It doesn't take much to set me off when I listen to "White Sox Weekly" or the Sox post game show.  Yesterday was a perfect example.

Somebody, claiming to be a Sox fan, called in and said "This team can't compete.  Once they play the Yankees and Red Sox it will be all over, so I don't know why we shouldn't start trading people."

Two words, my non-believing friend: LOSER TALK

First of all, unless you have a mouse in your pocket, there is no "we".  You do not work for the team, you are a fan.  It's not "we."  Sorry, that just drives me nuts when people say "we" this or "we' that, like you actually have anything to do with that.  Real, knowledgeable, hard core fans do not say "we."

Second, what makes you think that this team can't compete? Because ESPN feeds you a steady diet of Yankees and Red Sox?  Because you have drunk the kool-aid that anyone who plays in the AL East is unbeatable outside of their division?  Because the Sox got off to a slow start and don't have the record New York and Boston do? Because Ken Rosenthal has seen two Sox games this year and isn't impressed? 

Do you forget that right before the worst losing streak of the year, the Sox went down to Tampa and won three out of four and could have swept the series had it not been for a shaky outing by Matt Thornton who erased the Sox lead by giving up a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth?

Do you forget this team went in to Anaheim, a place they don't usually play well and won two out of three and again could have won all three had not Gavin Floyd been out dueled by Jerrod Weaver?

Third, offensively this team's lineup stacks up against anyone's in the American League.  Just because Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and Jim Thome weren't all-stars doesn't mean they can't hit.  Did you see Jim Thome Friday night?  How about Paul Konerko?  Dye's two run job yesterday?  Gordon Beckham getting three more hits yesterday?

And the pitching?  The Sox have three pretty good starters.  Jose Contreras has been competitive as of late.  Yes, there is an issue with the fifth starter, but show me a team with a consistent fifth starter.  My goodness, the Phillies are bringing Pedro Martinez out of mothballs and he could be their fourth starter.  Bullpen? The Sox have one of the best back ends in all of baseball with five guys capable of nailing it down.

Sure, the defense sucks.  That's a problem.  But if it improves, that's all that counts. 

I don't know what you've been watching on your TV or reading on your Internet, but in my world, this team is competitive even if they don't bankrupt the farm system to acquire Roy Halliday (which they shouldn't.)

If you honestly believe that this team is not competitive and that they are not going to go deep into September in the thick of the AL Central Race, please do two things: Jump off the bandwagon and send me your home address so I can come over to your house and burn all your White Sox gear on your front lawn.

Then, go root for the Cubs.  Or better yet, the Joliet Jackhammers.