86 (Day Two)

The Update is officially disgusted. The White Sox bullpen blew another one last night. Closer Bobby Jenks, who pitches better when he hasn't been in the game the night before, blew his fifth save of the season and his third in the last seven games. Jenks allowed a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to rob Jon Garland of a well-deserved win. Garland threw 122 pitches, the most by a Sox pitcher this season -- a clear indication that Ozzie was afraid to call on a reliever unless he absolutely had to do so. Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger, another recent call-up from Charlotte, did throw two innings of scoreless relief, although he needed a good catch and throw by Jermaine Dye to keep it that way. You can't blame Oz for bringing in Jenks to pitch the ninth. He's the closer that's on the roster. He just didn't get it done. And Dewon Day didn't either, giving up the winning run in the 11th inning for his first career loss. The way he pitched, it won't be his last -- unless he's permanently sent to the minors. The reasonable offense -- five runs, 10 hits, including three by Jim Thome and a homer by Dye, who's on a tear -- was wasted.

The Update wonders: If we feel this bad, how must the team feel? We know they make millions, but they still have to take all of this to heart and be hurting. It's not that they don't seem to be trying; it's that they don't seem to be that good. Anyway, the Magic Number hasn't changed from yesterday's 86, but the Sox fell another game behind Detroit (14.5) and allowed KC to draw another game closer (1.5 games behind the Sox). The loss also dropped them into second place in the fantasy A.L. Worst division (see yesterday's post), a half-game behind the Orioles. Go Sox!