Gut Check #2

Having pretty much failed Gut Check #1 by winning only one game of their three game series with Detroit after taking the opener, the White Sox now return home to face two decent teams (the Texas Rangers and the Minnesota Twins). Playing the next six games against the backdrop of a sold out U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox have a lot of work to do.

On the plus side, the Detroit Tigers FINALLY play somebody with some level of talent in the Oakland A's and the disappointing-to-date, Cleveland Indians. (Detroit's schedule doesn't show it, but I'm pretty sure they get to play a Kansas City or a Tampa Bay at least twice a week).

Now 5.5 games behind the Tigers in the AL Central and a slim 2.5 games up on the Yankees for the Wild Card, the White Sox need to stop their downward spiral in what so has been an absolutely dismal second half that has delivered one win over the past six games (and only two in the last nine if you track it back before the All-Star break).

To correct course tonight the Sox send Mark Buehrle to the bump who could use his own course corrected.

The usually steady Buehrle has delivered a string of completely non-Buehrle-esque games in his last few starts that have done nothing but help fuel questions about whether this White Sox rotation is still gassed from last year's playoff run.

Tonight's press notes report that "Mark Buehrle is 0-3 with a 13.81 ERA (22 ER/14.1 IP) in his last three starts." Yikes! Typically stats that bad are put up by guys on the team NotGoodNotGoodAtAll covers.

One cannot help but hope that the Sox will remember that they are a good team after they get a good ol' dose of home cooking -- and based on their record so far this year, home cooking is exactly what they need. More from tonight's game notes:

Home Field Advantage -- At 33-14, the White Sox own the third-best home record in baseball and are on pace to finish with 57 wins at U.S. Cellular Field, matching the franchise record set in 1912 ... the Sox have won 32 of their last 43 home games, outscoring the opposition, 263-176.

Time to get it going 56.

No luck, just wins. Go Sox!