It’s the end of May and things are slowly but surely turning around for our beloved White Sox.  Despite the shellacking they received from the Twins and the heart breaking loss to the Pirates, they won 4 out of 6 on their last home stand and look to sweep the Angels tonight, before traveling to face their division rival Kansas City Royals.  They are no longer the push over Royals, as they are still 1.5 games ahead of the Sox in the standings.  This weekend will be a crucial series as the Sox look to keep their winning ways alive but the month of June is where history is on their side.

Aaaah, the month of June!  It’s quite a month here in the city of Chicago.  Summer begins, vacations start, and the beautiful women of this city are in full effect.  Nevertheless baseball is in full stride and the summer months are where the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders.  The White Sox still have some work to do as they are chasing the first place Detroit Tigers, who are 4.5 games ahead in the standings; and yet still have to leap the Twins and Royals in the process.  But what better way to do that than in your own backyard.  June perhaps, may be the “make or break” month for our Sox.  It’s hard to jump the gun, as 29 games will be played (only bring the Sox to 78 played on the season), but with 18 home games in June and 5 against the first place Tigers, (doubleheader on June 8th) this home cookin’ may perhaps be what the doctor ordered.  The Sox start the month with 12 straight home games (which includes the doubleheader) against the A’s, Indians, and those first place Tigers.  They head north to play the surprising Brewers; then travel cross town to play the overrated Cubs; followed by a trip east to play the talented Cincinnati Reds.  The games played in Milwaukee and cross town should feature a plethora of Sox fans to hopefully create somewhat of a home crowd atmosphere.  They then come home to play the Cubs again, and the Manny-less Dodgers (who at this point still hold baseballs best record) before heading to Cleveland to face the Indians.

Team/Player Photos: Chicago White Sox v New York Yankees on Apr 30, 2010

So what does history say about the White Sox?  Well, it’s simple: Take Care of Business at Home.  From 2000-2008, the White Sox own a .580 winning percentage on the South Side (118 games over .500) and with 18 home games coming in June, this could be and has to be the month the ‘good guys’ make a serious push to for another division title.  A winning month could propel the Sox for the rest of the season; a dreadful month could mean trading Jermaine Dye before the deadline on July 31st.  So how important is June?  It might mean the season.  Trying to skip over multiple teams as the season progresses is asking for an impossible task, but with 5 games against the Tigers, and winnable games against the A’s and Indians, they have the opportunity to not just gain ground, but take over first place.  If they falter and lose ground, then look for Kenny to trade Dye.  It wouldn’t be the White Flag trade of 1997, but strictly business as more than likely they wouldn’t pick up his option for next year, and Kenny Williams would love to continue stock piling his farm system with young talent; as it would be just step one of many for a new look 2010 White Sox team.

Fans will wait anxiously to see if Kenny Williams can actually pull a rabbit out of his hat, as he looks to bolster the pitching staff; but in the meantime as this weather heats up, the White Sox will have to do something they already find comfort in doing… winning on the South Side of Chicago.