10 Sox keys for catching A's // Stretch drive

ARLINGTON, Texas The gates are open, and the horses are spinningout of the turn.

This American League West race has been trimmed to a two-horsefield, with the long-shot White Sox hanging valiantly on the outsideof the favored Oakland Athletics.

Today begins the stretch drive, the last time the rivals can look back. From now on, either youhave the horses or you don't.

"I know we've done a heck of a job with what we've had. Whetherwe can hold it the rest of the way, I don't know," White Sox managerJeff Torborg said as his team braced for a four-game weekend series in Texas before starting athree-game set Monday against the Athletics at Comiskey Park.

In some ways, this race has been like a claimer stalkingSecretariat. The defending world champion Athletics have been bredfor this kind of race.

And they have a six-stride lead, which seems almost impossibleto make up.

"I know we've got to do well," Torborg said. "How thattranslates into victories, I don't know."

This is how it translates into victories: For Oakland to win 100 games (it won 99 last season), it would haveto go 25-19 the rest of the way.

Just to tie with 100 victories, the White Sox would have go33-15, which is a winning percentage of .688. (The Athletics,baseball's best team, are playing .636 this season.) If Oakland should somehow falter and play only .500 the rest of theway, it would finish 97-65.

For the White Sox to match that, they would have to go 30-18 intheir final 48 games. That's a winning percentage of .625.

What must the Sox do to overtake Oakland? Is it even possible?Here are 10 keys that have to mesh if the Sox have any chance of evena photo finish:

1. Keep the shoulder chip: Torborg has fostered anus-against-the-world mentality since spring training. It may notalways make for the most pleasant of situations, but it has kept theSox focused (Torborg's favorite word) and aggressive.

The old "let's show them" attitude may be rooted in paranoia,but this team really believes that everybody is out to get them.But, again, it has created a team of overachievers.

This team refuses to have fun winning. That could be good - orbad - in the final few weeks.

2. Survive with kids: Most teams in pennant races trade forveteran help, but the White Sox called up Alex Fernandez and FrankThomas. Both are barely old enough to drink beer, much less handlethe big-dollar, big-pressure fishbowl of a pennant race.

Then there's Robin Ventura, Jack McDowell, Lance Johnson, SammySosa, Scott Radinsky and Wayne Edwards. None has been through anentire major-league season, much less a pennant race.

But there won't be a pennant race for these Goo-Goo Sox withoutthe kids playing like they did in Little League.

3. Hit homers: This may be the most difficult of the 10-itemlist. The Sox probably will wind up with no 20-homer players,although Ron Kittle likely would have done it had he stayed.

Without at least the threat of a three-run homer, a heavy burdenwill be put on pitching and defense.

4. Win every close game: Bullpen closer Bobby Thigpen has to bealmost perfect until the end. He can't blow saves like he didMonday.

5. Get relief pitching: The worry at the All-Star break wasoveruse of the bullpen. Now, the worry is whether all those earlyinnings have made Barry Jones, Radinsky, Donn Pall and Ken Pattersonarm-weary.

6. Get starting pitching: If there has been a flaw since theAll-Star break (the Sox are only 19-17), it is the inconsistency ofthe starting staff. Even when Eric King was healthy, he showed signsof returning to earth.

Greg Hibbard and Melido Perez need to have quality starts almostevery time out. And Fernandez and McDowell must pitch like they havethe last three weeks.

Starters can put their teams out of games early. That can'thappen.

7. Stay aggressive: Without home-run power, the Sox have tosteal bases, execute hit-and-runs and make every sacrifice count.

That's not an easy chore when the opposition knows thatsacrifice is coming.

8. Find a hot hand: In almost every pennant race, there is ahero, someone who played above his head for the last month. Wayabove his head, like hitting .450 with five homers in the final fewweeks. Who might it be? Who could catch fire and ignite the rest ofthe team? Carlton Fisk? Ivan Calderon? Phil Bradley? Thomas?

9. Avoid injuries: The Sox are not deep in talent. One keyinjury would end it all.

The Athletics have proved it can win without Rickey Hendersonand/or Jose Canseco in the lineup. The Sox can't.

10. Have Oakland fail: Being a veteran team, it isn't likelythat the Athletics will choke. And having Tony LaRussa as manager,it isn't likely the Athletics will lose their intensity.

Barring that, how about a monthlong West Coast flu bug?

That isn't likely either - just like the Sox' chances.