It's Time for the Chicago White Sox to Fulfill Kenny Williams' Expectations

The Chicago White Sox have let the trade deadline pass without making wholesale changes to their roster. Once again, GM Kenny Williams believes that the team he built this winter is good enough to stay in the American League Central Division race.

It's time for Chicago to reward Williams for his faith in his club.

Williams said that the White Sox would tell him in what direction he should proceed with their play on the field this week. Ever the fence-sitters, Chicago went 3-3 against visiting Detroit and Boston, leaving the architect of the 2011 roster to make the final call.

As usual, Williams chose to give his team the benefit of the doubt. We've seen this before. The last two months will play out according to the identity Chicago adopts.

If the team meets Williams' expectations, the White Sox may overtake the Tigers and Indians. If they don't, fingers will be pointed squarely in his direction.

Cleveland and Detroit aren't the strongest teams in the American League, but both teams bolstered their starting pitching with deadline deals for Ubaldo Jimenez (Cleveland) and Doug Fister (Detroit). The Sox are down a starter, having shipped Edwin Jackson to the Blue Jays.

The White Sox fortunes hinge on the arms of Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Jake Peavy and Phil Humber. They should be well-rested, having pitched in a six-man rotation for large parts of the season. If starts are missed from here on out, it could spell trouble.

Paul Konerko's availability is in question after being hit by a pitch Sunday in the White Sox' 5-3 loss to Boston. X-rays were negative, but any time missed by the captain with a bruised calf would hurt.

Now that the White Sox have elected to keep most of the roster together, Ozzie Guillen should not let money get in the way of a productive lineup. The recent benching of Alex Rios may be an indication that Guillen is going to go with the players who will help the team win.

We'll see if Alejandro De Aza's call-up was meant to light a fire under Rios, or if the young center fielder is going to receive an opportunity to man center field for the rest of the season.

Will there be a similar benching of Adam Dunn, who hit .141 for the month of July as his season in the abyss continues?  In what should White Sox fans have more belief, Dunn finally heating up or the Great Pumpkin rising out of the pumpkin patch come Halloween?

I give Williams credit for not selling off the team's chances. I applaud him for not shipping out prospects to take a flier on a guy like Ken Griffey Jr. 

At the same time, the White Sox have been built to compete for a division flag.  It's time to live up to those expectations.