La Russa best Sox candidate from otherwise dull lot.(Chicago Tribune)

Byline: Phil Rogers

CHICAGO _ Jerry Manuel is a good man in a nasty business, and you can never have too many of those. But zero postseason victories in six seasons adds up to adios these days, even for guys who are as classy as Manuel.

So the White Sox's 5-1 victory Sunday at Kansas City will leave Manuel with an even 500 wins for his time in Chicago. He would be back in 2004 if that pile were just a little higher.

Manuel had a team that should have won at least 90 this season. That was all it took to get to the playoffs in the American League Central, which remains baseball's truest land of opportunity.

Like the Cubs, the White Sox could have been a serious threat in …