Sox coast against A's

Since outfielder Alex Rios arrived in Seattle on Tuesday and dressed in his White Sox uniform for the first time, the team has responded with a 3-1 record.

Not a pretty 3-1, mind you. In fact, quite ugly in some ways. Nevertheless, they're 3-1 after the 8-1 rout of the Oakland Athletics on Saturday at the Coliseum.

But according to Jim Thome --fresh off his 22nd homer in the blowout -- it's not supposed to be pretty. And if the first four-plus months of the season have taught the Sox and their fans anything, it's that nothing comes easy, including trying to repeat as American League Central Division champs.

''We like where we're at,'' Thome said. ''The bottom line …