Chicago White Sox

USA Today is polling its readers with respect to each team's greatest player. Five "finalists" are selected and fans select the one they consider the best.

The Chicago White Sox have had many great stars. The five finalists for the greatest White Sox player are Luke Appling (.310/.399/.398),  Eddie Collins (.333/.424/.429), Nellie Fox (.288/.348/.363), Frank Thomas (.301/.419/.555) and Ted Lyons (26.-230, 3.67 ERA).

The offense mustered by the Chicago White Sox in their 9-3 loss to Detroit is typical of the team's misfortunes of late.  With the loss to the Tigers in the first game of a weekend series, the White Sox have lost eight of their last nine games.

Make no mistake, the Chicago White Sox can easily run away from this division. However, if they’re going to put down the upstart Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians, they must find someone who can close out the game for them. They tried out All-Star setup man Matt Thornton, and it didn't work out so well.

How many top ten singles did Natalie Imbruglia produce? How many movies has Brett Favre scored a cameo in? How many songs by The Fugees can you sing by heart? If you haven't found the commonality in these questions just yet, this might make it a bit easier for you: how many pitches does Matt Thornton have?

Amidst blown saves and dropped balls, games have been up and down in Chicago to start the season. A team Chicago fans thought was “All in” this year, is turning out to be a team still trying to find themselves at the plate and in the field.

As the White Sox attempt to find their game, one fact should stand to take notice: With everything happening on the South Side, we know we have three Gold Glovers playing this year.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Edwin Jackson dominated the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday, allowing just one run on four hits and one walk while fanning 13.

After two starts this season, the 27-year-old is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 12.9 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9.

Minnie Minoso was one of the best players of the 1950s. He had a Hall of Fame career, although he will never be voted into the Hall of Fame.

"Opening day is always a pain in the (rear). There’s always stuff around there. It’s almost the most overrated thing. But it’s always nice for the fans. This day is for the fans. Opening day is just for the fans. To me it’s just another game. Just thank God you have another year in the big leagues. But I think the fans should be excited."-Ozzie Guillen.

The fans are excited.  How could you not be?

The White Sox made a quick pit stop in Kansas City this week for a two game series with the Royals before returning home Thursday for their home opener with the Tampa Bay Rays, and once again the bats carried spotty pitching and poor defense to a series split.

He's been their Opening Day starter nine times in 10 years.

He's given them double-digit wins and 200-plus innings over 10 straight seasons.

He's pitched a perfect game and a no-hitter in his tenure. He went 16-8 with a 3.12 earned run average helping the team to a 2005 World Series championship.

Come on, he's a senior member of Redneck Row!

At age 32, he's still got plenty left in the tank.

But he's given up 200-plus hits nine years in a row.