Tue Apr 29 12:01:13 2008

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White Sox enjoying their stay atop the AL Central

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(Sports Network) - The American League Central, considered by many to be one of MLB's toughest divisions, has not looked so hot in the early portion of the season.

That is, except for the Chicago White Sox. At 14-10 and with a three-game cushion over the second-place Cleveland Indians, Chicago is the lone AL Central team floating above .500. Coming off a 72-90 season, the White Sox may have been able to sneak up on a few opponents this year. But with each passing win, that low-key persona will be no more.

There have been several reasons for the team's successful April: one of which has been the long ball. Chicago's 34 team home runs leads the American League by a six-homer margin over the Yankees. Conversely, the pitching staff has allowed only 14 home runs, the lowest total of any team in the majors. The team's 3.77 staff ERA is the third-best in the AL.

Ironically, the most inconsistent of the starters has been Mark Buehrle (1-2, 5.65). Javier Vazquez has fanned 37 hitters in his six starts to rank among the league leaders in that department. Jose Contreras has looked more like the Contreras of old, having given up just two homers in his first five starts.

But the real story has to be the back end of the rotation.

Entering the season, one of the biggest keys for Chicago to get back to winning was going to be the back end of the rotation. John Danks went 1-7 with a 7.11 ERA after the All-Star break last year and wound up with a 6-13 record before ultimately being shut down. Gavin Floyd shuffled between the minors and majors and even had a stint in the bullpen, finishing the year 1-5.

Danks has gone 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA, and has struck out 20 batters against just seven walks. He has surrendered just one long ball in his five starts, and has looked sharper each time out (0.86 ERA in his last three starts). Floyd has been equally impressive, posting a 2-0 record to go along with a 2.84 ERA in four starts.

SECOND CHANCES

Manager Ozzie Guillen seems to be in a giving mood, as in giving out second chances to players.

With Jermaine Dye dealing with a sore groin muscle, Brian Anderson, who endured such a brutal 2007 season, was in the lineup Saturday and wound up getting the game-winning hit. Anderson was back in the lineup Sunday. Anderson said the turning point came in Spring Training, when he had a heart-to-heart meeting with General Manager Kenny Williams about what was expected of him.

Reliever Ehren Wasserman, who pitched in 33 games with the club last year, was recalled Sunday from Triple-A Charlotte.

Middle reliever Nick Masset, after being given a spot start in the nightcap of Saturday's double header, recently was informed he'd be given another shot to start Wednesday against the Twins.

WHO'S HOT

Outfielder Carlos Quentin, acquired in the offseason from Arizona, has been an extremely tough out. Not only is he hitting .312, but he is putting up decent power numbers, with six homers and 20 RBI.

WHO'S NOT

Well it was inevitable, but the Mike MacDougal era in Chicago finally came to an end. A former first-round pick in 1999, MacDougal never blossomed into the type of hurler many had projected him to be. He had a respectable 2.16 ERA this season, but also had seven walks in 8.2 innings and was optioned to the minors over the weekend.

"He's got to start throwing his fastball a little bit more," Guillen told the Chicago Tribune. "It's a shame because with that stuff he has we need better, we need more confidence. When I call to the bullpen, I have to wonder how he's going to (pitch).

"It's not a good feeling for anyone."

A LOOK AHEAD

Floyd gets the nod Tuesday night in Minnesota against Boof Bonser (1-4, 4.34). Wednesday it will be Masset against Nick Blackburn (1-1, 3.45). And on Thursday the Sox begin a brief set in Toronto, with Buehrle going up against Shaun Marcum (2-2, 3.24).