Strong pitching duos: propel their teams to the heights.(Warm Up Tosses)

EARLIER THIS SEASON, JOE THE BARBER WAS VOICING HIS REALISTIC VIEWS ON the key element of winning baseball games.

"The White Sox will go as far as their pitching will take them," he said, waving his scissors in the air for emphasis.

There were no dissenters to his view among customers waiting to be shorn in a shop that features an ancient, wooden green seat from old Comiskey Park.

Since the proprietor was born and bred on the south side of Chicago, a territory where Cub fans are scarce, it was natural for him to focus his attention on the White Sox whose pitching helped the club get off to a hot start this year.

It was only spring time, but that quick dash to the top by manager Ozzie Guillen's crew received a big push from a pair of young starters, right-hander Jon Garland (9-2) and left-hander Mark Buehrle (7-1).

At ages 25 and 26 respectively, the pair were stirring dreams of a division title for a team that was finding ways to win despite an offense that included such struggling hitters as third baseman Joe Crede, shortstop Juan Uribe and DH Carl Everett whose inconsistency at the plate tested Guillen's patience in the early going.

In his first 12 starts, Buehrle held opposing hitters to a .230 batting average, with Garland almost matching him with a .242 BA-against mark in 11 starts.