Forget that it was Doug Eddings.  Forget that A.J. Pierzynski turned in the best acting performance since Master Thespian. Forget this was a game that the White Sox didn't deserve to winand revel in the fact that some way, some how, they did. As Jim at Sox Machine dutifully reports, this isn't the first time Eddings and A.J. have teamed up to help the Sox win a game.

Say what you want about A.J., but if there is a more creative guy in baseball, I haven't seen him yet.  His flop in the bottom of the tenth gave way to Alexi Ramirez's game winning hit, a 6-5 Sox win and most importantly the re-installation of the Sox at the top of the AL Central. 

Honestly, you never thought you would see a Sox win this weekend.  In the first inning, Nick Swisher booted a sure out from Carlos Pena and made way for Rocco Baldelli, a guy who was out for 15 months to his second home run of the series giving the Rays a quick 2-0 lead.  The Sox got the first two runners on in the bottom of that inning and visions of slugfests danced in your head.  But a double play and a pop out quickly the threat. 

The Rays then added another run after a third strike got away from A.J. allowing Ake Iwamura to come up and single in another run.  At this point, your wife was in the kitchen securing the sharp objects and your dogs had their paws over their ears while hiding under the coffee table.

While the Sox went ahead 4-3 on homers from Carlos Quentin and Jim Thome, you kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.   It dropped in the sixth as Tampa tied it thanks to a silly error on Orlando Cabrera and went ahead in the seventh.  That's where it was with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth before Paulie tied it and the rest morphed into Sox legend.

Lightning Round

• On the post game show yesterday, the first caller called Ranger Ronge and talked about how Ranger always seemed positive despite these negative "so called" White Sox friends.  So if I am to believe you sir, all White Sox fans should just be grateful that there is a team to root for and whatever happens, happens and it's all okay.  Just hug, hug, God bless Jerry's kids?  Sir, we have a name for people like you: "Grinning Idiot."  This, by the way, is not an indictment of Ranger who does a decent job.
• The second caller chose to rip umpire Doug Eddings saying "Eddings is a horrible umpire, I don't know how he keeps his job."  Another idiot.  Eddings may be bad, but he usually calls them in the Sox favor.  Compare that to the work of Phil Cuzzi.  At this point, in order to insure the safety of my fellow motorists on I-43, I went back to the Brewers game.  Honestly people, know who your damned friends are.
  
• The Sox play a game and a half tonight in Baltimore.  According to this morning's Trib, rules state that players who are injured may be replaced and that new players are eligible.  This means the Sox can use Ken Griffey Jr. and Chris Getz. Remember, the Sox are the home team.  Also remember that this game preceded Ozzie's big lineup shakeup, so some guys are hitting in places you haven't seen them hit in for quite a while.
  
• DeWayne Wise is going to test his strained abductor muscle today in Baltimore.  If he still can't go, the Sox may put him on the DL.  If that happens, hopefully the Sox will bring up a pitcher and not Jerry Owens.
  
• Bobby Jenks threw two innings yesterday, so don't look for him tonight.  He can't pitch in the first game anyway as he already did (huh?)
• Congratulations to Jim Thome who tied the major league record for home runs hit by a guy named Jim.