One thing became painfully apparent during the White Sox 10-3 loss last night to Baltimore.  Without a forkball or splitter, Jose Contreras is about as mortal as they come on the mound.

Captain Obvious says that if Contreras can't get his forkball over, the opposition will either wait until they get ahead in the count and then wait patiently for a room service fastball.  And that's what happened to Contreras last night in his fifth inning meltdown.  When he did get something over, it was a hittable fastball and the Orioles delighted in hitting it.  Without his devastating forkball, Contreras might as well had a screen in front of him to designate that he was a batting practice pitcher.

The other noticeable thing about his last two starts is that he seems to get in trouble about the fifth inning.  I don't know if it's because the opposition has figured out he can't get a forkball over or that he just is tiring, but it seems his first four innings, although rocky, are pretty good.  Last night, his teammates finally picked him up with three runs, including some nicely executed "Ozzie Ball."

I guess the way you deal with it is give Clayton Richard a couple of spots and have him throw on the side with pitching coach Don Cooper until he gets his mojo back.  I don't think there is anything seriously wrong with him, I just think he knows his forkball is crap and it's in his head.  That and perhaps a lack of stamina caused by a long layoff.

I'm sure Dr. Cooper can fix him up just fine.  John Danks hurls tonight for the Sox.

Lighting Round

• At long last, finally.  Our long national nightmare is over.  Maybe.  Who knows?  They've given Mike MacUseless more shots than Dick Chaney on a grouse hunt.
• There is nothing like the intensity of playoff hockey.  Nothing.  
• Nostalga runs rampant in minor league baseball.
• Jim McMahon wants you to stand at attention.  You know fellas, it's like any other muscle.  If you exercise it on a regular basis, it will always work fine. (Bear Goggles On)