Sox bullpen doing the job as Tigers struggle
The White Sox had a miserable bullpen last season, which probably was the main reason they finished 72-90.
Newcomers Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel have teamed with all-star closer Bobby Jenks and improved holdovers Matt Thornton and Boone Logan to give the Sox one of the best relief units in baseball this season.
The Tigers, on the other hand, have had bullpen problems all season. Maybe that's why Detroit is running fourth in the AL Central while the first-place White Sox are starting to pull away.
Coming off a 7-0 homestand against the Royals and Twins, the White Sox open a three-game series against the Tigers tonight at Comerica Park.
"The bottom line is whoever has the best bullpen, whoever has the best pitching, usually wins,'' said Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski. "That's what it comes down to.''
The Tigers can't wait for injured relievers Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney to return from shoulder injuries. They are both on minor-league rehab assignments and expected back this month.
The big question is - will Detroit be within striking distance when they return?
"I still believe they're going to be a factor because of their lineup, their experience, and they're good,'' Pierzynski said. "I'm sure they're going to look at these three games as a big series; they're going to try to beat us and get back in the race.''
When the Tigers stumbled out to a poor start, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said they were too good not to contend.
Guillen still believes that, but he's surprised Detroit was 10 games under .500 heading into Monday night's game against the Indians.
"Very, very, very surprised,'' Guillen said. "But don't count those guys out. In this division, you never know. You lose five, you're in third place. You win five, you are close, you are right there. You never know. Everyone in this division can win five in a row, easy. That's why we've got to worry about us and not anybody else.''
The Sox have played very well at Comerica Park since 2005, going 22-9. That includes a three-game sweep of the Tigers in early April.
"We've played really good against them up there, for whatever the reason,'' Guillen said. "But I still believe it (AL Central) is going to go down the wire. We just have to continue to play the way we've been playing.''