Spare Parts: White Sox idle, but postseason odds take hit

The White Sox are idle this week. Guardians won a game against the Angels on Monday. The Sox have played three more games than Guardians.

The White Sox are one half-game behind the Guardians in the standings. The team is 25.1% of the division lead.

The Guardians beat the White Sox 74-65 today. The team's chances of winning the season series against them are worse if they lose to the Guardians on Thursday. If the team loses to them, it would secure the series for Cleveland and the tiebreaker.

Bob Nightengale was seen standing next to Tony La Russa in the White Sox dugout on Sunday. Nightenge wrote about the team's managerial situation.

Cairo's fiery speech on his first day as the White Sox manager woke up the players. Cairo told them that mediocrity and complacency would not be tolerated. If the team makes it to the postseason, there will be speculation and theories. Liam Hendriks, Lynn and others agree Cairo's speech was powerful.

The Twins are out of the playoffs, but they have bigger problems than the White Sox. James Karinchak is back on track and has regained most of his spin rate. Nick Madrigal's season might be over after a groin strain. Terry Francona is 14 years younger than Tony La Russa. Rob Arthur is skeptical about the restrictions on shifting.

Francona managed only 14 of 60 games in the 2020 season. He missed the wild-card series against the Yankees because of health issues. Franconi has a hip replacement, toe surgery and a steel plate in his shoe to protect his left big toe.