I wish I knew enough about baseball to tell you what went wrong with the 2009 Chicago White Sox.  On paper, this was a pretty good team that should be in the thick of the AL Central race.  But somewhere, in the middle of August, the wheels came off with a resounding thud and things have not been the same.  In fact, this team makes the Royals and Nationals look like world beaters right now.

Sure, Kenny Williams is threatening to send anyone not playing hard the last few games to baseball Siberia, but come on, when you are used to winning and you are not, it's hard to motivate yourself to get up in the morning and go to work.

One of the areas where the Sox catch a little heat is the makeup of their clubhouse.  The Sox have always had quiet leaders, dating back to Frank and Robin.  The four  big leaders on this team, current members Paul Konerko, Jermaine Dye and Mark Buehrle and former member Jim Thome all chose to lead by deeds rather than words.  No getting in anyone's face, no clubhouse theatrics, just results through hard work.  The emotional leader of the team is actually manager Ozzie Guillen and it appears his motivational techniques are beginning to fall on deaf ears.

In 2005, the wildcard on the team was Carl Everette.  Crazy Carl was emotional, he would get in your grill but  his presence on the team was far more constructive than it was disruptive.  In 2008, the Sox brought in the wacky Nick Swisher whose antics wore down his teammates in one season.  Yet, in 2009, a rejuvenated Swisher is helping to lead the Yankees to the best record in the American League.  Most Sox fans think of Swisher as a cancer that needed to be removed, but would the Sox be any better this year if he were still around? 

So, if you were in Kenny Williams size 12's, what would your strategy be? Do you continue to bring in the walk softly and carry a big stick guys or do you roll the dice on a clubhouse explosion waiting to happen...like Milton Bradley.

Milton Bradley is a good ballplayer who buckled under the pressure of having to play for the championship challenged Chicago Cubs.  I am in no way justifying his attitude or his actions, but is he enough of a presence to get this team over the hump.  A switch hitter, he would add a much needed left handed power bat to the Sox lineup.  A decent right fielder with an above average arm, he could fill the void that will be left with Jermaine Dye's departure.  Damaged goods on the north side of town, he will probably be available for a deep discount including salary relief. 

Yes, buying a dog you know bites people isn't often a wise investment, but if that dog helps keep the bad guys at bay isn't that why you wanted a dog in the first place?

I don't think even Kenny Williams has the cahones to deal for Crazy Milton, but at this point, desperate men do desperate things.  The question is how desperate are the White Sox to get back to the playoffs?