ChiSox can compete despite lack of offense

One of the nicest stories of the 2005 baseball season has been the Chicago White Sox, who enter Saturday's action with the AL's best mark at 78-47. Yet many wonder if the White Sox, still overshadowed by the lovable losers of the midwest, the Cubs, can carry their success into the postseason. I believe they can. Under fiery second-year skipper Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox are doing things the old-fashioned way. Rather than survive with a barrage of long-balls and high-scoring affairs, the White Sox play games close to the vest, preferring to move runners up and ultimately manufacture runs. And you can certainly afford to do that when you have the starting pitching that the White Sox do. Their rotation is anchored by Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, and Jose Contreras. But the Sox also have an effective bullpen. Ever heard of Neal Cotts? How about once-troubled youngster Bobby Jenks? No? Probably haven't heard of Damaso Marte either. But so what? They have been holding leads down for the Sox all year despite not having a true closer. Oft-injured Dustin Hermanson has been bothered by a nagging injury and is in his first year closing ballgames. But the point is that the starting pitching goes deep into games, so Guillen probably won't have to worry about his bullpen wearing down. The key for Chicago will be overcoming the experience factor-- or lack thereof. This team hasn't been to the postseason since 2000, when they were whitewashed in three games by Seattle. But unlike the Yankees and Red Sox, the White Sox actually have a competent pitching staff. Sure, they don't score too many runs, but 78 times this year they've still outscored their opponent. As ESPN's Stephen A. Smith says, quite frankly, that's all you need.