That has to be the answer, right? I mean there's no way Ozzie Guillen would allow Scott Linebrink, who he recently removed from the "set-up" role, to pitch in the 9th inning of a tie game. Then follow Linebrink's improbable 1-2-3 scoreless inning with a call on Randy Williams to face not just lefties, but righties and switch-hitters as well; and to not even bother with a mound visit when Williams, a career journeyman who didn't start the season on the roster buried behind Clayton Richard on the depth chart, put the go-ahead runner in scoring position with 8 straight balls. 

At least the games don't matter anymore. The Tigers victory and White Sox loss moves them 5 games back, with only a 3-man rotation, a broken bullpen, poor defense and worse baserunning. The baserunning might have been the biggest culprit of the Sox loss Friday, with 2 men thrown out at the plate in the pivotal 7th inning. That frame saw the Sox put runners at second and third with nobody out and tally three hits with runners in scoring position -- two of them by Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham, who both have been really struggling at the plate -- yet they only managed the 2 runs. Thanks, Coxie.

Mark Buehrle is still working out of his funk, but he limited the damage in a short, 6-inning outing. The only runs he allowed came via the longball, giving him 25 allowed on the season.