Chicago White Sox: 3 Reasons to Remain Optimistic Despite the Sweep

If you are a fan of the Chicago White Sox, this past weekend's sweep at the hand of the Detroit Tigers was painful.  Not only did they lose all three, but the Sox looked outmatched all weekend and overpowered at times.

The Chris Sale-Justin Verlander matchup was all it was cracked up to be until Delmon Young took a slurve off of his shoelaces for a three-run home run in the sixth inning that gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead.

It was the nail in the coffin of a very forgettable weekend in the Motor City.

Phil Rogers, from the Chicago Tribune, believes that the difference between Sale and Verlander “is the difference in the teams tied atop the American League Central.” 

Direct translation: The Sox do not measure up to the Tigers in both performance and talent.

Not so fast.

Do not jump ship just yet Sox fans. 

All hope is not lost.

The season is not over, and there are three reasons why.

First, the schedule is in the Sox’s favor. 

They play 17 of their final 29 games at good ole U.S. Cellular Field, while the Tigers play 16 of their final 29 away from home.  Four more home games for a team that has been playing very well at home (38-26), versus a Tigers team that has a very difficult time (30-35) away from Comerica.

Advantage Sox.

Second, the Sox play their last six games at home, while the Tigers have to travel to Kansas City to play their final three games against the dreaded Royals.

Chen! Chen! Chen! Chen!

Advantage Sox.

Finally, the most important reason to be optimistic…The Sox have four games remaining, at home, against the Tigers starting next Monday.  Heading into that series, the Sox have won three out of five contests against the Tigers at home.

Not all is lost Chicago.

Adam Dunn update: Dunn is on record, according to the Tribune, intimating “that his right oblique strain was healing quickly, thanks to treatments by trainer Herm Schneider that included constant pressure on his side.”

The White Sox need Dunn back in the lineup for the stretch-run.  His presence has been missed and the sooner he and his league leading 38 home runs return, the better.

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