Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: White Sox Win Streak, Cedric Benson Cut Loose

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since I last wrote my last "Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down" article. But since then, I've gotten married and went on a honeymoon to Jamiaca. So I'm back and ready to start this off again.

Each week I will write about the latest sports happenings and give my thoughts, either good or bad. I want you, the reader, to give me your "thumbs" either up or down. And give me your thoughts and opinions. Just remember that these are just my thoughts on random things, so don't take them too personal.

Thumbs Up: To the Chicago White Sox for playing great baseball and beginning to step on the throats of the others in the AL Central. They own MLB's longest, current winning streak at seven and counting (will probably add a few more while playing a dismal Detroit team). After another Ozzie tongue lashing and calling out his offense, the team has stepped it up and had their first perfect seven-game homestand since '83, and only the fourth in team history.

They are in the top 10 in average, runs, OPS, and slugging in the AL. And they have the best pitching staff in the AL as well, either first or second in ERA, batting average against, OPS, WHIP, and quality starts. With a division that has been a flop through out (see below), this is the Sox's division to win.

Thumbs Up: To Kent Desormeaux, the jockey on Big Brown at this past weekend's Belmont Stakes for pulling up the horse in the last quarter-mile. With everything that happened after the Kentucky Derby, and all of the performance-enhancing drugs the trainer gives Big Brown, and with the quarter-crack in the hoof of Big Brown, this was the right thing to do.

The last thing this guy needs on his mind is how he pushed and pushed this horse until it broke, and then we have another sad day in horse country. I applaud Kent for this.

Thumbs Up: To Vinny Del Negro for landing a head-coaching job without any prior coaching experience. Del Negro gets himself a team that just one year ago won 49 games and won a playoff series. So, the team isn't that bad, they did go a step back with this past season, but hey, they got the No. 1 pick in the draft, and will be able to get a guy in either Beasley or Rose that will make an impact from the get-go.

I believe they should take Rose to run the team. There are more guys out there like Beasley than guys like Rose. Get rid of Gordon and Hinrich, and let Rose run a team like Chris Paul does for New Orleans or Williams does for Utah. But Del Negro, who always had a good head of hair on him when playing for the Spurs, will have to do.

Thumbs Down: To Cedric Benson for getting himself released from the Bears yesterday. With his second alcohol-related arrest in as many months, Benson got released after only three seasons and just over 1,000 yards, after being selected fourth overall in the 2005 draft.

I gave Benson a thumbs up after his first arrest for apparently telling the truth about getting beat and pepper sprayed on the boat. But now, after another incident, it's clear there's a problem here. He says he walked the sobriety line right on the road, but apparently that didn't matter to police. I guess Benson is now up for the taking for the rest of the league. Maybe the Cowboys can pick him up and Pacman and Benson can share stories of their dreadlocks and prison cells.

Thumbs Down: To the American League Central, sans White Sox, for being a terrible division. This was supposed to be the best division in baseball, with the potent lineups of the Tigers and Indians, the good young talent of the Twins and Royals, and the steady play of the veteran White Sox.

Well, it looks like old age and steady play win out over bats that don't hit and young players who need a year or two to develop at the big-league level. The Tigers are terrible. The Indians are ravaged by injuries and can't score a run to save their lives. The Twins started well, but without Hunter and Santana, they can't expect to stick around all year. The Royals, well they're still the Royals.