It is laughable how the pundits, wagging tongues and poison pens just dive headlong off the Chicago White Sox bandwagon after only 26 games.

With a rain out and nothing concrete to write about, writers turned to the old "the sky is falling" saw to fill column space.  Take this for example from Chris DeLuca in the Chicago Sun Times:

"With apologies to the NFL's Dennis Green, the Sox are what we thought they were.

This team had mediocre written all over it when camp broke. A month into the season, the Sox are doing about as well as expected for a club that had no legit leadoff hitter, was relying on a couple of aging and rehabbing pitchers and spent more time pinching pennies in the offseason than announcing splashy acquisitions.

The Sox downsized, and the defending division champs have made a corresponding trip down the standings. Don't act surprised -- even if manager Ozzie Guillen is showing his frustration."

Talk about being a Debbie Downer.  It's been 26 out of 162 games, Chris.  I don't even look at the standings until around the first of June.  The weather has been lousy.  This team has had a crapload of injuries.  Give it a rest.

It's real easy to be a genius when things aren't going so well.  "We told you so" they proudly thump their chests and say.  "We knew they were lousy."  Meanwhile, across town, the Cubs aren't exactly setting the world on fire and nobody is ripping them.  In Milwaukee, the Brewers, who have less pitching than the White Sox, started out poorly.  Last night, they scored 15 runs against the Reds while taking over second place in the NL Central.

The Yankees, Angels and Rays all have losing records so far.   Cleveland has gotten off to a horrific start.  Yet, most of those teams will be right there in September in the thick of the playoff race.  I have every confidence that the Sox will be too.

How can anyone sit here on May 6th and pass judgment on this team yet?  It's only been 26 games.  Tonight, game 27.

Lightning Round:

• "Chairmanomics" may be coming to the NHL.  Boy, if "The Chairman" can make Bud Selig his personal be-och, imagine the fun he'll have with Gary Bettman.
• I don't have an issue with the benching of Alexi Ramirez, but I'm wondering if Getz is a decent shortstop, why not play him there and Nix at second to optimize the defense?  I also think Nix-Getz 1-2 is a lineup fix.  But then again, no one listens to me, not even the dogs.
• I figure Jose Contreras deserves one more shot.  The question is if he fails, what's next?  (South Side Sox)