Chicago White Sox: Coming Around at the Quarter Pole

The Chicago White Sox have a long way to go before getting back into contention in the American League Central. Chicago is 9.5 games off the pace in the division, but have reason for some optimism as the team completed the first quarter of the season.

Sunday's 4-3 victory capped a 6-3 West Coast swing that saw the White Sox win a series against Seattle, Los Angeles and Oakland.  If they can continue to put an abysmal 4-18 stretch in the rear-view mirror, Chicago may begin to close the huge gap between them and the Indians.

The White Sox open a seven game home stand with two games each against Texas and Cleveland before the Dodgers come to town for a three-game inter-league set.  Now is a good time to take a closer look at this club.

Offensively, it's been all about Paul Konerko, who is having another all-star caliber season.  As of Sunday's game, he was hitting .327 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI so far, leading the starting lineup in all three categories.  Konerko also is in the top five in the league in average, homers, and RBI.

Omar Vizquel continues to amaze at age 44 with another solid campaign as the White Sox utility man.  Carlos Quentin is rapidly cooling off after a hot April, but still has eight homers.

Gordon Beckham is hitting .297 in the month of May and is playing solid on defense.  Brent Morel is hitting .292 for the month.  Both of these guys slumped hard with the White Sox, so better play from these young guys is a good sign.

Juan Pierre is a piece at the top of the lineup who could use a jump start.  Over his last 21 games, Pierre is hitting .208 in the leadoff spot.  He has just one stolen base in that stretch and has been prone to being picked off.  Pierre has been caught stealing in eight of his last ten attempts.

Pierre figuring things out would help set the table for Chicago, as Alexei Ramirez has hit .303 since Ozzie Guillen moved him into the second spot in the batting order.  His two RBI performance Sunday included a solo homer in the fourth which got the White Sox on the board.

The bullpen, which had been in disarray earlier in the spring, had been solidified with the emergence of Sergio Santos as the closer.  Santos has been lights out before and after being given the chance to pitch the ninth.  The rest of the bullpen has settled in behind him and pitched well this month.

The White Sox have a couple of players who could be difference makers in the next few weeks.

On the mound, Jake Peavy has returned and is a member of a six-starter Chicago rotation.  

There is also a chance that Dayan Viciedo could be joining the team soon.  Mark Teahen has been nursing a strained oblique muscle, and could end up on the disabled list for a spell.  Viciedo has had a hot bat down in Charlotte.

For the second year in a row, Chicago has placed themselves in terrible position to contend.  The fact that they rebounded to take the lead in the Central Division in 2010 gives fans reason to believe that the possibility exists for the White Sox to claw back into the race.

To do that, Guillen has to get his team to build on the momentum of a successful nine-game road trip and take care of business at U.S. Cellular Field.  The White Sox are currently 5-11 at home this season.

The first chance to improve upon that and start closing the gap in the Central is tonight against the Rangers.