humber responded by throwing a breaking ball high above Cubs first baseman Brian LaHair’s head. Humber was not told to throw at LaHair, and it was determined that he was not purposely trying to hit LaHair. It sent a message to the Cubs by suggesting that the Sox are a team with a purpose.

The Sox are ready to fight. The division is up for grabs as the Detroit Tigers are struggling and with Cleveland coming to town this weekend, the Sox believe they can surprise the baseball world.

I, for one, am looking forward to the games to come.