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10 good reasons to watch Cubs-Sox series this weekend

The Cubs were threatening to end their season before the Blackhawks ended theirs, so manager Lou Piniella opted for some individual pep talks Wednesday.

That may or may not get the Cubs kick-started as they welcome the White Sox, another club looking to jump back into its divisional race, to Wrigley Field this weekend.

With a crosstown assist from White Sox beat writer Scot Gregor, here are 10 reasons to keep watching as Chicago's baseball teams try to get rolling again with this weekend's big series.

1. Starlin Castro. The rookie shortstop is wowing even the most seasoned observers with his play in the field. He made several highlight-reel plays in Milwaukee, displaying his fielding, throwing and range. It has been years since the Cubs have had play at shortstop like that.

And the 20-year-old Castro is holding his own at the plate.

2. Alex Rios. He was a $59.7 million bust when the White Sox claimed him off waivers from the Blue Jays last August.

Look at him now.

Not only is he a Gold Glove caliber center fielder, Rios is batting .300 with 10 home runs, 22 RBI, 15 stolen bases and 33 runs scored in his last 40 games.

And with 12 home runs and 17 steals on the season, the 29-year-old outfielder is well on his way to becoming the Sox' first-ever 30/30 player.

3. Carlos Silva. Saturday's starting Cubs pitcher continues his all-star voting drive. Silva has turned out to be more than a (big) body obtained for Milton Bradley. He's 8-0 with a 2.93 ERA.

Come and watch him pound the strike zone.

4. Juan Pierre. The former Cubs outfielder got off to a slow start this year, like most White Sox hitters.

But the 32-year-old leadoff man has been on a roll of late, batting .300 (10-for-30) over his last eight games.

Pierre also entered Thursday's play tied for first in the American League with 23 stolen bases and tied for third with 16 infield hits.

5. Andrew Cashner. While Silva pounds the strike zone, peaking of pounding, this Cubs rookie reliever regularly delivers 98-mph fastballs to the plate, and he doesn't look one bit afraid on the mound.

Along with lefty Sean Marshall and closer Carlos Marmol, Cashner has a chance to make the back of the bullpen something to behold, and for all the right reasons.

6. Paul Konerko: Is he among the players White Sox general manager Kenny Williams is trying to trade?

The Konerko to the Angels rumor has heated up again, but Williams has to know that Konerko is the glue that holds the Sox together.

The first baseman is also showing he can still play at the age of 34. He entered Thursday ranked among AL leaders in home runs (17) and RBI (42), and that smooth swing is something to watch.

7. Carlos Marmol. The Cubs closer had a hiccup against the Milwaukee Brewers the other night, but he has been in stratospheric territory with his strikeouts-to-innings pitched ratio. He entered Thursday with 51 strikeouts in 27 innings.

Getting the ball over the plate can be a problem for Marmol, but when he does get it over, especially the slider, nobody touches him.

8. Ozzie Guillen: He already has made fun of the first round of the Sox-Cubs rivalry, deeming it a battle between two bad teams playing for the Crosstown Cup sponsored by a bad company (BP).

Through the years, the White Sox skipper has made fun of Wrigley's rat population, the cramped visitor's clubhouse and the lousy parking.

Stayed tuned for more over the weekend. He always has something memorable to say.

9. Tyler Colvin: Piniella says he's going to let the kid play. Colvin is learning to make adjustments at the plate, and sometimes he can get fooled and strikeout. But the ball jumps when he makes contact.

Colvin is one of a growing number of homegrown players performing well for the Cubs.

10. Jake Peavy. He starts today for the White Sox, and as his numbers (4-5, 5.90 ERA) painfully reflect, Peavy has not delivered over the first two-plus months of the season, but you get the feeling it's going to happen any day.

Off the field, Peavy has earned his money. He's as down as the rest of his teammates, but the former Cy Young winner still believes the White Sox have time to mount a charge and get back into contention, even though Kenny Williams said he's going to make changes.

Chicago White Sox's Juan Pierre Associated Press