About a week ago, I wrote about the sense of urgency the Chicago White Sox needed to have if they were going to avoid a 2007 like disaster.  That was eight games ago, and I'm happy to say that the team has responded.

Last night against California, Jayson Nix had two home runs and Bartolo Colon pitched like his future meal privileges depended on his performance as the Sox beat the Angels 4-2.

This is now the third consecutive series in which the Sox have been positioned to go for a sweep.  The first opportunity crashed and burned in a 20-1 loss to the Twins.  The second was Sunday's blown save by Bobby Jenks against the Pirates.  Tonight against the Angels, the Sox have their third consecutive sweep opportunity.  Regardless of  whether or not they win, they still have won three straight series and 8 of their last 10.  They are three games below .500 and are only 4½ games behind Detroit , with a big series looming soon against the Tigers.

The improvement in the team has been so vast that the weepers and wailers have stopped calling for the head of hitting coach Greg Walker and for Sox GM Kenny Williams to dismantle the roster.  As we surmised, this team is not nearly as bad as it is being painted by many who don't even follow it on a regular basis.  It's not going to set the world on fire, but it is good enough to win the AL Central, the first step on the road to winning the big trophy.

Pink Floyd takes the ball for the Sox tonight coming off what fans hope was a season changing start against Pittsburgh.

Lighting Round

• Scotty Pods is beginning to make Kenny Williams look like a genius. 
• Carlos Quentin is out until at least Monday and possibly longer.  So far, his being out of the lineup hasn't been a major issue.
• The Cuban Missile has finally launched himself.  (Sox Machine)
• A big night for the brothers Nix.
• A former Sox pitcher will be undergoing some Riskie surgery  (Sports Bubbler)
• The good news for the Blackhawks is the Red Wings may not have Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk tonight for game 5.  The bad news is the Hawks may not have Marty Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin.  Are Darren Pang or Murray Bannerman available?  If the Wings win tonight (which most likely they will) they should vote Cristobal Huet a playoff share. Besides, you know how good the French are at surrendering.
• President Obama's pick of Judge Sotomayor isn't going to sit well with baseball owners.  It was she who ended the walkout in 1995. (Can't Stop The Bleeding)
• Brett Favre's act has grown tired with the Minnesota Vikings and he hasn't even signed with them yet.  He's just one, big polarizing Hillbilly life force, he is.