As a Sox fan, Thursday night was sad pathetic. Right now, it's funny pathetic. Javy Vazquez must have a ridiculously fragile psyche. He was absolutely dominant for 4 innings (outside of the Choo homer in the 1st). Everything was working. Then, two men get on in the fifth, and he's finished. This might be explained by Ozzie pitching him on short rest- except he was amazing for 4 innings! He didn't look tired or worn-out, just completely unfocused.

Neither the Twins nor Sox deserves the playoffs at this point, it's like the NL Central of 2007. The Jays and Yankees should be playing for the final spot.

I was at the game tonight, with my dad and uncles (the Sox fans). Javier Vasquez DID turn bad stunningly fast, but none of us could figure out why Ozzie left him in there for so long. Same with Linebrink in the 9th.

And I couldn't believe how pessimistic the crowd was. When the score was 7-1 after 5 I (as an outsider Cub fan) openly predicted that the Sox would score a bunch of runs to get back into the game, although I also said that it eventually wouldn't be enough. Meanwhile, all around me I heard the words "dead" and "finished" and "gutless".

In the 9th my dad did say, "Selig should just unilaterally declare the Indians the AL Central Champs. Screw the Sox and the Twins." At this point, as hot as they are and with Cliff Lee able to pitch 2 of the 5 first-round games, I'd give them at least a fighting chance against the Rays. Which is more than I can say for either the Sox or Twins.

The White Sox need to realize that they need to actually win a game in order to win the Central.

At this point, as hot as they are and with Cliff Lee able to pitch 2 of the 5 first-round games, I'd give them at least a fighting chance against the Rays. Which is more than I can say for either the Sox or Twins.

It sure feels like the Sox/Twins will get bounced in a heartbeat from the ALDS, but we've seen some strange things with respect to hot and cold teams in September and their playoff performance. The Twins were on fire to close out 2006, but they got swept easily by Oakland. The Cardinals couldn't beat anyone in September of 2006 (lost 9 of their final 12 games), and they won the World Series. Both Minnesota and Chicago have solid starting pitching, and I think both could hold their own in a postseason series.

@ Joe Mauer Power Hour (cool name):

The Rays have slightly better starting pitching than either the Sox/Twins (especially in the Terrordome), and their bullpen is FAR superior. The Sox' bullpen has been horrifyingly ineffective down the stretch and I think their offense is too "multiple HR or bust" to survive long in the playoffs against teams with superior pitching.

I don't know as much about the Twins, but it SEEMS that both teams play similar games; don't walk opponents, make them hit the ball, play stellar defense, hit w/RISP (although the Twins are better at that), and count on the Dome for massive home-field advantage in close games. As an outsider, it seems that the teams are similar but the Rays just do almost everything a little bit better.

You're right, the best-of-5 series is a crapshoot and strange things happen all the time. But if someone offered me "over/under wins of the AL Central champions in the ALDS = 1.5", I would bet HEAVILY on the "under".

At this point, as hot as they are and with Cliff Lee able to pitch 2 of the 5 first-round games, I'd give them at least a fighting chance against the Rays. Which is more than I can say for either the Sox or Twins.

They're 5-2 against the Rays this year. And they have the Canadian soldiers on their side...

I was at the game tonight, with my dad and uncles (the Sox fans). Javier Vasquez DID turn bad stunningly fast, but none of us could figure out why Ozzie left him in there for so long. Same with Linebrink in the 9th.

Maybe you haven't paid attention lately, but the Sox have only one reliever (Thorton) who has gotten anyone out in the month of September. Who the Hell was Ozzie going to bring in? Even if you get out of the inning, you've now got to get through 3 more innings with a bullpen that's in shambles. Ozzie hoped that Vazquez could find his rhythm again...he had been dominant for 4 IP.

And I couldn't believe how pessimistic the crowd was. When the score was 7-1 after 5 I (as an outsider Cub fan) openly predicted that the Sox would score a bunch of runs to get back into the game, although I also said that it eventually wouldn't be enough. Meanwhile, all around me I heard the words "dead" and "finished" and "gutless".

Ummmm....again, have you paid attention to the Sox in September? Minnesota is 10-14 this month...and they've GAINED ground. It's hard to be optimistic when you're witnessing this collapse.

They're 5-2 against the Rays this year. And they have the Canadian soldiers on their side...

And, even better, they just fought the Rays to a 2-2 draw in Tampa just last week. However, looking at the talent disparities between the Rays and the AL Central teams, their comparative overall performance this year, and, especially, the shockingly poor play of the two Central teams lately, I stand by my assertion that neither will win more than 1 game in the ALDS against Tampa. It's just an opinion. I might be wrong. :)

Maybe you haven't paid attention lately, but the Sox have only one reliever (Thorton) who has gotten anyone out in the month of September. Who the Hell was Ozzie going to bring in? Even if you get out of the inning, you've now got to get through 3 more innings with a bullpen that's in shambles. Ozzie hoped that Vazquez could find his rhythm again...he had been dominant for 4 IP.

And it was clear to everyone, including the rows of die-hard Sox fans by which I was surrounded, that Vasquez' light clicked off almost immediately in the fifth. He started by getting Martinez. Good. Then he gave up a 50-hopper through the middle to Garko on a 3-2 pitch. Fine; at least he made him hit his way on. And then the walk to Delucci. And that's when the "get Richard/Dotel/anyone" up calls began. No activity in the bullpen. Francisco singled. Still no one up. Crowd getting more restless. Cabrera clears the bases. And then Richard starting warming. And the people around me began in a chorus of, "well, it's too late now." And then Ozzie let Vasquez stay for THREE MORE BATTERS, giving up two more runs. This wasn't second-guessing, and it wasn't just me.

And, to address the sentence that I bolded; all during the pitching changes of the 8th inning rally, a couple of fans went back to the Indians' 5th. "If Ozzie had gotten Vasquez out of there earlier, we might be tied right now", etc. etc.

And then in the 9th when Linebrink was up two of the people I was sitting with opined that he was only going to face (not Cabrera, but I forget who), and that Thornton was warming for Sizemore, Carroll, and Choo. Instead, Linebrink faced them all, and gave up hits to most of them. And then Ozzie brought in Thornton. Again, too late.

Ummmm....again, have you paid attention to the Sox in September? Minnesota is 10-14 this month...and they've GAINED ground. It's hard to be optimistic when you're witnessing this collapse.

Yes...and then I also looked at the fact that the Sox were at home in their launching pad, against a relatively unproven pitcher and a subpar bullpen after him. And they had scored 6 runs on Thursday and 8 yesterday. And I predicted a big rally to come. And I was right.

Speaking of bullpens...how 'bout those Twins? Their bullpen has probably been their most consistent strength these past 6-7 years. Lately, not so much. So sure enough, yesterday vs. KC, the Twins lead 2-1 and Gardenhire brings in Bonser with an ERA of about 6 and Guerrier with an ERA over 10 the past 2 months, and pfft. There goes the ball game. Whether there was anybody else he coulda/shoulda thrown out there I don't know.

And I couldn't believe how pessimistic the crowd was. When the score was 7-1 after 5 I (as an outsider Cub fan) openly predicted that the Sox would score a bunch of runs to get back into the game, although I also said that it eventually wouldn't be enough. Meanwhile, all around me I heard the words "dead" and "finished" and "gutless".

Two differences: White Sox fans are a bit more pragmatic than their north-side cousins - we didn't think the 2005 team was all that good, frankly -- and third-place American League teams aren't the Colorado Rockies.