White Sox Week in Review: A Tale of Two Teams

Basketball, they say, is a game of runs.

The momentum will swing this way and that, with each team going on a hot streak before cooling down and giving the other team the room to make a push.

Baseball is also a game of runs. Simply, score more runs than the other team.

Last week, the White Sox did that with room to spare. This week, they didn't.

After winning seven straight at home and making the Twins look like, well, the Twins, the Sox bats fell silent once again as the South Siders lost all three games in Detroit and two of three to the "Back from Holliday" Rockies.

There have (so far) been no managerial tirades. After all, that would be pulling out the same trick too soon. But the season is on a see-saw pace that would make a sugar-happy grade-school kid feel a bit sick.

This season, the White Sox have winning streaks of five, eight, and seven games. They also have a six-game losing streak to their credit, and they have lost three games in a row three times. Which goes to show you that the Sox are as streaky as a badly washed car windshield.

Yes, I know: I'm using way too many similes.

I've detailed what the Sox need to do to win. They did what they needed to do in May to get to the top, and last week's blistering offensive pace helped the Sox cause in spades. But as the summer stretches out, those losing streaks are going to outlast the winning ones.

Here are the reasons to believe that the Sox will fade:

1. Carlos Quentin's drop-off: As luck would have it, I jinxed CQ. Right about the time I wrote a column singing his everlasting praises, he began to cool off. Saturday night's game was the low point, as Carlos was thrown out of the game by Joe West after slamming his bat in frustration. It's possible that shouldering the offensive load for the first quarter of the season took a toll on the youngster. Carlos needs to get his batting-eye back and put some RBI up for the team.

2. Paul Konerko's injury: Though PK definitely wasn't scorching the ball by any means, he had shown some signs of turning his season around. But after suffering a minor muscle strain (combined with the lingering effects of his thumb injury), the Sox captain might not be a big factor at the plate before the All-Star break.

3. The AL Central: Laugh if you will, but the big dogs can't stay down forever. The Sox were coming off a monster homestand and then scored only six runs in three games at Comerica Park. Don't be fooled by their respective starts; the Indians and Tigers know the score, and they will be waiting to make a second-half push. If the Sox play on the road like they have the last two trips, I can't see them maintaining a lead in the division.

In addition: Javier Vazquez is falling off. His ERA has risen almost half a run since the end of May, and his June ERA is 7.15. With the weather at Comiskey heating up, Javy has to figure out a way to minimize the damage in his starts, as he'll often be facing the opponent's No. 2 or possibly No. 1 starter.

Doom and gloom indeed, but for you optimists, here's some reasons why the Sox will hold on to the lead:

1. The Wizard is here: Everyone can hate and make his decisions for him (we fans included), but at the end of the day, Ozzie Guillen is a pretty good manager. He looked like a genius when he started Juan Uribe on Friday night, and the guys believe in him. Orlando Cabrera's name hasn't been in the news in weeks, and the "South Side Circus" seems to have packed up and left down. When the Sox are winning, Ozzie makes sure they keep their foot on the gas.

2. The AL Central: "But wait, Chris," you're saying. "Didn't you just say the rest of the division was locked and loaded?" Sure, they are—but not right now. No one else in the Central has a record of .500 or better (though the Twinkies have started to move.) The Sox have at least 16 more games with the Royals and almost as many against the Indians. They can take advantage of those games to put some distance between themselves and their rivals.

3. The (F*@$in') Cubs: For six games in July, the city will watch the most hotly contested regular-season games in baseball. Red Sox and Yankees can eat their hearts out; it's huge when the Sox play the Cubs. With both teams in first place (Cubs have the edge here, I hate to say), all six of the games should be marquee battles. They'll be a test for both teams, but more so for the Sox, who will be hard-pressed to get the offense going against Ryan Dempster and the Cubs' bullpen.

Also on the good side: Not to be premature, but Mark Buerhle seems to have turned a corner. He was spectacular last Friday against the Twins, and he held the Tigers to one run over eight innings in his next start. In his three starts this month, Marky B is 1-0 with a 2.05 ERA.

Beast(s) of the Week: Scott Linebrink and A.J. Pierzynski

Linebrink hasn't been touched for a run since giving up Cliff Floyd's homer in Tampa Bay, and he leads the league with 15 holds. A.J. got two of the three White Sox hits as they were shutout Saturday night, and he is the only regular starter with a batting average over .300. These two guys have been a key to the Sox's recent success.

There are two paths for the South Siders: the one of digging in and standing their ground, or the one of getting swept away. It's anyone's guess as to which one they'll take, but this week will be a good sampling as they take on the Pirates at home and the Cubs up north.

This is a game of runs. Hopefully, the Sox won't find themselves run out of first place anytime soon.

Until next time, keep waving the Pennant.