While it’s often said that patience is a virtue, it’s a lot harder to faithfully trust when that patience has been pushed to its limits just as the inconsistent White Sox have done all year long. The game’s 5th highest payroll has only been capable of relevancy because of the weak AL Central division. After opening the month of August with an embarrassing, lack luster 4 game skid against the New York Yankees, the White Sox answered back with a season-best five game win streak. From near collapse, yet another scattered glimpse of what was expected from Opening Day has left fans, the front-office and Manager Ozzie Guillen decidedly uncertain as to what club will show up for the remainder of the year.

With 80 percent of the season completed and 28 of the remaining 34 games to be played within the dismal AL Central, playoff baseball is simultaneously unreachable and within grasp. October baseball has been within sight on a season-long drive that’s had everyone guessing if there’s even enough gas to make it. For the up-and-down Sox, there is seemingly no other way.

The recent 15-game disabled-list injuries of catcher AJ Pierzynski and starting pitcher Philip Humber coupled with slugger Carlos Quentin’s day-to-day shoulder sprain, won’t make things any easier. Reversing the subpar season has proved impossible and left even the most die-hard fans disappointedly resigned to tolerating the inconsistent play. With fewer than half the at-bats and giving away 100 plus pounds to the highly-touted Adam Dunn, outfielder Brent Lillibridge’s matching homerun total has proven just that.

Of the 28 remaining divisional games beginning at home against the Minnesota Twins, exactly half will be contested against sub .500 teams (seven against the Twins and seven against the Royals). Merely winning half of these crucial divisional games won’t do it. Nor will the continued home struggles help any in salvaging the season (29-36 at home thus far).

The solid pitching that’s held up (AL sixth overall 3.79 ERA) in spite of timely hitting and middle-of-the-line-up production that hasn’t showed up often enough, will now need to somehow all come together. For Guillen, the remaining 34 games are important as ever. Sneak into the playoffs with possibly enough momentum to make noise as last seen by the 2006 St Louis ...