As it stands right now, we have a 3.5 game lead on the Indians and a 4 game lead on the Yankees. We have the toughest schedule remaining of the 3.

 

Cleveland

vs White Sox (4)

vs Kansas City (4)

vs Tampa Bay (3)

 

Opponents Combined Weighted Winning % (.457)

 

Chicago

vs Cleveland (4)

vs Minnesota (4)

vs Detroit (4)

 

Opponents Combined Weighted Winning % (.511)

 

New York Yankeees

vs Baltimore (6)

vs Toronto (3)

vs Boston (3)

 

Opponents Combined Weighted Winning % (.502)

We're headed to the playoffs. End of story.

 

This team will not be letting us down.

I just think if the Sox beat the Indians tonight and then beat up on the Twinkies over the weekend everything will work out fine. Then you can toss out all the schedule talk.

 

Just win, baby!

If you had any doubt as to how much fight this team had left in it...or how much heart it had...these last 5 games should have fully erased it.

We gotta beat up on Detroit just as we did at the start of this month. 3 or 4 games won there, could be absolutely crucial when it's all said and done.

The White Sox just have to keep on winning games. The Yankees are on a roll, and they still have a ton of games against an awful Orioles team. It definitely doesn't seem like the Sox will be able to just back themselves into the playoffs. Remember this though...the Yankees or Red Sox are guaranteed to lose at least two more games this season.

The White Sox just have to keep on winning games.  The Yankees are on a roll, and they still have a ton of games against an awful Orioles team.  It definitely doesn't seem like the Sox will be able to just back themselves into the playoffs.  Remember this though...the Yankees or Red Sox are guaranteed to lose at least two more games this season.

That's a 4 game series between them at the end of the year? I thought it was 3 games. Hmph, that's very helpful.

That's a 4 game series between them at the end of the year?  I thought it was 3 games.  Hmph, that's very helpful.

 

No, it's a 3 game series. One of the teams will lose at least 2 of the 3.

the other thing that makes me cautiously optimistic is the number of innings our big 4 have pitched and how many starts they have left...

 

Jon Garland (3 starts left) currently at 200.1 IP, career high is 217.0.

Jose Contreras (2 starts left) currently at 187.2 IP, career high is 169.4.

Freddy Garcia (2 starts left) currently at 213 IP, career high is 238.0.

Mark Buehrle (2 starts left) currently at 222 IP, career high is 245.0.

 

it will be Garland tonight vs the Tribe

it will be McCarthy, Contreras, Garcia and Buerhle versus Minnesota

it will be Garland, McCarthy, Contreras and Garcia versus Detroit

it will be Buerhle, Garland and McCarthy verus Cleveland to end the season.

 

Lets hope for an early lead in many of these games to allow for some reduced innings for the starters and some bullpen time for guys like Baj, Sanders and Vizcaino.

My worry out of those numbers is Garcia. While his career high is 238, it's been years since he's done that. He's already at his high in innings over the last 3 years, if memory serves (too lazy to go back and look again, did it a week ago)