Forget the six game winning streak.  Forget being in sole possession of second place, 2½ games behind the Tigers.  Forget being three over .500.  Tonight is the test to see how far the Chicago White Sox have come in the last month.  Tonight they face arguably the top pitcher in the American League Zack Greinke.

Greinke likes to throw inside.  In fact, over the course of his career, he's hit more White Sox than any other pitcher.  Greinke is 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in three starts against the White Sox this season. He has struck out 24 Sox batters in 22 innings.  Even though he has a losing record during his career against the Sox at 5-8, most of his wins have come in the last couple of seasons. 

The White Sox could send a loud message to the rest of the AL Central with a big win tonight.  Don't let him get off the hook with a no decision like he did the last time these two teams met, get in his head early and dominate him.  You saw what this team did to last year's CY Young award winner Tuesday night, they are capable of doing the same thing to Greinke tonight.

Lightning Round

• With the Cuban Missile out due to an injured firing pin, Jayson Nix filled in at short last night and did a good job defensively and offensively.  My only question is why didn 't Ozzie try the Savior in the two hole.
• One of the things that few people are talking about is the development of the White Sox younger players.  Chris Getz and The Savior are getting a lot of good schooling from hitting coach Greg Walker, the same Greg Walker that post game callers want to run out of town every spring.  In fact, The Savior has raised his average to.278  If you are going to run Walker down, you also have to give him props.
• The now world famous J-Rod gives us his reasons why the Sox can make the playoffs. (Midwest Sports fans)
• A former White Sox pitcher has a surgical procedure named after another former White Sox pitcher.
• In an effort to make the news rather than report it, Joe Cowley thinks Brian Anderson should be sent packing. I disagree and here's why.  After Q comes back, the Sox will need Anderson as a late inning defensive replacement for Scott Podsednik.  Scotty Pods is an average center fielder with a below average arm.  Anderson is capable of making a spectacular defensive  play to win a game in the eighth or ninth inning.  I'd keep him over Dewayne Wise who is a good defensive player but not Anderson's caliber.
• The Sox have the Count, the Missile and the Sandwich.  Is this guy next? 
• The Sox have a new place for you to visit in cyberspace.
• Here's an interesting story about a talk show host in Kansas City who criticized the Royals trainer.  The Royals responded by no longer providing players for his radio show.  I've seen this before.  A couple of years ago, the Royals pulled the credentials for an entire station after they were critical of the Royals.  I almost had this happen to one of my stations until I talked some sense into team officials that clearly overreacted to something that wasn't directly our fault.  I think this kind of heavy handedness in teams trying to squelch criticism by pulling credentials or being uncooperative is silly for both entities.  Stations need to be held accountable but teams need to quit blackmailing them into only running positive content. P.S. Love the obiligtory "in the studio photo.  I've never worn a headset like that in the studio in my entire career. (Can't Stop The Bleeding)

        

For all of the grief White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams has taken for not pulling the trigger on a big deal, it was two of Williams' smaller transactions that have returned the White Sox to the thick of the AL Central race: The re-acquisition of outfielder Scott Podsednik after Pods was cast adrift by Colorado and catcher Ramon Castro, acquired from the Mets for pitcher Lance Broadway.

Podsednik is the most impactful of the two, hitting over .300 and filling the bottomless pit known as the leadoff spot.  In some corners, Scotty Pods is garnering possible consideration as an All-Star. 

Castro, on the other hand, was a big "huh?" when he was acquired.  Thought to be a slight upgrade over the incumbent backup Corky Miller, Castro has done two things well.  First, he has become Jose Contreras' personal catcher, helping Contreras to a sub 3 ERA since his return from the minors.  Second, he's got a little pop in his bat, as evidenced by his three run, game winning home run last week.

Sure, most Sox fans would have loved to have seen Jake Peavy in a Sox uniform, but sometimes it's the little deals that win a championship.  In 2005, Kenny picked up Carl Everett and Geoff Blume before the trading deadline and both helped the Sox down the stretch.  Last year, Junior Griffey contributed even though he clearly was on the backside of his hall of fame career.

So, while you may sit and pine for a big name to come in and help the Sox catch the Tigers, sometimes the guys who are least known or are thought of as done are the kind of character players you need to come in and supplement what you already have.  If you don't believe me, check Kenny's track record.

Lightning Round

• While the Indians are playing like zombies, the Royals are a fiesty bunch.  The Sox need to continue to play good ball and to continue to hit.  You give Mark Buehrle six runs tonight and he will win.
• Why the heck did The Savior try bunting his way on his first time up when he's been hitting the crap out of the ball against Cleveland?
• Carlos Quentin says he may start rehab after the all-star break.  If the Sox continue to play well, I would say don't rush him and make sure he's 100% before he comes back.  That will set up an interesting roster scenario with most likely Dewayne Wise losing his spot.
• Want to know who the next Savior might be?  Need a name to throw at Ranger Ronge during the post game show? (i.e. I think Mark Buehrle sucks and we trade him and bring up Charles Shirek) Jim can help. (Sox Machine)
• If you think Alfonso Soriano got an overpriced, overvalued contract, then you ain't seen nothing yet.  All I know is Hawks President John McDounough used to work for the Cubs.  This is ridiculous.  Scotty Bowman must have been taking his nap while this was going on.  Don't get me wrong, I think Marion Hossa is a good player, but 12 years, $62 million.  I think not.  I can't think of anyone outside of Alex Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby who would deserve a TWELVE-YEAR DEAL.
• I don't know what Bill Weber did, but I know what he won't be doing.

        

In what most would consider a mercy killing, the White Sox were awarded an 11-4 victory over Cleveland last night in a rain shortened game.

The Sox scored three runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back, giving Clayton Richard enough of a cushion to just worry about throwing strikes and not having to worry about the results.  Richard responded and the Sox won going away.

Move along, move along, nothing to see here.

The big takeaway from this one was that the Sox beat up on last year's Cy Young winner, chasing him after four innings and snapping his streak of 47 consecutive starts of five innings or more.  The other takeaway is that this is the third straight game where the Sox have scored at least six runs and fifth in the last sixth where they have accomplished that feat.  Combine the stellar starting pitching with a finally clicking offense and a baffling bullpen and you have a team that is back in the race.

Let's see how they respond tonight. Long time White Sox punching bag Jeremy Sowers throws for Cleveland while the equally hittable Jose Contreras labors for the Sox.  This game may not get called for rain, but for curfew because it may take forever.

Lightning Round

• The Savior is hitting the Indians like Victor Martinez (or, back in the day, Buzz Lightyear) hits the White Sox.  For those of you playing along at home, The Savior has his average up to .267.  I hate to admit it, but maybe the Sox knew the kid could handle the bigs. In any case, I'm starting to become a fan.
• The big news of the day of course, was Ozzie Guillen's continuing verbal assault on Wrigley Field.  I agree with him when he says "Why can't I hate Wrigley Field?"  Why can't he?  I'm sure Cub fans hate U.S. Commiskey Park.  Heck, I even hate it.
• The other Ozzie news revolves around the fact he finished second in a poll of managers that players would not want to play for. No truth to the rumor Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera votes multiple times.  You know, outside of 2007, all Ozzie does is win.  Here's a guy whose team painted itself into a corner early on, yet he doesn't panic, he plays with the cards that he was dealt by Kenny Williams and gets his team back over .500 before July 4th.  Players may not want to play for him, but obviously something he does works.
• Lost in all the Ozzie news was a comment by another outspoken Venezuelan, Carlos Zambrano who, when informed of a Tribune fan poll that indicated fans would support him being moved responded "Fine, trade me to Boston." The boy is a drama queen, isn't he? 
• The Chairman, who has rode roughshod over the baseball commissioner for 15 years, now turns his attention to beating up David Stern's little buddy.

        

Lost in the euphoria of being back at .500 and losses by Detroit and Minnesota which have put them only four games out is the continued presence of San Fransisco Giants scouts following the movements of Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye.

Dye, who is having another solid year, is being sought by Giants to help their sleepy offense take a shot at the NL wild card.  The Giants currently lead the wild card by 1½ games over the Cardinals and Rockies.   The Giants would like to add some power to a team which has been led primarily by it's pitching.

However, moving Dye, who could be a free agent after this year would appear to be a white flag to Sox fans, who still hold out hope that they can overtake Detroit in the mediocre AL Central.  Despite injuries, inconsistent starting pitching and a porous defense, the Sox have clawed their way back into the race.  The big question, at least in the media, is if, a month from now at the trading deadline, will the Sox pick up a player to help or dump salary. 

The truth is, even if Carlos Quentin comes back by the all-star break, trading Jermaine Dye would be detrimental to the team.  He's one of the most respected and popular players on the team as well as one of the most consistent.  Dye plays solid defense even if he can't move like he used to, and he has an above average arm in right field.  The alternatives of Dewayne Wise, Brian Anderson or Quentin in right just don't make sense right now.  Trading Dye straight up for another right fielder to go younger, stronger, faster would also be a mistake because the last thing you want to do in a pennant drive is mess with team chemistry.  If Kenny Williams learned anything in failed trades for Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera it's that sometimes guys fit in and sometimes they don't.  You sure don't want to make that mistake at a critical time.

So while the Giants continue to kick Dye's tires and look under his hood, Dye would just assume stay where he is and have his team pick up another player who can help.  That's a lack of change we can all believe in.

Lightning Round

• A week ago, this corner of the Internet brought up the idea of Scotty Pods as a candidate for the all-star game.  A week later, the big boys jump on our bandwagon.  We are so ahead of the curve around here.
• I thought it was funny last night that Phil Cuzzi blew yet another call, only to be spared by his fellow umpires.  For the record, the Cleveland announcers whined and cried until they saw a replay and saw that the reversal of the call was correct.  That's all we ask of the umps, please get it right.  Had they not reversed that call in the bottom of the sixth, it may have changed the complexion of the entire ball game.
• Jim looks at what Kenny Williams could get for some of his assets. (Sox Machine)
• The thing about The Savior that impresses me the most is not how he has fought to finally get his average up over the Mendoza line, but how much his veteran teammates seem to respect him.  The kid is going to be good if he keeps his head on straight.
• From having Ozzie Guillen in his head to having the sound of birdies in his head, it's been a tough week for White Sox shortstop Alexi Ramirez.
• Our STFU honors Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild who insists that Sox employees tipped the media off about what Lou Piniella said to Milton Bradley during Friday's confrontation.  Larry, if it's loud enough to be heard by several people, what do you expect?  Seriously.  Why don't you spend less time complaining about things that are irrelevant and work on fixing your God awful bullpen.  To steal a phrase from our hero and role model "This is so Cub." (Foulballs)
• Fornelli thinks the Cubs and Sox should pick the bones of these losers. (Foulballs)
• Memo to Ozzie: Things could be worse.
• Andrew takes a look at life from the perspective of a Cub fan.  Well, someone had to do it. (35th Street Review)
• Like so many of us, Ozzie still believes.

        

• What do White Sox pitcher John Danks and gazillionaire Sam Zell have in common?  They both own the Chicago Cubs.
• It's not the fact the Sox beat the Cubs two out of three this weekend that makes me smile.  It's the fact that this Sox team, as frustrating as they are, have won their last five series.  Granted the Tigers have been hot, but the only way to catch them is to keep winning two out of three. 
• The Sox need to beat divisional opponents if they want to compete for the AL Central title.  That all starts tonight in Cleveland, a place where the Sox have struggled at times, especially in close games.  Pink Gavin Floyd takes the ball tonight for the Sox.
• Something I noticed on Saturday: After Scotty Pods was thrown out at second because he over slid the bag, he asked the umpire "you gonna call that?"  Scott Pods is either really cocky or really stupid.  I think the truth lies halfway in between.
• The White Sox recently unveiled a tribute to a local sportswriter.  No, it wasn't Jay Mariotti.  
• How do you keep Jim Thome from charging?  Take away his credit card, I suppose.
• I agree with Jim that Sox-Dodgers is not a rivalry.  The 1959 world series was 50 years ago and besides that, the Sox didn't win it.  Even I'm not that old.  I did like the look of the retro unis the other day, especially the numbers on the sleeve.  Is Brooks Boyer grasping at straws so badly he has to bring up a failure from 50 years ago or is he a marketing genius hell bent on selling yet another throwback jersey. If that's the case Brooks, break out the damned red pin stripes. (Sox Machine)
• Have the goofballs on the post game show started demanding the call up of Norris Hopper?  Just wait, they will.
• Ozzie Guillen says something I've thought for a long time.  If the pitchers lose confidence in the defense, it hurts their ability to get guys out.  Mark Buehrle throws a lot of pitches that result in ground balls, but it alters his style and his location if he has to worry about the left side of his infield.  Buehrle said as much last year and considering how well he has pitched with such poor defense is a tribute to how good the guy really is. 
• If getting beat two out of three isn't enough for Cub fans to jump off the Sears Tower, this may be the thing that puts them over the top.
• Ozzie with a funny and telling quote: "So the Sox need the Cubs to help them draw fans? Because our fans are not stupid like Cubs fans. They know we're (expletive)." (Sox Machine)
• Ozzie would like to someday be AD at Alabama. Wait, what? (College Football Talk)
• TNT lead race announcer Bill Weber got suspended for one race after he got in a shouting match with someone.  No idea what or whom, but most likely it was somebody in the crew.  I didn't even notice he was gone yesterday. (Sports Media Watch)
• Baseball teams today are looking for utility, that is players who can do more than one thing.  Check this dude out.
• Chris Pronger is on the move, this time to the Flyers.  One of my sports fantasies is to see him wear a Blackhawks sweater. (Yardbarker)
• When it comes to lowball, The Chairman is king.
• I've always enjoyed Paul McGuire on football games be it the NFL or college.  The guy brings some serious fun to every game he does.  Apparently ESPN doesn't agree.
• What does a decade of schlock hits get you?  Part ownership of the Miami Dolphins.
• If you haven't watched the TNT show "Leverage", here's one great reason to start.
• St. Louis Cardinal fans may not be having a great summer, but one of them sure had a great fall.

        

Lou Piniella's dressing down of meteoric outfielder Milton Bradley during the sixth inning of Friday's Cub win has landed the Cub skipper in trouble with an activist group.

According to reports, Piniella screamed at Bradley  "You are not a ballplayer, you are a piece of S***!"

Now, a group that defends s**** wants Piniella fired.

Alan Raye, President of the group People United For The Love of Excrement And S*** Evolution (PUHLEASE) says Piniella's words were hurtful, slanderous and over the line.

"S*** gets a bad rap" Raye told reporters outside of U.S. Cellular Field where PUHLEASE members had gathered to protest. "But without S*** there would be no fertilizer and without fertilizer there would be no ridiculously over priced organic vegetables.  Then what would liberal Americans grow in their back yard?""

Raye went on to say that be calling someone a piece of S*** furthered the stereotype that s*** is a bad thing.  "People equate S*** with cleaning up babies or picking up your dog's mess on your new carpet or going into the bathroom and getting blown away by the person who used it before you, but it plays an important role in our society.  Without it, we couldn't be full of it, take one or be out of luck."

Raye says Piniella should be fired because his words were hurtful to those who love s***.  "Mr. Piniella clearly demonstrates a bias and perhaps even a hatred for S***.  Clearly, a baseball team in a city with the diversity of Chicago needs to have a manager who is sensitive to all forms of organic material, whether it is alive or it is a waste product.  After all, s*** starts it's journey as living matter."

PUHLEASE plans on holding protests outside ballparks where the Cubs are playing except on Wednesday when two or their three members have a spin class at the Y.

The Reverends Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have offered to mediate the situation.

Piniella and Cub officials had no comment.

        

This is drugs


This is your bat on drugs
Any questions?

        

Hawk said it.  Stony said it. Ozzie said it after the game.  Alexi Ramirez has too much talent to be lollipoping throws to first base.  Yet, he does and his lackadaisical play at short almost cost the Chicago White Sox a game yesterday.  Almost.

Good thing the Dodgers had their own problems which included Matt Kemp's misjudgment of a pop up to start off the thirteenth inning.

Outside of the mental lapses from The Cuban Missile, it was a huge day for the Sox.  The offense fought back from being down.  The bullpen was terrific, although Octavio Dotel and Scott Linebrink still make me plenty nervous. And finally, in the thirteenth, the White Sox won their second straight game over the best team in baseball.  Maybe that will stop all the seller talk.

This Cub series is huge, not because it's the Cubs, but because this series usually is a spring board for one of the two teams to go on a tear.  The Sox have been on a tear lately, winning seven out of their last eleven.  They've had no help from the Brewers and Cubs who have been losing to central division teams.  But still, for this team to be two under and six out right now is okay.  A sweep would put them over .500 for the first time in a long time.  That and a little help from Houston would put the Sox in a good position to resume divisional play next week.

Back to Ramirez for a moment.  If I were Ozzie, I'd sit him today, start The savior at short and let him hit second.  Seriously.  Beckham is a contact hitter, so he should handle that second spot just fine.  I think Ozzie needs to send Alexi a message that if you don't play like you mean it and screw up my entire bullpen with unnecessary use, I will sit your ass next to me for a day or two.  Of course, with Jose Contreras on the mound this afternoon, you may need a Spanish speaking infielder for him to communicate with.  Alexi is it.

Lightning Round

• I find myself laughing more and more at the musings of Andrew Riley. (35th Street Review)
• Ozzie has proven he can walk the walk when he talks the talk.  Except that time when he tripped over Tim Raines and ruined his entire season. (The White Sox Blog)
• Best headline ever (Southside Sox)
• Note to self: Never invite these guys over to watch TV.  (The Big Lead)
• The futures game can't say "You never bring me Flowers!."

        

In my real life, I'm a morning radio personality at a station that plays hits from the 70's, 80's 90's and today.  In addition to being a sports addict, I am also a music addict.  Most people who know me say I have a music encyclopedia in my brain and it is true that I can name just about any hit from the 70's or 80's in less than two notes. 

So, this morning, on our morning show, we remembered Michael Jackson, who died yesterday at the age of 50.  If you grew up in the 80's, his music impacted your life one way or another.

I know that it would be easy to take pot shots at him for his general weirdness, but the fact is Michael Jackson defined what a great performer is.  His music made you smile and dance and bob your head.  His concerts made you marvel at how someone could do the things that he did.  He was a great entertainer and that is how I will choose to remember him.  Not as the elephant man or someone that was allegedly abusive to kids, but as one of the greatest entertainers of my lifetime.

In the 50's, it was Elvis. In the 60's, it was the Beatles.  In the 70's, it was Elton. In the 80's, it was Michael Jackson.  RIP, King

        

I'll admit I was a bit confused when I saw the Chicago White Sox lineup.  Even with a lefty on the mound, surely you thought that Jim Thome would be among the starters for the White Sox.  After all, haven't we just been pelted by numerous media reports that Thome and the Sox were relieved that the NL ballpark portion of the schedule was over and Thome, who had been hot going into that nine game stretch was happy to be back.

Yet, last night, Paul Konerko was the DH and Josh Fields was the first baseman.  And suddenly, Fields turned into Thome, hitting two home runs in a 10-7 Sox win.

Ozzie is a pretty smart guy sometimes, although Fields big night hardly turns Thome into Wally Pipp.

You wonder if perhaps Ozzie will sit The Savior today and play Fields at third.

Other than thanks to the summer jet stream, the balls are once again flying out of U.S. Commiskey Park, there is really nothing to report on last night's game except that Gavin Floyd pitched well and Jimmy Gobble didn't.

The same two teams this afternoon at U.S. Commiskey Park.  You've got to think the Dodgers will come out bunting against Clayton Richard.

Lightning Round

• We all have a high school coach who was once in our life who pointed us in the right direction.  Mine was the late William Fremd High School (Palatine, IL) track coach Pat Brogan who was both a mentor and a friend.  For many in Iowa, it was Ed Thomas, whose heroics after last year's tornado are well documented.  Yesterday, a gunman, thought to be a former player of Thomas', entered the school's weight room and shot Thomas dead.  You might think of this happening in New York or LA, but in a small Iowa town?  Our thoughts and prayers are not only with the coaches family but to all in that small community of Parkersburg who lost a great man and an irreplaceable member of their community yesterday. 
• Oh to be a fly on the wall at the meeting of the Spanish Soccer Federation.  I'll bet Spain fired their coach before he even got on the plane.  Or didn't even let him board the plane.
• Somebody finally realized his name and connections would get him a lot further off the basketball court.
• Just for kicks, try the new White Sox drinking game.  (Sox and the City)