"The comeback from the two-month coma the White Sox suffered through to start the season was a valiant one. As a matter of fact, it was almost historic as far as the franchise was concerned.

Unless they finish the job by winning the American League Central, though, it becomes meaningless.

That's where the bar is set in the eyes of general manager Ken Williams, filtering all the way down to the coaching staff.

''I think we have a bunch of pros here,'' Sox hitting coach Greg Walker said of what lies in front of the team the final six-plus weeks. ''I like the way this team has fought all year. It's a good team, a talented team, a fun bunch to be around. I hope they finish it off. We're going to sit back and watch. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here. I think they probably haven't gotten enough credit for what they have done this year, but you want to finish it off.''

Walker knows the consequences of not finishing it off.

''Yeah, [the turnaround] definitely loses its luster,'' Walker explained. ''They say the numbers don't lie. I mean, you can't get rid of them. They've done what they've done this year, but I'm proud to have watched them come back. Now we just sit back and watch them compete. That's all you can do. We're not going to reinvent swings right now. Now just everyone go out and play. No secrets. I'm not real worried about anyone.''

While that might be true, Walker also knows that of his big three -- Paul Konerko, Alex Rios and Carlos Quentin -- it might be Quentin who will have the most say in this race."