Showdown Series The Third, Stanza 2

Tigers 4, White Sox 0.

SOX STANDINGS: 73-52, .5 Ahead in the Wild Card, 7.5 Back in the Central. Magic # for the Playoffs: 38

We in trouble now, ain't we?

The Sox spent a lot of time scratching their heads at the strike zone of home plate umpire Dan Iassogna, and while it was wider than David Wells' belly, what good does moaning about it do? That's Hawk Harrelson's job.

And piss-poor strike zone or not, the White Sox rotation continues to be the team's undoing. Tonight it was Mark Buehrle's turn to pitch just poorly enough to give the Sox no chance at a win, surrendering 2 first inning runs and 4 over his scatter-shot 5 and 1/3 innings.

I'm not gonna lie, this is starting to get serious. Much like that September collapse in 2003, I can feel the season starting to slip away. And you know who's fault it is? Those g***am Royals. If the Sox had been required to play a real team after the sweep of Detroit last week, they'd have built themselves into a groove. As it is, they let up against inferior competition and have been knocked off their game.

The good news is the Sox have two more cracks at Detroit, and have already faced the Tigers two best pitchers. It's time for "Big Game Freddy" to make an appearance during tonight's contest.

TONIGHT - 7:05 ET, Freddy Garcia vs. Zach Miner