White Sox turn tables on Twins, make history

For the first time since 2005, the White Sox won a season series against the Minnesota Twins.

For the first time history, they flat-out embarrassed them.

With a resounding 9-2 victory on Sunday, the Sox took 14 of 18 games against their rivals of the new century. The Sox split a couple seasons in 2007 and 2011, but Chicago hadn't had the upper hand since Ozzie Guillen's second season, when they won 11 of 18.

That was a key test to pass. The Twins were equally putrid last year, but those Sox couldn't figure out how to kick Ron Gardenhire while he was down until the halfway point -- damn that professional respect! -- and by then, Kenny Williams had already decided changes needed to be made. Robin Ventura's crew won all six series, so I think you'd have to give him an A+ for this category.

If you're still not impressed, there's this fact: The White Sox beat the Twins more times in 2012 than in any other single season of the Twins' 51-year history. And they had games to spare!

Let's get the qualification out of the way: Between 1979 and 2000, the two teams met between 11 and 13 times a year, so winning 14 over that stretch would be really impressive in an impossible way.

Nevertheless, it's a noteworthy accomplishment when looking at how lopsided it's been in the other direction. The White Sox topped out at 11 wins in 2005, whereas the Twins won 13 games or more against the Sox in three separate seasons. And when you look at winning percentage, the 2012 Sox even lead in that department (.778). The 1993 and 1995 teams come closest with 10-3 records (.769).

Best yet, this record against the Twins holds up well when putting it against the Tigers' success record. In fact, the White Sox have taken care of business against the dregs of the AL Central, and Detroit can't say the same with a half-dozen games remaining.

That's a seven-game difference, which is precisely the amount of ground the Sox have lost to the Tigers in head-to-head matchups this season. They're a miserable 5-12 against Detroit, but they've managed to catch these other kinds of breaks that will allow them to own a three-game lead if they can tame the Tigers in their last meeting of the season.

The story arc of this season suggests the Sox will choose the narrower road when possible, but the plan says they win today, and both teams have followed it to date.