Complimentary Heat Wave for My Pennant Fever

Sunday afternoon I glanced at the temperature reading - 102! How can they play baseball in this suffocating heat?! It was a complimentary heat wave for my......dare i say it.....Pennant Fever!

It is almost August and the White Sox's playoff chances are now a reality. So I stick my tongue out at all the naysayers (especially the national media who refused to acknowledge the White Sox's existence.)

This past weekend we played versus the Boston Red Sox, last year's champions. We split the series 2-2, but it showed we ain't no Triple-A team.

Have u seen the White Sox's new secret weapon? One hundred miles per hour!

White Sox earn Boston's respect

07/24/2005 4:43 PM ET

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Regardless of the results from this weekend's four-game series against Boston, the White Sox are a team to be reckoned with in 2005.

If the double-digit lead in the American League Central and their record sitting 30 games above .500 isn't convincing enough, then simply ask the defending world champions for a few educated opinions in support of the South Siders.

"They really have proven themselves so far," said Boston center fielder Johnny Damon of the White Sox. "They go out there with little fanfare, and are quietly taking care of business. They have five quality starters and can score runs with the best of them."

"This team is playing a different type of game, but they're not fluky at all," added Boston first baseman Kevin Millar. "You're not a fluke anytime this late in the season. They have a great pitching staff and some great speed with [Scott] Podsednik. There's no secret why they're up there."

Even though the secret is out where the White Sox are concerned, some skeptics still refuse to take their success as fact. They point to the team's struggling offense, ranking second from the bottom average-wise in the American League entering Sunday, a rash of nagging injuries and even the schedule as reason for doubt.

As Ozzie Guillen quipped earlier this week, apparently his team has played nothing but Triple-A opponents until the Red Sox's arrival. The first four meetings with Boston were supposed to be a true test, with almost nothing but first-division teams on the schedule for the entire month of August.