It's like root canal without Novocaine.  It's like being tied to a chair and being made to watch Oprah.  It's like going grocery shopping with my 83 year-old father.  It's White Sox baseball, 2007.

It's frustrating, exasperating and mind numbing.  Missed opportunities.  Critical mental lapses.   Relief pitchers who offer no relief.  Hitters, who for some mystical reason known only to a higher power, that can't hit.  Managers that mumble about the same thing on a daily basis even though nothing changes.  And yet, as we are constantly reminded, there are over one hundred more opportunities to see this train wreck jump the tracks.

Yesterday was another portal into why this season has been so bad.  Jon Garland once again pitched his guts out for seven innings, making only one mistake, a third inning home run to catcher Eric Munson.  That's it. And yet his teammates were too busy striking out or getting thrown out on base to give him a run or two.  Tad Iguchi, do you know what the penalty for not running hard is in Japan? 

Then in the eighth, Ozzie puts in Bret Prinz, who almost sets Commiskey Park on fire with his God awful relief pitching.  He throws six balls in a row, then surrenders a double before Ozzie removes him and brings in Boone Logan.

In the Sox eighth, Thome ties it with a double, but the tie and the game go away in the top of the ninth as Josh Fields makes a critical error (mercifully ruled a single) and Bobby Jenks gave up two more and it was "Goodnight, everybody, please drive home safely."

Memo to Don Cooper: Why is it your pitchers lose focus with two outs?  Memo to Greg Walker: Why can't your hitters hit with two outs and men in scoring position?

It's enough to make you want to tear your hair out, something I can't do because it was done for me through genetics.

The same two struggling teams put an end to this foolishness this afternoon.  Mark Buehrle makes his 57th attempt at his 100th victory.  At least it will be a quick game.

Lightning Round:

• Brewer fans!  Welcome to what it's like to root for a Chicago team!
• Roger Clemens is successful in his final start against a minor league team and will face major league hitters next week.
• Why do teams bring in over the hill players like Frank Thomas and Sammy Sosa?  MARKETING.
• Dante Culpepper wants a trade and is seeking help from the NFLPA.  Maybe Gene Upshaw can threaten to break Cam Cameron's neck
• Not all of Mike Ditka's former players sing Da Coach's praises.
• NASCAR races at Pocono today.  Hint: It's on TNT.  Boogidy, boogidy, boogidy, let's have lame coverage, boys.
• Bob Watson suspends AJ Pierzynski for one game because of what the media is calling "his antics" after being tossed out the other night.  This is called "suspension by reputation."
• The Sheriff that freed Paris Hilton likes hanging with the stars.
• A lawyer asked for a continuance in a murder case because he needed additional time to view porno films that he said were vital to his client's defense.  No, the lawyer's name was not Denny Crane.
• Dick Chaney is having his defibulator replaced.  If you want a true reality show, mike Chaney as he is being anesthetized.  No telling what he might say.  And, we'd all watch.
• When someone asks you for directions at 10pm, you might want to make sure he isn't naked.
• Tonight, it's the final episode of the Sopranos.  Here's the latest line on whether or not Tony will get whacked.
• BREAKING NEWS FROM BUTKUS D. DOGG: A British company has invented expensive dog biscuits that can be eaten by both you humans and we dogs.  The cost of these things are more than caviar.  Here's a suggestion: We can both eat cheese and hamburger.  Share with me.  Why the hell do you think I jump up and down every time you eat a cheeseburger.  It's not that I love you, it's that I want some.  Behold, the power of cheese and the power of my teeth if you don't share.  Man's best friend my A&$.  Back to you, bald guy.
• In case the White Sox can't muster enough firepower to knock off the Astros today, we remember a time when they could when it really meant something: