By Mike Corasaniti
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox hold a 2-game lead over the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central. And in no sense is that something to be comfortable with. When you include the team's mediocre performances last week (which included a series defeat at the hands of the Royals), the team should be even less comfortable.
But the White Sox have proved countless detractors wrong this season by just being where they're at right now. A.J. Pierzynski, with 23 home runs and a batting average flirting with .300, has become one of the biggest leaders on the team again while building his resume as the dark horse MVP candidate. If Chris Sale and the rest of the starting pitching can stay solid these next couple months, they could have a shot at a pennant. That is, of course, if they can get past the team that has won the American League pennant the past two seasons.
Texas Rangers
As much as everyone loves watching Josh Hamilton hit four home runs in a game and push the limits of a near .400 batting average, there was just no way it could continue all year. That's not to say in the slightest however that Hamilton and his 99 RBI plus 32 homers can't carry this team once again–not that they need him to.
What makes the Rangers so scary is that they have proven they can play like absolute crap (such as through the whole month of July) and still come back to pound your team into the ground when you least expect it. A team where players like Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, and Nelson Cruz can not worry about being the hottest player on the team can do that to you.
The Matchup
This matchup could be a lot of fun, but at this point it would still be pretty easy to call.
Chris Sale is scary, and you should be scared of him. And in a world without Jared Weaver or Justin Verlander, the Cy Young would be all but locked up. But the Texas Rangers have a pair of pitchers to keep up with Sale in Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison, which would make this matchup a lot more about the offense. Unfortunately for the White Sox, any time you're going to try to get in a home run derby with the Texas Rangers, you're probably going to lose.Rangers 3-2
If the season ended today, the Chicago White Sox (62-52) would win the AL Central and earn the No. 3 seed in the AL Playoffs. They would go on to play the No. 2 Seed Texas Rangers (67-47) in the American League Division Series.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox hold a 2-game lead over the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central. And in no sense is that something to be comfortable with. When you include the team's mediocre performances last week (which included a series defeat at the hands of the Royals), the team should be even less comfortable.
But the White Sox have proved countless detractors wrong this season by just being where they're at right now. A.J. Pierzynski, with 23 home runs and a batting average flirting with .300, has become one of the biggest leaders on the team again while building his resume as the dark horse MVP candidate. If Chris Sale and the rest of the starting pitching can stay solid these next couple months, they could have a shot at a pennant. That is, of course, if they can get past the team that has won the American League pennant the past two seasons.
Texas Rangers
As much as everyone loves watching Josh Hamilton hit four home runs in a game and push the limits of a near .400 batting average, there was just no way it could continue all year. That's not to say in the slightest however that Hamilton and his 99 RBI plus 32 homers can't carry this team once again–not that they need him to.
What makes the Rangers so scary is that they have proven they can play like absolute crap (such as through the whole month of July) and still come back to pound your team into the ground when you least expect it. A team where players like Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, and Nelson Cruz can not worry about being the hottest player on the team can do that to you.
The Matchup
This matchup could be a lot of fun, but at this point it would still be pretty easy to call.
Chris Sale is scary, and you should be scared of him. And in a world without Jared Weaver or Justin Verlander, the Cy Young would be all but locked up. But the Texas Rangers have a pair of pitchers to keep up with Sale in Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison, which would make this matchup a lot more about the offense. Unfortunately for the White Sox, any time you're going to try to get in a home run derby with the Texas Rangers, you're probably going to lose.Rangers 3-2
If the season ended today, the Chicago White Sox (62-52) would win the AL Central and earn the No. 3 seed in the AL Playoffs. They would go on to play the No. 2 Seed Texas Rangers (67-47) in the American League Division Series.
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