If the Homerun Derby and All-Star game are indications of what to expect in baseball’s second half then I’m adding a seatbelt to my recliner because I don’t want to miss a pitch of any game. The White Sox still have the best record in the American League Central division but the lead was shrinking as the first half of the season closed.

Just because it’s no longer Independence Day doesn’t mean the fireworks have to stop. In fact, there were four more sets of fireworks that went off at U.S. Cellular on Saturday: one set for each homerun the Sox hit (three) and one last set to celebrate the Sox win over the A’s.

The White Sox salvaged a season split with the Cubs on Sunday by sweeping them over the weekend in U.S. Cellular, and they did it with some power. In the three-games against the Cubs the Sox managed to slug seven homers compared to the Cubs’ mere three (all were hit on Friday and all were solo homeruns). That’s exactly how the Sox have been getting the job done this year as they lead the majors in homers.

To say that the White Sox slaughtered the Pirates like farmers slaughter chickens is an injustice to the chickens because it’s embarrassing to them to be linked to the Pirates.White Sox are rolling with downhill momentum heading into Wrigley for the cross-town match-up while the Cubs are still dragging up the hill with a proverbial boulder chained to their leg. It's that time of year again. Let the games begin!