It's starts here, it starts now.  It starts tonight in Detroit.  The Chicago White Sox have seventy games to prove that this isn't the lost season most pundits think it is. Seventy games to show that the off season acquisition of Adam Dunn wasn't a waste of a lot of money.  Seventy games to prove that Alex Rios is a decent ball player, that Juan Pierre still has something left in his tank, that Jake Peavy can stay healthy and that Gordon Beckham isn't an overrated flash in the pan.

It starts tonight i Detroit against arguably the best pitcher in the American League, Justin Verlander.  It starts at a time where a recent home stand against divisional opponents went a disastrous 2-5 against the pathetic Royals and wounded Twins.  It comes at a time where the White Sox can feel the hot breath of the Twins on the back of their neck while perhaps giving the Tigers a chance to get a leg up on the pesky but fading Indians. 

We've heard all the excuses, we've heard all the analysis and while the reasons are obvious (lack of clutch hitting) the big question is how will this team respond?  Can they put together a sustained run over the course of the next seventy games or will they continue playing two steps forward, three steps back? 

This is a huge crossroads for many in the organization.  Manager Ozzie Guillen is in the hot seat at the helm of this underachieving club.  His hitting coach, Greg Walker, is an annual whipping boy in the media and the fans.,  General Manager Kenny Williams has been accused of gambling too often, acquiring players who aren't successful with the Sox and bankrupting the farm system. Free agent to be Mark Buehrle may not be able to return next year because the Sox may not be able to afford him.

A third or possibly fourth place finish will cost Sox fans dearly.  Next year looks like a a year of transition with several younger players in new positions.  The Cuban Sandwich will no longer be a fan favorite discussion topic, he will be the starting right fielder.  Players with walk year contracts like Carlos Quentin and Gavin Floyd could be dealt for a handful of magic beans.  Buehrle could be pitching in St. Louis. 

Even more disconcerting, a new manager could be in the dugout for the Sox. I only have to bring up the names of Terry Bevington and Jerry Manuel to make you understand how lucky the Sox are to have Ozzie Guillen. No one has raised a legitimate name that could replace him and stop with the Tony LaRussa crap already.  He's not going to manage the Sox and you should be grateful that he isn't.

Tonight in Detroit, it begins and could, with a Tiger sweep end just as swiftly.  Nothing short of wining this series would mean anything. The Sox desperately need to put their first half struggles in their rear view mirror and focus on these next seventy games.  Or else, we'll see you on the golf course on September 29th.