Electricity

So here we have it: the final series with the White Sox (until the World Series). The first series sort of came up out of nowhere, but this one feels like it's been building for a while. For this series, we're all ready.

In May, White Sox fans had to listen to outsiders describe their team's season -- up to that point -- as a fluke. Cubs fans were still waiting for their team to get healthy, and for their team to develop character. Now, everyone realizes that the White Sox are not masquerading as contenders. The Cubs are still waiting to get healthy, but they have developed character. This series feels like a real battle.

LaTroy is long gone, and Corey Patterson is the new goat. In terms of fans' perception, it's somewhat of a do-or-die time for CP this weekend. This is one thing to look for, whether he will step up or not.

Prior is coming back. I know some people favor a rehab start, but -- as long as pitching doesn't risk compounding his injury -- I think he might as well pitch for the Cubs. Even if he can only go 5 or 6 innings, that's as good as I would hope from whoever else would start in his place. From what I understand about his injury, even the adrenaline rushing while he pitches with that real-game effort shouldn't put him at any greater risk. Plus, it's a sign that the Cubs are starting to feel the urgency their situation deserves.

Cubs fans have this, too: as good as the White Sox are doing, they do not have a player who has played as well as Derrek Lee. Some of us noticed back in May that we were watching something special develop. It didn't take long for everyone to catch on. There is a good chance that if I ever have children, I will be telling them about Derrek Lee's 2005 season, when the best kind of Cubs star unleashed his best on the league.

In some ways, we should be even more thankful than we realize that Dusty can pencil #25 third in the lineup every day, because it's the only spot in the lineup that ever stays the same for more than three games. I'm not going to defend Dusty because I simply cannot understand the reasoning behind many of his decisions, but this is also a sign that he's still waiting for guys to play consistently. Only Lee has, and only Lee stays at the same spot in the lineup. One could certainly say more here about how Dusty isn't guiding -- or even pushing -- this team to become what he expects them to be, but I'll leave it at that.

Still, this is an important series. Next week will feel anti-climactic, going up to the All-Star break. This weekend is important for the Cubs for the same reason the Yankees series was important: the Cubs need to figure out how to play well against better teams if they are going to become a better team. Until they do this we remain apprehensive about every series. Maybe the extra energy of the Crosstown series can spark them. I just don't want to keep waiting for a spark that never comes.

This weekend, though, we won't worry about that. This weekend, we let the electricity crackle and we sit down to enjoy it. The White Sox are a better team, but the Cubs are good enough to compete. I'm heading down to U.S. Cellular this afternoon to take in the first game, and I'm ready to let all the currents swirl around me. Here we go...