superdad

It’s been two weeks since Michael Phelps gave us one of the most memorable moments in Olympic history. Now he is back at home and he is showing up everywhere. Much like the rest of the Olympic team and its medal winners. It is still nice to see the athletes getting the praise they deserve after accomplishing so much in Beijing.

Now it looks as Michael Phelps will be airing on Satruday Night Live where sports greats give it their all at sketch comedy. He will be showing a different side of Michael Phelps that most of America is unaware of unlike is swimming greatness. He is now added to the list of greats like Micahel Jordan, Shaquile O’Neal, Andy Roddick, Lance Armstrong, and LeBron James that have performed before him on Saturday Night Live.

Many say after the Olympics, athletes and the rest of the world tend to put aside these greats and get back rooting on their favorite football players, baseball team or premier soccer club for that matter if your looking at a more world perspective. With Michael Phelps he will be the most exciting story for the next four years until Phelps jumps into that pool in London in the 2012 games. He still will only be 27 at that point and he may be not as the dominant swimmer as these past Beijing games but he will probably prove us all wrong again. When people here some guy has to win 8 golds out of 8 events most would just laugh and “say no way” that can not be done especially with the world talent you are competing against. Michael Phelps showed us that it can be done.

Michael Phelps has now become a new fixture in pop culture, sports, entertainment and advertising with his recent world record achievment. Americas love a story of a guy or woman athlete that competes at the highest level and makes it look so easy. When you know for sure if any average athlete or even casual fan got in a pool and even attempted half of the workout regiment Phelps goes through getting ready for competition, you would drown from pure exhaustion. He is no longer a swimmer he is now more like the shark from the movie thriller “Jaws.” Where you better think twice before getting in the water with this guy.

Michael Phelps has a world record of 14 gold medals and is still looking for more next Olympics. For the meantime I am sure people will be more attentive when he swims again and brings some more relevance to the sport of swimming. It has been a great story that Americans can not get enough of with Michael Phelps right now and the story is still building its chapters toward an American classic.

Injuries are all a part of the game when talking about the National Football League but this year we are seeing some big names go down. I guess it happens to every one in the league where a player goes down early in the season and a team must adapt to the loss of the fallen player. However there are only one Shaun Merriman, Osi Umenyoira, Jason Taylor and certainly only one Chad Johnson.

Now three of these four players are not out for the season yet, but these injuries that they have could limit there production this year. Good luck if you have any of these players in a fantasy league because you might not see to many points if these guys are not able to play at their highest abilities. Shaun Merriman makes that San Diego defense a top five defense , we saw what Osi is capable of during the run and Super Bowl surprise upset of the Patriots, and Chad Johnson might be a a thorn in the side of management and the Bengals but one thing is for sure he does make plays and makes his teammates better with his presence. No matter how you may replace these guys or put in a fill in player it is always difficult to overcome injuries. Jason Taylor is no sub par player either he is a former defensive MVP.

Just ask the Chicago Bears defense, when Mike Brown gets lost for the year, the Bears D is a whole different story. Just as the Indianapolis Colts with Bob Sanders you loose not only a superstar play maker but also a constant player that you know you can trust back there to make a play when things break down. These players are paid high but that is because they are valuable and not just another player on the roster they can just replace.

Injuries can cripple the development of young players as well. One example that come to me is the rookie from the Bears, Chris Williams. Chris was the number one draft pick out of Vanderbilt ,who dominated much of his college career, for the Bears but did not play one down with his team in pre-season because of a slipped disk in his back that required surgery that will keep Chris out till the beginning of the second half of the season. Williams was supposed to solidify the left tackle position for the offensive line and now the Bears will have to rely on a platoon of players that we saw last year which we know already do not play so well.

Despite all of these injuries that are real, some teams like to sugar coat injuries with star players. A prime example is Tom Brady with New England, where despite him starting every game since becoming the starter, he is always claimed to be hurt or nursing a hobbling injury that always gets his name on the injury list. Brady your fine, but your coach, Bill Belicheck, likes to play with other coaches heads and he is now famous for putting half of his team on the injury list before every game. When players are hurt for real on the Patriots we will never know for sure until the game starts and finally you see no player playing. That is how the Patriots have worked for years and I do not see them stopping anytime soon.

Injuries can make differences in overall performance of the team but in some case new stars are born with the change. Dallas’s Tony Romo might be the best example of that recently as he did not get a shot until players went down before him. As well as Phillip Rivers in San Diego whom got a shot to play when Drew Brees went down and Rivers played so good the team traded Brees to the New Orleans Saints the next year. Perhaps the most famous and successfully player ever to replace a star was Steve Young replacing Joe Montana. Before Young played and was a back up for the Forty Niners, Young was getting his head ripped off in Tampa Bay when the Buccaneers were consistently a bad team. You just never know what will happen when your team gets hurt with a star player going down. For the most part we see bad news and bad results but for some teams as suggested a new star could be given a shot they have been waiting for to happen.

With the season starting soon, we shall see if all off this injury talk makes a difference in the overall picture in each division. I still expect good teams to overcome these injuries but on a bad team and a less than impressive depth chart it might just be another long year.

The “Redeem Team” is now one win away form Olympic Gold in Beijing after beating Argentina. Argentina was the defending gold medal winner form Athens and was one of the teams that beat us as well. Sweet revenge came from a win that was from another great team effort.

The US team does not have a top eight scorer in all of the Olympics which shows that this team does not care about who scores but what the results show afterwards. The defense has been equally strong as the offense making this team very well rounded. Everyone has played a part in the team’s success.

Chris Bosh, Derron Williams and Chris Paul have been solid contributors while Kobe, James and Wade have been showing the world why these guys are superstars. Dewayne Wade looks very good in these Olympics as he as recovered wonderfully from all of the injuries from the last couple of years and is the leading scorer for the US team. Chris Bosh has possibly played better than stater Dwight Howard at center and Chris Paul at times has injected life when Jason Kidd has sat down on the bench. Everyone is doing their part and that is showing in the results.

The coaches that have put it all together is Duke great Mike Krzyzewski. With the help from Mike D Antoni, Nate McMillian and Jim Boheim this coaching staff and general manger Jerry Colangelo have really stressed the whole team philosophy and wanting to be the best team in the world and the players are buying into the philosophy. The team has constantly believed that team ball will win on the international level and they are showing the world they are right with one more win left to capture the gold.

The United States will face Spain in the gold medal game as they have already beaten them in the preliminary group stage by a wide margin. However, this team does have NBA talent including Pau Gasol and has a pretty good bench of players that are good role players that have a great feel for the game. I expect another win although I believe the win will be not as easy as the first match up. Really no one can beat the US men’s team when they are playing on all cylinders. It will take a miraculous effort from the Spanish and a equally bad all around game for the US to lose this one. If the US does lose it will be a tremendous disappointment that this team has worked on for the last three years. I know I will be rooting here in Chicago how about you all?

Lastly, I wonder if Michael Phelps will return the favor of watching his US teammates go for gold after many of the men’s basketball team including Le Bron James and Kobe Bryant have watched him go for his eight gold medals in swimming. Although, I here he might be in London as he is one of the Olympians selected as an ambassador of the games for London in 2012.

I may get some Red Sox and Yankees fans upset, but four other teams meet in Major League Baseball this weekend in which all could make the playoffs in the American League.

This weekend the Minnesota Twins who are only a half game behind the Wild Card meet up with the AL West leading team the Anehiem Angels, or whatever you want to cal them, they are good. The second match up is the White Sox verse the Tampa Bay Rays which both are leading their divisions and playing well. It might be crazy to think Boston or New York may miss the playoffs but with both teams having key injuries in their pitching rotation might make the difference that the Twins and Rays could overcome. I really cannot wait till I here from Red Sox nation on this one. While the Yankees are almost to far out to make a move and have to win at least 25 games out of 35 just to get back into the playoff race.

I am predicting then that the Rays, White Sox, Twins and Angels will represent the American League. These teams might not be the most fan favorite but the reality is that all of these teams are playing hot and that is what you need to get into the playoffs. The Angels are coasting, the White Sox and Twins are battling and leap frogging for first place in the Central but also winning a majority of their games making their records better with each day. While the Rays are making more believers every day leading the AL East. I know the Red Sox will push for the Wild Card and still have a slight lead but the latest news on Josh Beckett could be a big difference that keeps this team behind Tampa Bay in the AL East and give the Twins a legitimate shot to be the second team from the AL central to represent the American League and the Wild Card.

All of the four teams I have mentioned, will make the playoffs a little strange with no New York or Boston. Although with the way this year is going, it may happen. A glimmer of hope for the Red Sox and Yankees is the Rays and Twins will be on the road a majority of their last thirty games, so that also could be a downfall to them. However, lately thou it really does not matter where these teams are playing because they are consistently winning. I would love to see two small market teams beat out the Red Sox and Yankees for the last playoff spot and just show another example that no matter how much money you invest into a team, team chemistry trumps and wins every time. Both the Twins and Rays are two teams that have the lowest payroll in baseball but still continue to win.

There is still a month left for any of these teams to make a move or fall from the race. That is why the Wild Card has made the last month of baseball so great because even if your teams does not finish in first, if you have played well enough, there still is a chance to go to the playoffs. The Red Sox, White Sox, Angels, Yankees, Twins and Rays will make this push for the playoffs a very interesting one. Everyone continues to doubt the Twins and Rays and even the White Sox for that matter and I hope these teams have the last laugh in the end. The best teams and most healthy teams will win ,that is what happens in baseball after you play 162 games. Ask any expert or baseball guru and they would agree the best teams do go to the playoffs and the rest will falter because of their inconsistencies or deficiencies.

In response to the recent decision by the Chicago Bears to go with Kyle Orton I say let us give him a shot. Orton a former Purdue Boilermanker and Big Ten quarterback was a Heisman hopeful, even thou Grossman did have high accolades as well from college, that might say much about either quarterback. However, Orton is more likely to run this offense more to the liking of the Lovie Smith, Ron Turner and the players.

Rex Grossman is a hip shooter that only connects on the big play and nothing else. Orton has a better short game where he is relying on his accuracy as opposed to Rex using his big arm to throw down field. The wide receivers for the Bears are not speed burners looking to open up the secondary so we have to use Orton in that respect.

Grossman is more likely to cause more turnovers with his inconsistencies than Orton. Over the years Rex has had too many times to prove to Bear management and coaches that he can handle this team. Maybe last years team but that team was inconsistently bad on offense all year and with more experience overall. Now Orton is taking over a offense where the line is older and the the rest of the cast including the runningbacks have all changed. This move by the Bears sounds more of a way to build chemistry for the rest of the team. Orton brings a fresh outlook and perhaps a better fit for the team as opposed to Grossman who has might of wore down his teammates confidence with his overall inconsistencies over the last few years.

All together the choice to give Kyle Orton the opportunity to start for the Bears will make no difference if his offensive line can not help. The O line for the Bears is the same and they were one of the worst blocking for the run and not much better against the pass. We thought a solution was used when the Bears picked Chris Williams a huge left tackle in the draft but he will not return form injury until the middle of the year. That also might of been another reason to go with Orton because Grossman has been hugely affected and sacked many times form his left side over the year and maybe Orton can elude the pressure or has a better pocket presence than Grossman. If you are holding the ball to long a even good offensive line can only block for so long. Grossman is better out of the pocket and on the move but even that was not enough to give Grossman the starting job.

Who knows what will happen for the Chicago Bears this year, but the opening schedule is not in favor for Orton to have immediate success. With the Bears playing the Colts which is still a contender for the super bowl and Carolina looking newer and improved we may start off 0 and 2 with no matter who is the quarterback. This move needs to stay consistent at least until the second half of the season.

If the Bears are off to a sub par first half, Grossman may be back again as the starter because both of these quarterbacks are playing for a contract not only to play for the Bears but for any team out there next year. With this being a make or break year for both of the quarterbacks I imagine we will not see a consistent starter at quarterback for the whole year. Even thou the decision was made for Kyle Orton. I still think the Bears will give a last look at Grossman, if the opportunity presents itself. As a Bears fan for many years all I want to see is winning and whoever gives us the best shot to win, that is all that matters.

The White Sox just finished off Kansas City with a sweep and ended a successful home stand. Two shut outs and a four homerun onslaught. 7-3 in our last ten games and still we need more. I really enjoyed the four homeruns back to back and I expect that with this offense even, if it only has happened 6 times ever in the major league’s. This last series should be how we play against our next two opponents. However the west coast is not a place the Sox have had a whole lot of success. Oakland will be our destination and a sweep is a must with us coming back home for another small home stand. If we finish these next ten games at this pace we might be able to make some space between us and the Twins. They will be on the road just as much in the next ten days as we are at home.

The White Sox pitching has been great with the starters only allowing four runs in the last four games. Lance Broadway played well yesterday for his 2nd big league start ever. He may have better stuff than Contreras so this move might benefit us after all, no disrespect to Jose.

The lineup has been hitting better and the pitching just as good. A routine of winning is what we need now and hopefully we still carry this momentum into Oakland. A win streak of ten or so games is what this team needs, but that has yet to be seen in the second half of the season by any team across the majors in exception to the Brewers.

This team has what it take as we see so many times this year to win consistently and now is no time to slack off on teams with inferior records. This Sox team should be the winners of the central with the talent and experience they have acquired through the last four seasons. Players like Paul Konerko, Jermaine Dye , and Juan Uribe too name a few have valuable experience going towards the stretch run for the playoffs. While the Twins have not as much especially in their starting rotation.

The White Sox are showing toughness despite injuries and a less than great bullpen, which still shows signs of improvement with Scott Linebrink returning as soon as September 1st. When Linebrink was in there, the Sox bullpen showed a consistency that made our bullpen one of the best in early part of the year. This trend is what the doctor is asking for and should help wrap this division up.

This White Sox team needs to win and should win, but if the team fails this may be the end of players like Jim Thome, Joe Crede and Juan Uribe even Griffey in a White Sox uniform as they are ending their contracts and they may be too much to keep with all of the younger talent coming up form the minors. Players like Alexi Ramirez, Carlos Quentin, Brian Anderson and even newcomer Beckham whose already a top prospect, are the future of this team. Next year will be a different Sox team and if these current older players want to make a lasting impression with their fans and management they can prove it once and for all, making us believe again that 2005 was just a one year fling.

With the Chicago Cubs, White Sox and the Beijing Olympics taking over the sports headlines right now. The Chicago Bears are fine with that as they have another quarterback controversy in the preseason. In addition expectations are not so high with this no name offense and an aging defense which is one injury away from going back to the same as last year.

On offense there is no more Mohammad or Berian and now we have Llyod and Booker. Gone is Cedrick Benson and now we look to one veteran in Kevin Jones who has been injury plagued, and Wolfe and Forte are the new hypes for this year but are they big enough to take the pounding of a sixteen week schedule The offensive line which was pretty bad last year still remains pretty much the same as the Bears first round draft pick and left tackle had to have back surgery that will put him on the sideline up to twelve weeks. A not so smart investment so far if you ask me after not doing much about this prior to the preseason. Chris Williams has not even played with the regulars and we will not know how good this guy even is, which I do not think he will make a ever lasting impact anyways. Most new left tackles take time and this set back will delay his game.

Then that leaves we have Rex or Kyle at quarterback. In my mind I know these two guys will be playing for a new contract next year ,with any team, but I feel like we are just playing the two same old records in the juke box that just keep skipping. Both quareterbacks have the backgrounds and have had success but on this team I am not sure that will still happen. Orton might be the better fit right now with the offense not really having a deap threat and that is Rex’s game. Berian has been Rex’s best receiver on the deep route and he is gone playing for Minnesota. Another reason for Orton is that he may present the best person to not allow as many mistakes as Grossman which has been his achilles heal. The fact that Grossman cannot even retrieve a snap form time to time I think and feel more comfortable with Orton as the Bears quarterback.

Devin Hester will be our lone weapon as we will use him more on offense and still on special teams. With this being our best strength of the team he is our hope for the most touchdown this year. We do have quality tight ends in Olsen and Clark however it will still be the defense that makes or breaks this team. The defense will be good but for how long as this defense was on the field a lot last year, which eventually broke down because of the lack of offensive productivity. Urlacher and Briggs have their new contracts and we shall see if that pays off as both these players have peaked and I do not forsee any more drastic improvements in their game. The cornerbacks must stay healthy as well as all of the backs missed games last year and without quality cornerbacks and safeties we can sack the quarterback all we want but if we cannot make stops on third down then it make no difference how much pressure you put on the quarterback. Defense works just like offense where everyone must play their part for overall success and if the injury bug comes back then I for see another bad Chicago Bears record after so much success in 2006.

In summary I am trying not to overlook this and Bears fans should feel optimistic that the Bears are moving in the right path for success. I will be rooting on and hoping that all of this negative criticism is just a hang over affect of last year. After all is said, it is a brand new year and anything can happen even to the Chicago Bears in 2008.

I understand it was a huge weekend for sports starting with the opening of the Beijing Olympics, the two big baseball series of the Red Sox and White Sox and the Cardinals and Cubs, but the thing that hit me the most was the death of Chicago actor and comedian Bernie Mac.

Bernie Mac died early Saturday morning and when we heard the news in our house we were shocked. I understand he was battling a pneumonia and a lung infection but no one expected that he would lose this battle at the rather young age of 50.

Bernie Mac was a big White Sox fan and was born on the Southside of Chicago. When the White Sox won the 2005 World Series, Bernie Mac was on the airwaves both on TV and radio expressing his fondness for the team’s success. Not only we lost a great comedic actor but a loyal fan to the White Sox that always expressed his loyalty to his favorite team.

Mac also was a huge family icon with his big hit syndicated show “The Bernie Mac Show”, which also has made Mac a more familiar face especially in the Chicago land area. The show depicts his life in real life as he did adopt two children from his sister who was battling with drug issues and that is the truth. Bernie Mac will not only be remembered as a local favorite actor but a huge family man as well.

If you want to see classic Bernie Mac at his best stand up performance, “Kings of Comedy” is a must see. It may be a little too much for the kids to watch but for the adults nothing is more funnier than seeing Bernie Mac doing his best at comedy. Another classic Bernie Mac film is the “Players Club”, where Bernie got one of his first roles and it is one that will be remembered for generations to come.

Bernie Mac will go down as one of the best stand up comics ever and his success in Hollywood will also leave an all-star group of actors and supporters that lost a great co worker. Over the years Mac had worked with Hollywood greats such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Samuel L Jackson in big hit movies such as all of the Oceans Eleven through Thirteen movies. Mac just finished a movie that will be released with Samuel Jackson in Soul Man.

2008 has been a tough year for Hollywood with two of its bright up incoming stars Bernie Mac and Heath Ledger dying. Both actors will be remembered for generations for all of their hard work. It will be hard to replace their unique qualities and characteristics as established by their hard work.

The trade is done sending Brett Favre to to the New York Jets and I would love to personally thank the Green Bay packers for sending Brett Favre out of the NFC all together. Even thou we will miss your heroic courage, we are glad to see you go from the NFC North. 16 years of seeing you Brett across the sidelines was enough. Ever since Favre had been in the NFC he has been a thorn in our sides in Chicago and really anyone else in the conference . The Bears have been fortunate to beat him a couple of times lately under Lovie Smith but before that, Favre had a very high winning percentage against the Bears. It will be a little strange seeing no number 4 under center this year against Green Bay, however you know linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs and the rest of the Bear defense are happy to see number 4 go elsewhere. Bring on Aaron Rogers we are eagerly awaiting your presence in Soldier Field this year.

For the future meetings of us playing Brett in a Jets uniform I will now see him as a former ex-bully that you actually meet later in your life and realize he is not that bad of guy.  Brett is a football player that is tough as nails and plays like a kid and no matter what city you live in or what team you are rooting for you got to still say I saw Brett Favre play in the NFL.  When he does hang up his cleats for good there is no doubt he will go down as a legend in this game that future generations will try to compare their current superstars.  Everyone just like when Michael Jordan retired said “who will be the next MJ” the same will be said about Brett Favre.

My last thougth is this, as an opponent and loyal fan to Chicago and Green Bay being are biggest rival. Stangely we will miss facing are arch nemises. Over the years of Brett Favre beating us on a consitent basis most Bears fans had the perception that we hated him. In reality we respected and honored him for all of his toughness. Plus we were a little jealous that one quarterback can be a starter for sixteen straight years and we the Bears have gone through more quarterbacks in that time than he has played in the NFL.  We in Chicago will now see Brett as the guy that took no crap from the Packers as he turned away millions of marketing money to stay retired.  Brett just wanted to play and you got to respect him for that stand.  No matter what you hear from the Packer management about building for the future, I say your future just left for New York.  He could have possibly brought another title to the Packers before he retired and now I hope he does that feat with the Jets, as long as it is not against the Bears, to show everyone that he still has plenty left in the tank

I was one of those that did witness perhaps the best game and best come back for the 2008 White Sox. Last night did not start well for the Sox as they fell behind the Tigers 6 to 1 going into the last half of the game. Then the bullpen which had been beat up over the last week took over and the Sox started to stop the onslaught. The Sox started its work on offense and started chopping away at the opposition. Robertson started for the Tigers and he pitched well until he was sent to the dugout and the roof started to cave in for the Tigers.

The score eventually was 5 to 6 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Then with two outs Alexi Ramirez belted a solo shot and tied the game as the teams looked to the ninth. The game continued into extra innings and both Fernando Rodney for the Tigers and Matt Thorton for the Sox were untouchable as they both combined for nine strikeouts in the extra innings. Then in the top of thirteenth the Tigers led off with a base hit and with two outs Palicido Polanco sent a two run homer to the left field corner that took the lead to an 8 to 6 lead.

Enter Johen Zumaya for the Tigers in the bottom of the thirteenth to close out the game. The Sox have had success against him in the past and the Sox led off with a base hit by Orlando Cabrera. He was then followed by a pop out by AJ Pierzynski. Next Carlos Quentin took a 2-0 fastball to right field that gave the Sox two men on with only one out and men at first and third. The air left the building as Jermaine Dye sent a hit to shortstop and it looked as thou and easy out would take place but Renteria kicks the ball and the Sox score and its a 7 to 6 game. Jim Thome took some big hacks but struck out on four pitches and the Sox were down to their last out in Nick Swisher. Swisher had come into the game a replacement for Paul Konerko who started the game and had a homerun of his own. No one expected what happended next. Most people I am sure thought that once the count was 2 & 0 we had a shot at a tie. Then Zumaya put a fastball right in the wheel house of Swisher and he ended the game in walk off fashion with a three run homerun and a 10 to 8 win. This was Swisher’s first ever walk off homerun in his career and it could not have come at a better time. Considering the Seatle Mariners completed a comeback of its own to beat the Twins which put the Sox back into first place in the AL central.

What a night for the Sox as Ken Griffey Jr enjoyed his first win at Us Cellular field. The big thing is that this kind of win may get the Sox on roll as their next nine games are at home and what a time to get a nice win streak. The Tigers are on the verge of being far removed from this race with another win by the Sox today. With the Twins shaky on the road lately the White Sox must take advantage and make some noise at home this week. This series with Detroit is not over but the winds in their sales might of gone elsewhere with the late loss.

Yes we all know we should of had Ken Griffey Jr a few years ago and he maybe 38 but we had to do something. With the struggles at the bat for Paul Konerko Nick Swisher and even Jim Thome at times the Sox had to make the move for some added insurance. These guys are good respected players that deserve a big finish and the help they get form Griffey will help the White Sox return to the post season. What? Were we supposed to bring Carl Everett back, the Griffey move will work.

Ken Griffey Jr. as a White Sox who would of thought of that when this guy was a super star in Seattle. Although, the White Sox have had a recent tradition that if you still want to play then we do not mind you playing for us. Over the last twenty years or so the Sox have brought in older players that other teams have no longer wanted their service. Players like Albert Belle, Bo Jackson, Roberto Alomar, Carl Everett, David Well and even Jim Thome to name a few and for the most part these moves have paid off. The White Sox love to bring these guys in because they normally make immediate impacts and this time should be no different.

This move will allow the Sox to have more depth in their lineup and allow some of its older players to take time off in which they will be more fresh come late September. The younger players like Ramirez, Anderson and Wise are all nice fill-ins but they still lack playoff push baseball expereince. Griffey has been down this road in close races before and you know if he at least has one game winning homerun that one game could be the difference the Sox need to finish a top the AL Central. As much as we would love to get the Twins and Tigers off of the Sox back they still are going to compete and be tough down the stretch. Griffey is going to help ease the tension and perhaps take some of the pressure off of players like Joe Crede, Paul Konerko and even Jermain Dye in which these players success and the Sox winning are normally lined together.

My last point is this if the Whtie Sox want to compete with the Angels Yankees, Red Sox and Tampa Bay they had to improve their offense.  Even with the White Sox pitching being dominant that does not mean we can just beat these other teams in two to one ball games.  Offense makes a difference in the regular season especially when the weather is hotter and worse in the months of August and September.  The pitching will most likely struggle in these dog days of summer so making sure the offense and lineup has as little holes as possible may be what the White Sox need for a cure for success.