Team to watch: Chicago White Sox

Breaking news: the Chicago Cubs are not the only team from Chicago in the Major Leagues.

Yes, folks, the Chicago White Sox do, in fact, exist. And you know what? They are pretty darned good.

But you probably haven't noticed, because everyone seems to focus on those North Siders, those "lovable losers," who haven't won anything in 100 years.

The Pale Hose actually won something recently. Like, you know, one of those World Series things. That was just a few years back in 2005.

Critics wrote them off after the 2005 World Series, calling them a fluke because they didn't make the playoffs in 2006. They didn't exactly stink, they won 90 games.

After a rather horrific season last year, in which nothing went right, the White Sox were totally overlooked coming into this season. With acquisitions of Orlando Cabrera and Nick Swisher to go along with an already talented lineup, the real question mark was going to be the pitching.

Now there are two question marks one-third into the season: what the heck is the matter with their offense and how is their pitching this good?

The pitching has led the White Sox to an American League Central leading 28-22 record, including an impressive run of 10 wins and just two losses in the past two weeks.

Thank the pitching.

Because sluggers Paul Konerko (.205), Jim Thome (.207) and Nick Swisher (.204) aren't hitting. At all. And neither are the men up the middle in Orlando Cabrera (.241) and Juan Uribe (.198). In fact, the South Siders rank 26th in the ML in team batting average.

That just makes its 28-22 record more impressive. Right now, the White Sox may have the most well-rounded pitching staff in all of baseball. Five quality starters (including two lefties and a good mix of hard throwers and finesse guys) and a talented bullpen with a star closer (Bobby Jenks) and good set-up men from both sides of the plate (lefties Matt Thornton and Boone Logan and righties Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel)

Let's go further into detail with each member of the surprising White Sox rotation:

1. Javier Vazquez (5-3, 3.52 ERA, 67 K)
2. Mark Buehrle (2-5. 4.82 ERA, 36 K)
3. Jose Contreras (5-3, 3.06 ERA, 42 K)
4. John Danks (3-4, 3.00 ERA, 42 K)
   
5. Gavin Floyd (4-3, 2.93 ERA, 25 K)

• Javier Vazquez: The anchor of the staff in many ways. He's the most consistent from start to start, and is the lone dominant-type pitcher in the rotation -- a guy that can toss a gem with 10 strikeouts on any given night. He currently ranks 2nd in the AL in K's and 7th in innings pitched. He's only had one bad start this season.

• Mark Buehrle: The always underrated and under appreciated Buehrle used to be the true anchor of the Sox starting rotation. Not anymore. But he's a crafty veteran (aren't all lefties?) and he is a reliable innings-eater who will always save the bullpen. Check out his last seven seasons in the innings pitched category: 201, 204, 237, 245, 230, 239 and 221. He also won 102 games over that time frame. The guy can still pitch.
  

• Jose Contreras: Last year? Awful. This season? Contreras looks like the guy that helped pitch the White Sox to the 2005 World Series title. Just look at his game log from this season. He was totally dominant last night in his start against the Angels, but a lack of run support resulted in a no-decision. When his forkball is on, he simply can't be hit.

• John Danks: In his rookie campaign last season, the lefty Danks did not exactly live up to the hype: 6-13, 5.50 ERA, 28 HR allowed. With those numbers, the only hype that would live up to is a reincarnation of Jose Lima. But Danks is having the opposite of a sophomore slump this season, having only allowed four home runs all season to go along with his solid 3.00 ERA. Danks, 23, was considered a top prospect when the White Sox traded away Brandon McCarthy to get him and Nick Masset (who is doing very well in long relief for Chicago right now) a few years back. Good move.

• Gavin Floyd: When the White Sox traded away Freddy Garcia, they got Floyd (a former No. 4 overall pick who struggled with his time in Philadelphia) back as one of the main components. Ya, good move. He almost threw TWO no-hitters this season (here and here). He has allowed an amazingly low 36 hits in 58.1 innings, good for an opponents batting average of a paltry .179. One thing to worry about, though, is the strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has actually walked more batters (27) than he's struck out (25). But you can't argue with any other number he currently has.