Chicago White Sox, Ready for the Second Half of MLB Baseball

Now it's on to the MLB baseball season second half, which Ozzie Guillen says ''separates the kids from the men.''

For the Chicago White Sox, the defending MLB World Series champions who are just two games behind the Detroit Tigers for the American League Central Division lead, that means a very quick jump into manhood because their prolonged MLB Baseball All-Star break will finally end with three games at Yankee Stadium and then three more in Detroit.

''It's pretty much in our own hands,'' Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. ''If we go out and play well, we'll be in good position. If we don't, there will be a lot of people upset and calling us failures.''

At least the Chicago White Sox have some successful history as their guide.

Following the All-Star break last summer, they went into Cleveland and stomped on the Cleveland Indians four straight times, presumably squashing them once and for all. That wasn't the case, but the Sox eventually did survive.

''Last year, sweeping Cleveland those four games really set a tone and eventually ended up being the margin we won by,'' Pierzynski said. ''Every game is important, every series is important. There's a special meaning when you play in your own division, because you definitely have to win those to get to the postseason.''

The Sox have 13 games left against the Detroit Tigers, whom they have beaten five of six times this season.The two teams have the best records in baseball, but Guillen says his is the best team right now.

''I think so, because our pitching staff has been inconsistent and we're still [close], and the bottom of our lineup, the eighth [Juan Uribe] and ninth [Brian Anderson] hitters, are having bad years, and I think those guys will get better.''

Can the Chicago White Sox win the 2006 World Series? Bodog has the odds. Visit and bet on Bodog now.

Here are some MLB baseball game odds from some MLB baseball teams and their odds to win the 2006 World Series championship:

Atlanta Braves 60/1

Boston Red Sox 5/1

Chicago White Sox 9/2

Houston Astros 16/1

New York Yankees 19/2