R.I.P.

The White Sox, who have been a dead team walking for most of the season, are now officially dead in terms of the A.L. Central race. By losing their 82nd game over the weekend, they ensured themselves a losing season. And they are locked in a pitched (not well-pitched, just pitched) battle with Tampa Bay for worst record in the majors. (Good thing it's not like football where you can trade draft choices, otherwise Kenny Williams would have swapped the first pick in next year's draft for another fireballing relief pitcher who can't get anyone out.)

The only reason to watch the rest of the season -- unless you're one of those people who can't look away from the scene of an accident -- is Jim Thome. The big guy is only two homers shy of 500 and has 26 on the year. The Update predicted back in the Spring that Thome would follow Frank Thomas and ARod into the 500 Home Run Club, and we're sticking by that prediction. While 28 doesn't seem like a lot of homers to have expected, remember that roundtrippers are down across the board. The Sox, who as a team have crashed the 200 mark forever it seems, are 36 dingers away from doing it again this year. Joe Crede's absence didn't help, but Josh Fields, who is essentially his replacement even though he's undergoing on-the-job-training in left field, has chipped in 18, but the Sox could have had both of them in the lineup if Crede were healthy. Paul Konerko, with 28 now, and Jermaine Dye, currently at 26, both have a shot at hitting 30, but there aren't that many guys in baseball who will reach that mark this year.

Anyway, since there's no longer a Magic Number to keep track of, the Update will have to focus on something else. How about a position-by-position analysis of the team? It won't be every day, but we've got plenty of time to think about it until next April. Let's start with an easy one: closer. Bobby Jenks is really the only bright spot on the Sox this year. He tied the Major League record for consecutive batters retired earlier this season and was the sole representative on the All-Star team -- and the only one who deserved it. Yes, he has six blown saves this year, but he's gotten the job done 37 times. And that for a team that's won only 61 games. That works out to Jenks's saving about 61% of the White Sox's wins -- easily the best percentage in baseball. Bobby is a keeper. Next time, we'll tackle something a bit tougher. Go Sox!