Quick, who is the most popular baseball team in Tampa right now?  If you said the home standing Devil Rays, thanks for playing.  If you said the Chicago White Sox, congratulations, you're a winner.

It seems that every time Devil Ray pitchers strike out 10 or more batters in a game, the 5,000 or so fans that attend the game receive a gift certificate for a free pizza courtesy of a local pizza joint.  Monday night, the D-Rays pitchers struck out 16 and last night they K'ed 11.  Thus, a D-Rays game has now become buy a game ticket, get a pizza free.

The best part of all this is while Devil Ray fans are trying to make the complex decision over toppings and crust thickness, the White Sox have actually won two games in a row.  Yesterday, it was a convincing 6-1 victory featuring back to back jacks by new hero Andy Gonzalez and Jim Thome.  Gonzalez, as a matter of fact, has gone wild in Florida, going 5 for 10 with a home run and five runs batted in.  It makes you wonder how much better he would be if Ozzie took him out of the outfield and put at his natural position shortstop or perhaps even second base. Clearly, Gonzalez is slowly graduating to Pablo Ozuna status.

The other encouraging item the last two days is the fact the starting pitching has been relatively solid and (knock on wood) the Sox bullpen has actually been able to deal with a lead.  How much torture does Ozzie Guillen go through each game (Friday is a perfect example) when his starter, who is cruising along, begins to run out of gas and Ozzie has to decide which poison he wants his team's death by.  With any luck, Don Cooper has corrected some of the flaws with these guys and maybe they can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

As a realist, two wins over Tampa Bay is not cause for a ticker tape parade in downtown Chicago or even hope or optimism.  But hey, as miserable as this season has been, maybe it's a turning point where the second half won't be nearly as bad and we can actually enjoy watching this team play again.

The White Sox try to make it three in a row and cinch their first series victory since May tonight at the Trop Dome.

Lightning Round

• Here's a new Mark Buehrle rumor: The Sox may be close to offering him an extension.  So, does that keep him with the Sox or does that jack up his trade value?  I would ship Jose Contreras to the Mets and even shop Judy Garland before I would let Buehrle go.  And every once in awhile, Mr. Chairman, people do want to see a well pitched game (like a no-hitter.)  It's not always about your beloved long ball.
• Rickhouse at "Tremendous Upside Potential" has written an excellent analysis of the White Sox situation. It's even better when supplemented with the comments.
• Brent Kowalkoski of Elmwood Park, IL is the name of the nut job who ran out onto Wrigley Field Monday night.  If the Cubs use that game (and perhaps that moment) as a place where they turned it around,  the dude should get box seats for the playoffs.  In leg irons, of course. Next to Bartman wearing handcuffs.
  
• The Chicago Cubs have traded outfielder. . .no, I'm sorry, please go back to your respective corners.
• This is the third year I've been able to follow the Milwaukee Brewers and I've got to tell you, it just may be their year.  If Doug Melvin can work a little of his magic at the trading deadline, solidify both the starting rotation and the front end of the bullpen, these guys can present a challenge to anyone in the National League.  I said National League.
• Today's pitching matchups brought to you by Geritol, Viagra, Just for Men and Preparation H.
• The best compliment any manager can get (in my opinion) is that he stands up for his players.  Bobby Cox wins high marks from his.
• If you think Roger Goodell is a tough guy, then let me introduce you to NASCAR. Jeff Gordon's reason for running so well this season is his almost symbiotic relationship with his crew chief Steve Letarte.  But since failing inspection at Sonoma on Friday and being docked 100 points and having Letarte suspended for six races, Gordon becomes a lot closer to the pack.  My thought is Jimmy Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, has been suspended a couple of times for unauthorized modifications.  He should get a longer sentence, while Letarte, this being his first offense, should get a lighter one. 
  
• Jim Caple from the four letter network dot com has written an interesting column on the 101 things a sports fan needs to see before they die.  I've seen number one on my list, October 26, 2005.  The only thing I would like to see that I haven't is the Blackhawks hoisting the Stanley Cup.  I doubt that I, or anyone else alive today will live that long.
• Dice, Dice, Baby.
• The liberals begin to sharpen their knives for an assault on Fred Thompson.  I thought the AP was supposed to be neutral in these matters.
  
• Singer Carrie Underwood has been named "sexiest female vegetarian" by PETA.  First, I would have issue with anyone PETA thought was sexy and second, like most men, I prefer women who like meat.
• Fallen Grey's Anatomy Star Isaiah Washington is in negotiations with NBC for a new show.  Hey! Put him on Law & Order as the new Asst. DA replacing Sam Waterston who is now Fred Thompson.  Better yet, let him and T.R. Knight settle their differences on WWE.  Heck, I'd even take it on "Celebrity Deathmatch."
  
• A man in Florida is arrested for yelling at an off duty, out of uniform female police officer when she was feeding ducks at a condo complex that she didn't even live at.  When the man told her feeding the ducks was bad as it encouraged them to hang around, the woman said "I'm a police officer and I can do whatever want" and then had him arrested for becoming aggressive.  If I were him, I'd find the biggest, baddest, nastiest lawyer on the planet who will work pro bono and bury this sad excuse for a cop's ass.
• Senator Jay Rockefeller says that big media companies that include graphic violence in their programs are more concerned about short-term profits than the long-term health of children.  Thank-you, Captain Obvious.  Of course, the Senator wants to step in and regulate something, which again takes the heat off the parents who allow their kids to watch anything and not pay attention.  Those Rockefellers still have a grudge from when Teddy Roosevelt busted up their trust.
• After the way now New York Governor Eliot Spitzer comported himself as attorney general of New York, extorting millions of dollars from radio companies for what can only be termed as a gray area, I hope the guy crashes faster than Stevie Wonder in a NASCAR race.  Looks like that process has begun.  And it also looks like he may last only one term if the mayor of NYC has anything to say about it.
• ESPNU tells you who the top ten college running backs of all-time are.  I think maybe Jim Brown was more worthy than Reggie Bush.
• Great parody on the new I-Phone.