Tortoises and Hares

Dave van Dyck suggests the White Sox should be more concerned about the AL Wild Card than the Central Division title. D'ya think?

The Sox are only a game closer to the first place Tigers (-9) than the Cubs are to the NL Wild Card-leading Reds (-10). And Ozzie Guillen's still thinking about first place. Good luck with that. Perhaps he should be more concerned that the Twins are right on his tail.

Speaking of the NL Wild Card race, the Dodgers, after losing 13-of-14 coming out of the All-Star break, have won nine straight going back to before the Maddux-for-Izturis trade. They're, surprise, the only team to have gained ground on the Cubs in the last ten games.

The West-leading Padres, meanwhile, have split six games since acquiring Todd Walker (5-of-14, .357, but with only one run scored and no RBIs since the trade). I still contend that the NL West will see several more lead changes before the regular season draws to a close, but if LA can put on a run, that's one less team to worry about in the Wild Card race.

It ain't over, folks, not yet.