163

163. That's the Magic Number for every team at the start of the season. Since the White Sox have given up on 2009, we will too and start looking to next year. Don't take our word for this year being finished. Just look at what the Sox did yesterday.

They traded Jim Thome and cash to the Dodgers for Class A infielder Justin Fuller. So maybe he's a hot prospect, right? Unlikely. Hot prospects have made it past Class A by the time they're 26, like Fuller is. Maybe Kenny Williams was just trying to give Thome, one of the best people in the game, a chance to play in a World Series. And maybe he hopes to re-sign Thome next year at a bargain salary. After all, Thome won't get to 600 home runs -- a stated goal of his -- as a pinch-hitter, which is what he's likely to be in L.A. Sox fans can only hope.

Jose Contreras also said goodbye to the Pale Hose yesterday after being traded to the Rockies. No Way Jose, plus cash for Triple-A pitcher Brandon Hynick. At least Hynick is a prospect, although not necessarily a hot one. The 24-year old sinkerballer was the Rockies' minor league pitcher of the year in 2007 according to Baseball America, but this year, he's 10-9, with a 3.34 ERA while pitching in the thin air of Colorado Springs. Let's wait and see.

Oh, yeah. The Sox lost last night to the Twins in the Metrodome. Only two more games left there and then that curse will be done. Hopefully, Minnesota's new home won't be as unkind to the Good Guys.

The real Magic Number is still 39 and the team is still 6.0 games behind the Tigers. But it doesn't really matter does it? We may get interested again if the Sox actually start to play ball, but to paraphrase Hawk Harrelson, this season is ovah! Go Sox in 2010!