Yesterday, before the White Sox beat the Tigers 3-1 to sweep their weekend series, Comcast was trying to stall while the grounds crew finished up working on the field after a morning rain storm.  Now, I will admit, I was in the middle of making soup for a sick child, but the bits and pieces I heard of the conversation scared me a little bit.  I thought I heard them agree that the Sox were only 11 games out and eight games under .500 and maybe, with a win on Sunday, this would be the beginning of a run.  And with Cleveland and Detroit both sputtering right now, if the Sox could take advantage of the many meetings they have left and yadda, yadda, yadda...STOP!

Please agree with me that this was a ploy for Comcast to build some interest in their product.  Please agree with me that this was designed to help the Sox sell some tickets down the stretch even though the Cubs are the talk of the town and the White Sox, as recently as Wednesday, were tied with Kansas City for last place in the division.  Please do not tell me that these guys were in any way, shape or form SERIOUS that the Sox were about to mount an incredible charge.  Because kids, it ain't gonna happen.

I agree that only seven under .500 with 51 games left to play is manageable and that the Sox have to go 32-19 the rest of the way to get there.  That's a .627 clip, which given the talent on this team is possible.  But, anything else, other than overtaking the Twinkies (who themselves are now only 4½ games out) is a dream.  And if it happens, I will post a picture of myself wearing a Cub hat on this blog because the odds of me owning a Cub hat are better than the Sox getting back in the race and the odds of me owning a Cub hat are slim, none and no chance in hell.

.500 would be nice.  85 wins would be a miracle.  Be thankful they are playing better and root for the Brewers.

Lightning Round

• Before I anoint Pink Gavin Floyd as the fifth, sixth or whatever starter, I need to see back to back efforts where he pitches successfully.  One win after being rocked previously doesn't convince me.  I'm not doubting the kid may have talent, I just want to see more of it.
• Josh Fields, please work on your defense.  There is no excuse for dropping a popup at the major league level.
• According to Hawk and DJ, Danny Richar may be inducted into the hall of fame as early as this season. Please boys, turn down the hyoe machine.  It will be interesting to hear how Steve Stone, who has no dog in the hunt, assesses the Sox talent this week as he fills in for DJ.
  
• I wonder if the Brewers were wishing they had traded for Eric Gagne yesterday.  Blowing a five run lead in the top of the ninth and giving up the last three runs with two out is not the things fairy tales are made
  
  of.  If we saw anything on this homestand it was that the Brewers, should they make the playoffs, can't play with the big boys.
• The Mets went 4-2 in their games against the central leaders this week.  Nice effort by Tom Glavine to pick up win #300. He's the one everyone was pulling for.  Big blow to the Cubs as they lose Alfonso Soriano for up to a month during a pennant race.
• Good news for the Sox: Lew Ford got sent to the minor leagues.
• 40.000 people went to watch the Bears practice at Soldier Field.  And you thought the Cubs were Chicago's most popular team.
• 
  Clay Hensley apparently had his fifteen minutes Saturday night after serving up #755 to Barry Bonds.  Now, he's on his way to Triple A.  Baroid, by the way, took the day off yesterday to inject reflect on his accomplishment.
  
• Kurt Busch dominates at Pocono and takes Junior's chase spot.  America watches the game with mute buttons pressed.  As our friends at AA report, NASCAR fans are miserable because of the God awful coverage provided by the four letter network.  It's a lot of dirty air, folks.
• Derrell Hand, a seldom used Notre Dame defensive lineman, was arrested by South Bend police in a prostitution sting.  Okay, let me get this straight.  You play football at Notre Dame and you have to pay for sex?  Dude, you've got a much bigger issue than being suspended from the football team.
• Dan Patrick does his first interview since leaving the four letter network.  It's the same story you've heard before.
• The Netherlands: Where the men are men and the sheep and their lawyers are really nervous.
• Here's a great trip down memory lane: The top 50 commercials of the 80's from Giant magazine.