If the Sox start hitting, watch out

So here's what I'm thinking about the White Sox ...

Ÿ They're still just one overdue stretch from being in first place in the AL Central.

Yes, they're also one bad stretch from being in a really rough spot, but the Sox have played about as poorly as possible over the first half of the season and are still right there.

Know we keep saying this, but Adam Dunn (.173) and Alex Rios (.224) and Gordon Beckham (.226) and Juan Pierre (.251) and even Carlos Quentin (.258) are going to start hitting at some point, right?

Ÿ There is second-guessing ad nauseum in major-league baseball, so we try to avoid that.

But ... why not just push Jake Peavy back a day and let him start against the Cubs on Friday at Wrigley?

Why not start Edwin Jackson instead of Peavy on Thursday at Colorado? He'd still be on a normal five days' rest.

Peavy threw 55 pitches in Saturday's brilliant relief debut, and he threw 104 pitches in last Wednesday's start against the Cubs.

No need to push it, especially with Jake.

Ÿ Getting back to Dunn, thanks to colleague Marty Maciaszek for putting together the interesting historical graphic on White Sox hitters that have been under .200 through the years.

And yes, the Kenny Williams on that list is the White Sox' current GM.

Ÿ More Dunn ... he hammered four or five pitches on the Sox' most recent homestand.

Nationals center fielder Roger Bernadina robbed Dunn of a 2-run homer Friday night, and Dunn was too quick on the other quality swings, hitting balls foul to deep right field.

Ÿ If I'm any White Sox opponent, even the slow-footed Cubs, I'm attempting to steal no matter what the situation.

A staff (minus Mark Buehrle and Jesse Crain) that steadfastly refuses to hold runners on combined with catcher A.J. Pierzynski's subpar throwing arm is a really bad combination.

Ÿ Explored the Dayan Viciedo situation over the weekend after one fan site, South Side Sox, insinuated the Sox' top hitting prospect is being held hostage at Class AAA Charlotte due to a service time situation.

The guy I talked to about it has always been above board in the past and he insists there is no issue.

I'd be much more skeptical if the White Sox were guilty of holding back players in the past to delay their impending arbitration and free agency.

But the Sox conduct themselves like a big-market club should. And if they were more interested in burying talented players on the farm to save potential money down the road, why was Beckham the first position player from the draft class of 2008 to reach the majors?

And why was Chris Sale promoted to the majors last season two months after he was drafted?

Just asking, really.

Ÿ Staying on Viciedo, I think he should be playing right field every day. I think Quentin should be playing left and I think Pierre is the guy you move off the 25-man roster.

Pierre is the real reason Viciedo is still in the minor leagues, but I have a feeling that is going to change before the all-star break.

Ÿ Even more reason to make an offensive change ... while losing two of three to Washington over the weekend, the White Sox were 4-for-26 with runners in scoring position and they stranded 32 runners.

Ÿ Don't know about you, but can't wait to see Hector Santiago's screwball.

The 23-year-old lefty was called up from Class AA Birmingham on Sunday after John Danks landed on the disabled list. If Santiago can throw the trick pitch for strikes, that's bad news for Will Ohman.