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The White Sox pennant hopes aren't dead yet, but they're on life support.  When they absolutely had to have a win, they allowed the Tigers to humiliate them almost as bad as they did a week or so ago.  On September 4, Detroit scored 18 runs on 24 hits.  Last night, the Tigers had "only" 14 runs on 21 hits in a 14-4 beat-down.  (No names will be used in this post out of respect for those on their sports deathbed.)

On the season, Sox pitchers have allowed 10 or more hits 59 times, 15 or more hits nine times, and 20 or more hits twice.  They've permitted 10 or more runs in eight games: 10 runs on three occasions, 18 runs twice, and 12, 13, and 14 runs once each.  Not exactly what we had in mind when the season started and everyone -- The Update included -- was touting the great starting pitching and deep bullpen the Sox had.

Last night's game slices Detroit's Magic Number to 5 and stretches its lead over the Good Guys to 11.5 games.  The end is near and only the biggest collapse in baseball history will save them now.  Go Sox!