99

Let's play "The $100,000 Pyramid." The Update'll give the clues: A broom ... Johnny in the finals against Daniel-san in "The Karate Kid" ... the White Sox against Tampa Bay this series .... The answer is "Things that sweep." That's right, the Sox put the finishing touches on a sweep of the Devil Rays last night, led by Paulie Konerko's two home runs and Javier Vazquez's seven innings of one-run, seven hit ball. The bullpen chipped in with another scoreless effort (raise your hand if you thought we'd be using that phrase five games ago!).

The win was the fourth in a row for the Sox and left them 12 games back in the Central Division race. Still a long way from a post-season spot, but suddenly, it doesn't look hopeless. Certainly not if they play like they have against the D-Rays. The Sox scored 21 runs on 44 hits, while giving up only nine runs -- none by the relievers (who allowed only two hits). And they did this on the road, going against the home field advantage. (Speaking of that, what's with the A.L. Central? The division is five games over .500 on the road -- the only one in baseball to post a winning record in away games. True, the Tigers have been phenomenal at 12 games over, but the rest of the division is only seven games under, which is much better than any other division minus its best Road Warrior. The White Sox, by the way, have a better road record than their mark at the Cell.) Let's keep it up in KC, where the Sox play next. Go Sox!

Before we go, however, we have to pay tribute to Update favorite, Frank Thomas. The Big Hurt became the 21st player to join the 500 home run club last night -- Bonds, Sosa, and Griffey, Jr., are the only other active players who are members. And most of the recent additions, not Griffey, not Murray, have been linked to steroid use. Not Big Frank. He's always been big and Big. He may play for someone else now, but he'll always be a White Sox to the Update. We can't picture his Hall of Fame plaque without a Sox cap and hope that the silly feud with Kenny Williams doesn't result in what would be a travesty.