They say you have to hit rock bottom before you can move upwards.  I am pretty sure last night was rock bottom for the 2009 Chicago White Sox.

Honestly, it is getting painful to watch these guys and it's just May.  The only saving grace they have is that they are in a lousy division with five teams that really haven't played that well.  The Indians in particular have been a huge bust so far, but last night might have been the wakeup call to get the big possum out of hibernation. 

Facing Carl Pavano, another pitcher with an ERA north of 6, the Sox offense sputtered like a defective lawn mower again and lost 9-4.  Pink Gavin Floyd had another terrible outing, surrendering two runs in the first inning , four in the fourth and two in the fifth before Ozzie Guillen came out and got him.  Floyd's ERA is now a robust 7.32, making Kenny Williams wonder if signing him to that new contract was worth it.

Meanwhile, Pavano looked like the world beater he was six or seven years ago, throwing his change up for strikes at his command.  The Sox runs, which came late in the game, had no affect on the Tribe last night.

The Sox left seven men on base, five in scoring position.  Although they came up with twelve hits, they couldn't convert the hits into runs.  This has been a reoccuring theme for this team as it was for another Sox team, the notorious bunch from 2007.

As in 2007, you keep waiting for this group to get hot and start hitting, but as in 2007, that day may not come.  Thank goodness they are only 3½ games behind Kansas City and Detroit and not six or seven games out.  That's the only hope you have is that they will come out of the funk, the pitching will right itself, the hitting will come back and all will be well.  Of course, pigs may fly, too.

Clayton Richard tries to stop the bleeding tonight.  But with the many innings the bullpen has been called into service lately, if Richard doesn't throw at least six to seven tonight, it could really cause some severe strain, if there isn't severe strain already.

So here's some things we know for sure:

• Gavin Floyd is having problems.  The Sox have already dispatched one starter to Charlotte, they certainly can't afford to dispatch another one. I don't know what Don Cooper can do here, yell, scream, side work, etc.  We all knew one of the reasons Philadelphia let Floyd go so easily is because of his lack of consistency.  Now we're seeing it for ourselves. Bottom line is, his fastball sets up his curveball.  If he can't get the fastball over or if he can't spot it, he becomes very hittable. 
  
• You'd think after all of the other failed KC pitchers the Sox have tried (and you know who you are Mike MacUseless) Jimmy Gobble would still be at Charlotte.  The Sox should let Gobble pitch batting practice, because the way the Sox used to hit him when he was with the Royals, maybe they could get their groove back.
• One former awful Sox reliever out replaced by another former awful Sox reliever. 
• Bobby Jenks, please STFU.  Why don't you just walk into Bob Watson's office and ask for a suspension.  Bobby is a lot of things, but smart does not appear to be one of them.  Of course, if the Sox keep getting blown out in every game, having Jenks available won't matter much anyway.
• Why is Brent Lillibridge even in the starting lineup?  He can't hit his own weight, yet he's starting and hitting second.  What possible reason could there be for him being in the lineup besides he's fast.  Please Ozzie.  Sit his sorry ass down and leave it down.
• How 'bout them Hawks?