Even Jim Thome can see something is up.............
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- As Jim Thome reminded his teammates, the days of scanning the schedule, seeing the letters "K.C." and penciling in at least two victories in a three-game series are over for the White Sox. The term ''parity'' might be thrown around too often in sports, but it's the only way to describe the American League Central four days before Opening Day.
"Look at their club,'' Thome said Wednesday of the Kansas City Royals, who haven't finished higher than third in the division since 1995 and have finished last seven times in that span. ''I was watching them on TV a week ago, and I was like, 'Wow, this team has improved.'
"They're young, but they swing the bats. And we all know about their starting pitching. Then they added to their bullpen, which makes them even more equal to the rest of the pack. They could be like Tampa Bay, where they collected a lot of young guys over the years, signed some guys and have progressed to the point where it could make our division that much better.''