Well, not exactly a case against, but this is a Chicago-based writer musing on what might not have happened had the White Sox league-high $50 million bid for Kosuke Fukudome been accepted. Mostly this means the team wouldn’t have traded for Nick Swisher, who’s been finally swinging a good bat as of late.

While the 23-year-old Sweeney is hitting a soft .290 as Oakland’s No. 2 hitter, the trade is doing exactly what Williams hoped it would. John Danks and Gavin Floyd  have pitched so well that Gonzalez still would be in Triple-A (De los Santos underwent Tommy John  surgery in May) and Swisher, whom ESPN’s Keith Law praised at the time of the deal as “a borderline star offensive player,” has recovered from a terrible start to add length to a lineup that finished 2007 containing three holes, even on the good days.

Baseball bloggers love to hate Kenny Williams, but he made what has to be, at least in terms of immediate help, the best trade of the off-season in Carlos Quentin. The Swisher trade starting to look very good as well, and the kicker with that deal, which is mentioned later in the article, is the fact that he’s signed through 2011 — as is Fukudome. But as the writer notes, Swisher makes $5 million less per year.

With Cabrera and Swisher, the White Sox have baseball’s least likely first-place team. They aren’t the same punch-less bunch that scored two runs in their three games against the Cubs at the Cell a year ago.

Like their stubborn general manager, they keep fighting back.

I have to say I’m surprised by the White Sox. To be fair (to myself), I predicted the White Sox would get off to a good start before imploding and finishing the year in last place. There’s still time for the team to collapse, and the AL Central down the stretch should be as interesting as any race in baseball, but I don’t think this is a last place team at all.

But I think from here through 2011 a comparison of Swisher and Fukudome is a good way to go. The thing that jumped out to me about that deal was the length and price of Swisher’s contract. Gio Gonzalez is 3-6 with a 5.51 ERA for the A’s in Triple A and the other prospect from that deal Fautino de los Santos is out for the year after Tommy John surgery.

Obviously too early to tell, but Swisher is coming into his prime. His June totals going into tonight’s game read .302/.384/.570 and a OPS of .954. He scored 20 runs, had 18 RBI and hit 5 HRs.

Fukudome photo courtesy of Rumors and Rants.