Chicago White Sox: No Magic, Just Tragic as Tigers Confim Status in AL Central

The Chicago White Sox's hopes for the playoffs have been finished for some time. An embarrassing sweep at the hands of AL Central-leading Detroit was the death knell for Chicago's group of underachievers in 2011.

Now the Tigers have come to town as the division's top dog to kick the White Sox while they're down. So far, Chicago is rolling over and playing dead.

After giving up 35 runs in three losses at Comerica Park, the White Sox continued to allow the Tigers' conga line around the bases Monday. Detroit banged out 21 hits on the way to a 14-4 shellacking of Chicago in a half-empty U.S. Cellular Field.

As the wheels come off, we are left with a team once again squarely on the .500 mark.

Ironically, Brent Morel has two multi-homer games in the last week. Even two shots to center couldn't save Chicago from losing their 11th decision to the Tigers in 16 games. Monday was the fourth loss in a row to Detroit.

All season long, Chicago has been snake-bitten by an inability to win at home (33-40) or within the division (28-31). The promising offense never fired on all cylinders. When faced with a September showdown, the pitchers had no answer for the Tigers' bats.

Now 11.5 games back of Detroit, all that's left to do is generate some good feelings throughout the organization. Young players like Morel finding a bit of power at the plate and encouraging play from outfielders Alejandro De Aza and Dayan Viciedo are a poor life raft after a season of failed expectations.

The Tigers can't mathematically eliminate the White Sox with another sweep, as the Magic/Tragic number now sits at five. It does seem apparent that by the end of this week, the White Sox will officially be done.

Of course, any legitimate hope to save the season was over last weekend in Detroit.