my.nwi.com

Today, I declare the White Sox season over, at least in my mind.

The end came Tuesday evening with a combination Sox fans have come to dread, but expect in 2009.

Top of the eighth at Fenway Park against the dangerous Boston Red Sox, score tied at three. Carlos Quentin reaches on an infield pop fly that is not caught, and takes second after Boston catcher Victor Martinez throws a ball into center field intended for pitcher Hideki Okajima. Paul Konerko follows with a quality at-bat, punching a single to right. First and third, nobody out. Most fans would reasonably expect at least one run to score, and likely more, given this good fortune. Not on the South Side. Jermaine Dye offers a weak pop up for out number one. A.J. Pierzynski whiffs for the second out, and Alex Rios hits a pop out to end the inning. Unfortunatley, this isn't the first time White Sox fans have seen this happen.

Then, if that's not bad enough, guess what reliever took the mound for the bottom of the eighth? Scott Linebrink. Uh-oh. Before I could text my good friend and White Sox fan Tom Bork with my prediction of impending doom, Jason Bay slugs one over the Monster. Boston scored two more for good measure, and now all I've got to look forward to is how Jake Peavy does if and when he takes the mound, and hopefully Gordon Beckham will be named American League Rookie of the Year.

In an American League Central there for the taking, Tuesday's crushing loss leaves Chicago 4.5 games behind Detroit, and now tied with Minnesota at 63-63. But this is a team leading the league in errors and failing to take advantage of a soft schedule prior to this four-game series in Boston. 

Maybe Mark Buehrle was right when he pointed out after tossing a perfect game last month how the Sox had a lousy 2007 season after he pitched a no-hitter that year. Well, Buehrle hasn't won a game since his 27 up, 27 down performance on July 23, and the Sox are five games under .500 during that stretch.

White Sox optimists – and if there are any out there I would love to hear from you – could point out Detroit is on the schedule for six games right near the end of the season. But with two more at Fenway, three at Yankee Stadium and three more at that house of horrors otherwise known as the Metrodome, it's time for me to realize the Sox won't be a part of postseason play this year. 

 - Tom