Series Preview: ChiSox @ BoSox

Chicago White Sox (42-51)
AL CNTRL: -15 GB
STRK: W-1 LST 10: 5-5
AVG: .245 (14) ERA: 4.61 (12)
HRs: 96 (8) RUNS: 393 (14)

Probable Pitching Matchups:
GM1 Thu Vazquez (6-5, 3.77) v. Matsuzaka (11-6, 3.94)
GM2 Fri Contreras (5-11, 5.32) v Beckett (12-3, 3.35)
GM3 Sat Danks (6-6, 4.81) v Gabbard (3-0, 3.38)
GM4 Sun Garland (7-6, 3.88) v Wakefield (10-9, 4.69)

Season Series: 1st meeting

KEY PLAYERS:

• Paul Konerko: .270/20/57--the slugging first baseman leads the underachieving Sox hitters in batting average, homers, ribbies, runs and OPS., and leads the AL in homers since June 1st; other than that he hasn't done much this season
• Jermaine Dye: .230/16/46--having a down year by his standards, especially coming off his MVP-caliber season (.315/44/120) of a year ago, and his name has been frequently mentioned in trade circles, but he can burn you with the longball in a hurry; he's homered in 4 of the last 5 games
• Jim Thome: .290/15/48--after spending time earlier this season on the DL the aging DH has heated up as of late; he's batting .325 (13-40) with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 6 runs scored and seven driven in in his last 10 games
• Tadahito Iguchi: .258/42R/27RBI--the diminutive second baseman has faced fellow countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka many times in the Japanese League, and he has fared quite well against him (31-85, .365), which should give him a decided edge over his teammates in Game 1

PREVIEW:

The Chisox come to Fenway for the first time this season riding high after taking 2 of 3 at division-leading Cleveland, but all in all Ozzie Guillen's bunch has been one of the biggest disappointments of the 2007 season.

The stats speak for themselves--last in the league in batting, last in runs, and third from the bottom in team ERA--and paint the picture of an underachieving group that was poised to have a dominant run after beating Boston en route to winning the Series in 2005.

But, as Boston knows all too well, things don't always go according to plan after the confetti is swept away.

Anyway, the way the Bo Sox have been playing lately my son's Little League team could probably take 'em, so Boston cannot afford to underestimate these pesky sons of an Ozzie.

They need to start the series off on a positive note, which means a solid performance from Dice-K, not that weak shit (10ER, 19H in 11IP) he's been throwing his last two outings, and a lot of timely hits.

If the Red Sox can't stick to that simple formula and apply it in the next four games, things could go well for them in this series.

If not, it could be shades of 2005 all over again.

**UPDATE--the start of tonight's game has been delayed by rain, and according to the Globe it is not supposed to start before 8:15. Great. Haven't had one of these in a while.***

**RE-UPDATE--the first pitch was just thrown at 9:02 pm EST. Looks like another late one**