Sure, the Chicago White Sox are in first place in the Central division.

I should be happy, right?

Of course, its better than being in the cellar, but still I have a beef with the World Champs.

They lost the series to Seattle, winning only one in three games. Thats simply not good enough.

Seattle has some good players, and as Washburn pointed out, a little pitching. But theyre not coming off a championship season, as the Sox are.

Yet, Seattle looked just as calm, collected, and effective.

Theres something wrong with this picture.

I think if I had to characterize the Soxs play during the Seattle series, Id call it stiff. They werent loose, by any means.

There wasnt any swagger, and as the innings passed, they just didnt feel like a threat.

Separately, Ive written about the public relations offensive that the Sox are waging, trying to appear to be nice guys, even to their rivals.

I say, forget about it!

Now, is the time to scrap for every victory, to gradually yet surely distance your selves from your division rivals.

Theyre in first place, but its way too early to cruise. And as last years Indian surge demonstrated, you can never rest.

In other words, dont play it safe at Safeco Park, or anywhere else!