Top Ten reasons a Sox sweep in Minnesota is mandatory

Alright, this is it. The Sox are potentially three wins away from their second division title in four years. While they do have six more games to wrap it up, and a magic number at five, it is important the Sox earn the division title as soon as possible. Below are ten reasons why.

10. No need to rush Quentin back
I am not entirely sure how bad this injury is, but the last rumor was he would be ready for the playoffs. While it would be great to have him, the possibility of rushing him back for the last series of the season doesn't sit well in my stomach.

9. Match the Cubs
This is probably the least of the Sox worries at the moment, but the idea of both teams making the playoffs is one of the coolest things that has happened to the city in decades. For the Sox to blow it would be devistating, not to mention all the jeering Sox fans would get. I couldn't put up with that.

8. Cliff Lee
Should the season be decided by Sunday's season finale at the Cell, I would not like my chances. This is because of one man; The unstoppable Cliff Lee, who would be scheduled to start. Cliff has dominated baseball all season long, and has not lost a game since July 6. Until last week, Lee had earned a win in every decision since that loss.

7. Don't want to give Twins a chance
The Twins do not deserve to be playing in October. Everybody understands that except Minnesota. If they are given even the smallest glimpse of hope, they always do whatever they can to take advantage.

6. Kansas City could hold Sox fate
Kansas City will take on Minnesota to finish out the year after the three-game set where the Twins host the ChiSox. While Detroit and Cleveland have disappointed, the Sox and Twins have overachieved, one thing still remained in the AL Central; the Royals still suck. This will not change next Friday-Sunday.

5. Cleveland is on fire
Winning six in a row, Cleveland is starting to look like the team they were supposted to be, too bad for them it came six months too late. Sizemore is hitting the ball and Victor Martinez has been clutch of late. I would not want Cleveland to play spoiler, something that could happen if the White Sox don't take care of business.

4. Try some new guys
While there wouldn't be anything on the line, it wouldn't be a bad move to give guys like Getz, Bourgeois and Fields more time. You never know how important a guy who doesn't get off the bench much could be in the postseason (i.e. Blum).

3. Rest Starters
This kind of goes along with #4, but now would be a great time to give the vets like Konerko, Griffey and Dye the next couple days off. It has been a pretty down year until late for Paulie and Grif looks tired. Giving the bullpen a rest would be a must, especially because they will go against either high-powered offenses of either East team.

2. Set the rotation
Winning early gives the Sox a chance to set the rotation the way they want going into either Tampa or Boston. While I disagree with this, the rotation will look something like Vasquez, Buehrle, Danks and Floyd. The way this is set has its strengths but also its weaknesses. Putting experience in the front end could prove worthy, but the back-to-back lefties in the heart of the rotation may haunt them. I wouldn't be surprised to see Danks throw Game 1, or Floyd Game 3 in order to fix the problem.

1. Confidence going into October
The Sox would not only be the last team into the AL postseason, they would also be the weakest (LAA, Boston and Tampa are far superior and more refined teams). While I think the other teams are better, I do feel all those teams have weaknesses. The Angels have not played a meaningful game all year, Tampa is very inexperienced and Boston has been injury-plagued. What better way to go into the postseason than by sweeping a playoff-caliber team?