Chicago White Sox: Detroit Tigers Driving in the Nails This Weekend

The Chicago White Sox came into this weekend's series with the Detroit Tigers needing to make a statement about their waning chances in the AL Central.

Consider that statement to be "Wait 'til next year."

The nail the Tigers drove into the coffin of the White Sox was put there with a fair amount of irony Saturday. All season long, the offense has struggled to put up runs consistently. In what looks to be the back-breaker, the bats came through and the pitching faltered.

The White Sox managed to blow a 8-1 advantage as Detroit chipped at the lead and used a pair of homers off closer Sergio Santos to snatch victory from Chicago's hands. As Miguel Cabrera's walk-off sailed over the left field wall, the White Sox found themselves 7.5 games from the division lead.

With 26 games remaining, we've officially driven out of Unlikelyville and into entered Miracletown.

Let's not be too hard on Santos and the bullpen, who have performed well for the bulk of the season. Unlike last year's relief collapse that lost several key games down the stretch, this team dug themselves into their current position with some spotty performances at the plate.

From here on in, it's likely audition time for spots on next year's club, as well as the start of the blame game among management.

Owner Jerry Reinsdorf apparently had to step in to quell a spat between GM Kenny Williams and hitting coach Greg Walker. It's been a frustrating and disappointing season for everyone involved with the organization in 2011. Tempers are beginning to rise to the surface.

Going into this series, most of us believed that at the very least the White Sox had to win the series to leave Detroit with any hope of making a run. Now Chicago looks to Mark Buehrle to help prevent a sweep.

The White Sox may or may not avoid the broom, but the damage has already been done.