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If the White Sox wanted to know what they were supposed to do at the end of the season, all they had to do was look at the team occupying the visitors' dugout yesterday. Ten games ago, the White Sox were a half game ahead of the Twins and only five games behind the Tigers. Since then, the Sox have gone 2-8, while the Twins have posted a 9-1 record. Minnesota showed what teams with heart do when their backs are to the wall; the Sox, well ….

Let's not dwell on the more immediate bad news, which is that the Twins swept the Sox last night, winning the final game of the season series 8-6, and Mark Buehrle stunk the joint up again (3.1 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 8 H, 1 BB). Let's celebrate Jermaine Dye -- one of the team's best players over the last five seasons, until the All-Star break this year -- finally having a good game. J.D. poked two home runs, bringing his total for the year to 27, drove in four runs, and was 3 for 4 on the night. Throw in Alexei Ramirez (3 for 5), and you have more than half of the Sox's runs and hits for the game.

The real good news is that this season is almost over. The Sox are now nine games back with nine left to play. Their elimination number -- or Tragic Number, as some call it -- is now down to two, on its way to 163 (for 2010). Go Sox! Finish the season!