To anyone and everyone who has any hope that the 2010 Chicago White Sox have any chance at the playoffs, please take whatever medication has been prescribed to you and be on your way. 

Even if there was a shred of hope, it disappeared last night against the Royals with an 8-2 loss and the Twins picking up a 1-0 victory (oh the irony) on a Jim Thome home run.  Even if the Sox win today and the Twins lose and then the Sox sweep the Twins Tuesday-Thursday, the Sox would still be three games out.  Any margin for error the Sox had going into the much hyped Minnesota series has been pissed away in the last four out of five games.

Consider the comeback at Boston last Sunday as your season's high point. 

It's good that the Sox have taken all the mystery out of it, because being two games out going into that series with the Twins probably would have resulted in a soul crushing series losing, season ending loss.

I'm not exactly sure why this team failed, but it comes down to clutch hitting.  They leave man after man on base in crucial situations, putting pressure on their starters.  They also put pressure on their starters with their shoddy defense.  Yes, they have improved (especially when Omar is playing third) but the corner outfield spots are an issue (Juan Pierre throws like a girl*, Carlos Quentin plays like a statue) and of course the debate about their catching.