ALDS: Small-ball philosophy works in one series, but not the other

The best team in postseason history -- the only one with a 1.000 winning percentage -- can finish the job today in Chicago, and the Tampa Bay Rays can send the Windy City's promising postseason into a cold winter.

The White Sox might have a chance, however. It's getting cold up north, and Chicago was tough at home (54-28) as well. Tampa Bay was 40-41 on the road. And Chicago will have John Danks on the mound today, who was great in the tiebreaker game on Tuesday against Minnesota. The White Sox would have 17-game winner Gavin Floyd in Game 4.

The Rays were great at home, playing their game of running and clutch hits for a pair of comeback wins over the White Sox. Their tactics might not work as well in Chicago.

The Rays' philosophy is the same as the Angels, which is where their manager, Joe Maddon, used to be the bench coach. It's all about defense, running and clutch hitting, and the Rays are actually playing that game better than the Angels - who will juggle their lineup today and must beat Josh Beckett at Fenway Park just to stay alive.

So these series aren't quite over yet. But I'll give the White Sox more of a shot at this point than the fading Angels.

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