I'm flat out exhausted from an all day road trip yesterday and back up at 3:15am to go to work (violins please), so this will be short, sweet and to the point and sans the usual buzzers, whistles and bells that you have grown to know and love from this small corner of the Internet..

It doesn't take Captain Obvious to figure out that going 1-6 on a critical road trip against divisional rivals and going from first to third does not bode well for your aspirations of winning a division title and getting into the playoffs.

Over the course of the last seven games, we've seen some warning signs that this team could be in a bit of trouble.  Still, in the AL Central, anything is possible and if the White Sox can make some adjustments they have as good a chance as anybody to win.  Here's my list:

• The infield defense, especially on the left side is scary.  Gordon Beckham will be good, but at this point, early in his development as a third baseman, The Savior  will not make anyone forget Joe Crede (or for that matter, Juan Uribe.)  Still, he's already better than Josh Fields at this point.
• Speaking of Fields, with the departure of Brian Anderson (class of 2003) the Sox have just Fields left from the Duane Shaffer era drafts.  Who knew that the last six years would net the Sox  two more Joe Borchards? 
• Alexi Ramirez has, what we old schoolers call "Manny Trillio Disease", named after the Phillies/Cubs/A's second baseman of the 70's and '80's.  Trillio could make spectacular plays going to his right or left, but if you hit the ball right at him, it was an adventure.  My boyhood buddy, Dane, gets credit for that observation.  BTW, if my math is correct, DR just had a big birthday the other day.
• Scotty Pods has been a great addition to this team.  His defense and his arm are still suspect.
• Carlos Quentin looked good coming back, until he hit his home run last night and did his Chester from "Gunsmoke" impression last night.  That injury is going to be day to day, not to mention the fact that Q will try to protect it, which is how you get hurt.  On Buzz Lightyear's off days, I'd really like to see Paulie at first and Q as the DH.
• Jermaine Dye can't get to some of the balls he used to.  He's still pretty damned good.
• Why is it the Sox can't score after the fourth or fifth inning?  Even when they put up a five spot in the first couple innings of their only road trip win Sunday night, the offense shut down. 
• If I'm the Yankees, I bunt on Clayton Richard early and often.  I love the way he's come through his last two starts, but he's shaky defensively and it's a wonder more teams don't take advantage of that.