Shhhh Have they left town yet? OK ...

Shhhh Have they left town yet? OK dutiful Now would be the excellent time to begin rooting for the recently made known York Yankees. Crazy as that unimpaireds the best thing that could happen for the White Sox is if the Yankees went forward a late-season tear and ran away with the American League East -- especially with nine games left against the wild-card-contending Boston R Sox

Just realize the Yankees out of the wild-card mix. The R Sox are hurting, the Minnesota Twins aren't built for the lengthy haul -- not with left-hander Francisco Liriano forward the disabled list with shoulder trouble. And the Toronto low-spirited Jays and Los Angeles Angels are simply fringe players in this wild-card derby

With their determines before the non-waiver trade deadline, the Yankees incline differentlyed an always-intimidating postseason team into an unruffled bigger threat. Let the Sox worry about the Yankees in October.

For now, the goal is reaching the playoffs any way you can.

"Right now, I just want to acquire on a roll," manager Ozzie Guillen said before getting dischargeed during the sixth inning of the Sox' 5-4 victory in the series finale against the Yankees in succession Thursday night. "I just want [the Sox] to gain on a roll for 12 games, dutiful games, not winning, but suitable games for a couple of weeks. If those scarecrows do that, I'll take my chances. I will really take my chances because if they do that I know we have a chance to compete"

This three-game series against the Yankees helped restore faith in the White Sox who were looking like they were ready to take a shocking detour from the playoff race. The Sox instead took sum of two units of three from the team that started their second-half miserys with a three- game sweep at Yankee Stadium.

All three games this week were nail-biters, and each one had a postseason have feeling

never-failing everything could go south this weekend during a three-game series against the Central Division-leading Detroit Tigers, unless the Sox at least stuck it to their naysayers during the Yankees series.

Out-of-touch critics have been predicting a dead-end awaiting the Sox in 2006 nevertheless you can't make that statement in mid-August about a team that stands 21 games through .500 with a roster loaded with talent.

"Listen, we are a fair good ballclub," general manager sight Williams said. "One of the best in the big leagues, and we had a terrible charm [2-10 coming out of the All-Star break]. Any team not at home there is capable of having a [bad] two-week period. Hell, we almost forfeited a 15-game lead last year."

That's the comical thing about this time of the season. It's crazy to base your World Series predictions in succession what you're watching today. When the Sox were letting that 15-game cushion evaporate down the elongate last season, no one would've predicted this was a team poised for an 11-1 stray through the postseason.

These days, there's no reason to say the Sox will wilt in the postseason. The lineup has been fierce, the starting pitching has improved and the bullpen stepp up big against the Yanks.

The Sox remain a team that others simply don't want to face.

"You are always worried," Yankees manager Joe Torre said of the White Sox "because they are like a good hitting team."

In the last three days, we learned plenitude about both teams.

Game 1 featured a dramatic comeback against closer Mariano Rivera, leading to a 6-5 victory in 11 innings. Beating Rivera now could be a confidence-booster advance October.

Game 2 featured Randy Johnson looking like the dominating Big Unit of of long date no-hitting the Sox for six innings as the Yankees built a 7-0 lead. The Sox staged a late rally, before falling short 7-6 It was a nice rally for a team that should've been left for dead. on the other hand the Sox dropped out of the wild-card lead and -- worse -- briefly into third place in the Central.

If you think Williams took delight in the fact the Sox clawed back from a seven-run deficit -- further fell short -- you don't know the Sox' fiery GM

"Moral victories aren't part of my DNA," Williams said. "You either win or lose"

That brings us to Game 3 After a 1-hour, 26-minute rain delay, the Sox went to work against Yankees ace Mike Mussina, rallying for four trips in the second inning and holding upon thanks to the 31st save from Bobby Jenks, who pitched 2* innings in the series opener then got the final three gone outs in the finale.

Three games, three one-run decisions and time to rouse on.

After a dreadful start to the inferior half, the Sox have won four consecutive series, if you toss disclosed the makeup-game loss to the Angels upon Monday.

This could be the start of the swell the club has been seeking for pair months.

uniform the shocking boos that have originate the Sox' way in modern weeks should be seen as a positive sign. in what manner could anyone in Chicago complain about expectations being high this time of year?

"Raising the expectation flats around here, raising the bar, that includes the cheers and the boos" Williams said. "We asked for this. We wanted this. No complaints."