CHICAGO | Armed with his 2005 World Series ring, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams' style is to go for it all. He'd only strip down his franchise if all was lost from the start.
Williams is not hanging out sales signs this year. Wobbly for much of the first two months, the Sox have been rescued by a unusual mix -- a kiddie corps who all weren't supposed to contribute now and a revived, back-to-the-future sparkplug from 2005.
"They bring a lot to the table," manager Ozzie Guillen said of rookie infielders Gordon Beckham and Chris Getz, starters John Danks and Gavin Floyd, and the latest arrival, lefty starter-in-waiting Aaron Poreda. Guillen won't forget shortstop Alexei Ramirez, but prefers tough-love references to the talented-but-erratic Cuban.
Here is a midseason Sox report card:
Hitting
The Sox's veteran core of Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and Jim Thome appeared to be on their last legs amid a spring of inept clutch hitting.
But Williams took a chance on Scott Podsednik, discarded by the Colorado Rockies at the end of spring training. The timing was perfect. Podsednik was finally healthy, his groin problems that cut short his first tenure ended, just as Dye and Konerko revived their vintage slugging feats while A.J. Pierzynski cracked the .300 mark.
Although he's not stealing bases at his 2005 rate, Podsednik is hitting better, with a .302 average and .358 on-base percentage.
"In any successful offense, you have to have different ways to attack (opponents') pitching staffs," Podsednik said. "You need speed at the top, some meat in the middle and some guys who can handle the bat at the bottom of the order. You can't have one or the other and expect to win consistently in this league. You're going to need some guys on early to manufacture runs."
If rookies Beckham and Getz don't tire out in the second half, the Sox will have enough offense to support an overall good pitching staff.
Grade: C-plus
Starting pitching
Lefty Danks and right-hander Floyd have recovered from mediocre starts to join Mark Buehrle, enjoying his best-ever start, to form a Big Three. Jose Contreras also has returned to reliability after a horrible start and self-demotion to Triple-A.
The fifth starter is the trouble spot. Lefty Clayton Richard has steadily regressed after a good beginning, while portly Bartolo Colon, recovering from injury, is basically a crapshoot.
Grade: B
Bullpen
The most dependable part of the Sox is still led by closer Bobby Jenks, more hittable than in the past but still a stalwart in the ninth inning. Setup men Scott Linebrink and Matt Thornton are among the game's best.
Grade: B-plus
Manager
Guillen was not afraid to replace third baseman Josh Fields with a green Beckham or stay with rookie Getz at second. He doesn't let lineup or rotation problems fester. Behind the gadfly style and politically-incorrect chatter is an all-time Sox manager.
Grade: B-plus
Overall team grade: B
WHITE SOX MIDSEASON REPORT
More inside
See if Times online readers thought the Sox had a better first half than the Cubs. B2
The American League looks to win its seventh straight All-Star game. B2
Second-half outlook
The Sox can stay with the Tigers in the AL Central, but can do so only by navigating a tough schedule full of games led by the Yankees and Red Sox.
