22 (Tigers); 21 (Twins) (Day Two)

Remember when Mark Buehrle had that record-tying streak of quality starts? And remember how he hasn't been able to come up with a quality start lateley? And remember how the Update has been telling you that the White Sox win a very high percentage when getting a quality start? Well, Buehrle returned to form last night, throwing seven innings and allowing only three runs (on eight hits), but the Sox didn't hold to their form, losing to the Angels 4-3 in extra innings. Bobby Jenks, who has been very hittable lately, took the loss. Jenks gave up two hits and walked two of the seven men he faced, in yielding the game-winning run. What seemed automatic for most of the season -- a shut-down performance from Bad Bobby -- now seems fairly iffy. That's not the formula for success. Nor is a 1 for 13 performance from the 3-4-5 hitters, like the Sox got last night from their Big Three.

That was a game the team needed to win, as both Detroit and Minnesota rallied to pull out victories. The loss combined with the rivals' wins left the Magic Number the same, but dropped the Sox to four games back of Detroit and 2.5 back of the Twins.

The only good news is that the Sox won the coin flip that gives them home field advantage in any playoff games. The whole system is very complex, but if the Sox tie with one of the other two teams and both are assured of being in the post-season, then head-to-head records determine the outcome. The Sox have clinched the advantage over Detroit and can do so over Minnesota by sweeping the Twins, admittedly an unlikely possibility on the road. If there is a three-way tie among the Sox, Detroit and Minnesota, then it gets really complicated. Here's the rule (and if you understand it, explain it to me):

Scenario #8: There is a three-way tie for highest winning percentage among Division winners and a tiebreaker is required to determine home field advantage in the Division Series.

The tied Club that has a better record against both of the other Division champions during the championship season will be deemed to have the higher winning percentage. The tie between the two remaining Clubs shall be broken as follows:

The first tiebreaker will be head-to-head competition between the two Clubs during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in intradivision games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in intraleague games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half of intraleague games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half plus one of intraleague games during the championship season. This process will be followed game-by-game until the tie is broken.

If none of the three tied Clubs has a better record against both of the other Division champions during the championship season, then the Club deemed to have the higher winning percentage shall be:

The tied Club with the higher winning percentage in head-to-head competition among the tied Clubs during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in intradivision games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in intraleague games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half of intraleague games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half plus one of intraleague games during the championship season. This process will be followed game-by-game until the tie is broken.

Go Sox!