"The American League Central is theirs for the taking, but first place won't be handed to the White Sox.

And if they are going to rise up and snatch it away after the All-Star break, they had better take their performance — and attitudes — to a higher level.

So says Jake Peavy, an observant sort who has suggested twice in the last two days that the Sox need a mental makeover.

"At times, it's been missing from our team," Peavy told the Sun-Times before the Sox beat the Cubs 6-4 on Friday at Wrigley Field.

"It" would be all things baseball-dirty, mean and nasty, Peavy said. Leave nothing for granted for nine innings every night. The Sox'

$127 million worth of talent won't be enough to get the job done. It's time to be Team Mean.

"There is no doubt about it," Peavy said. "For us to be the team we want to be .?.?. we've talked about focusing on fundamentals and being a solid, sound team on the field. At the same time, we have to play with that same grit and desire and will to win, whether it's pitching, at bat or getting to a ball and sacrificing your body. We can't be who we've been.""