While games in September may have a more immediate impact on the pennant races, the games in April and May counted every bit as much in the standings.
Take away the first eight weeks of the season and the White Sox would have an eight-game lead over Cleveland in the Central Division. The Sox are 59-39 since May 24, a .602 winning percentage. The Indians are 51-47 since that same date, a .520 winning percentage.
But there are no mulligans in baseball. Because the Sox started so poorly in those first two months, going 14-29 before turning things around, they still need a miracle finish. They trail the Indians by seven games with 21 remaining.
“I think as long as we play hard and do the things we need to do to get things done correctly, we should be all right,” Ray Durham said.
“We know our backs are against the wall and if we don’t perform, we go home. I think I can speak for everybody in this room, and the organization. We’re not ready to go home.”
Considering that the White Sox lost Frank Thomas, who drove in 143 runs last year, and starters Cal Eldred, Jim Parque and David Wells, who combined to win 43 games last year for the Sox and Toronto, could they still consider it a successful season even if they don’t reach the postseason?
“That’s for other people to measure,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “We’ve stayed pretty much competitive after a miserable start, so I think in that sense, you have to be proud that these guys fought the way they did. And if we can add some other pieces to it, we can get over the hump [in 2002]. It’s always a work in progress. You don’t want to rest on [the record].”
At one point this season, after a 2-0 loss at Texas on May 5, the Sox had an 8-19 record, the worst of any major-league team. If they continue at their current pace, with 13 victories in their last 18 games, the Sox could finish with the fifth-best record in the American League and a second-place finish in the Central Division.
“It would be somewhat gratifying to overcome Minnesota,” Manuel said. “Especially after the way they’ve handled us all year.”
Seeing-eye baseball: The Sox sometimes run the bases like they’re wearing blinders, as they showed again Friday night in Jacobs Field.
With runners on second and third and two outs in the second inning, Durham singled sharply to right to score a run, but Royce Clayton couldn’t put the brakes on and was gunned down at home plate by about 40 feet.
In the third inning, Magglio Ordonez singled off the wall in left and tried to extend it to a double. Left fielder Marty Cordova threw him out easily.
Change of heart: Before the game, Manuel said he planned to start Kip Wells in Saturday’s game, unless he pitched in relief Friday.
“He has had enough rest and has been pitching well,” Manuel said. “It also gives us a chance to use (Gary) Glover and (Mark) Buehrle with an extra day’s rest.”
But with a 10-2 lead in the seventh, Manuel called on Wells out of the bullpen, meaning Glover will start on Saturday against the Indians.
“We didn’t have any one else fresh,” Manuel said.
Wells gave up four runs on four hits in one-plus innings, but Manuel said there is still a possibility that he will start in New York next week.
