Reason we didn't win pennant

JD Drew is represented by Scott Boras.

He will NEVER play for the White Sox.

And I wouldn't want him anyway.

He's often hurt. He's inconsistent.

Renteria I like. But Drew ain't coming to the South Side.

My five reasons this team failed

1. Consistent inability to produce runs without the long ball. That was one reason Sox lost all those games in Detroit. It's a tough park to go deep. And without the home run, the white Sox scored 3 runs in three games while getting swept there before the break. The team also lacked speed. I'm not talking about stolen bases. It's strategical speed, the ability to go from first to third on a borderline single or the ability to score from second base. That hurt badly in the middle of the order. Lots of times they needed four singles to score a run. That don't happen often. Or they'd get 2 or 3 hits and either Maggs or PK would roll into a DP.

2. Nothing from the fifth starter. One win from Stewart, Porzio, Wright and Cotts. Somebody needs to step up next season.

3. Indecision in the bullpen. Koch lost the confidence of the team in the very first series in KC when he blew up, I believe in the third game. Manuel, as usual, was indecisive. Tried to nurse Koch through the rough spots, but even after it became obvious that he wasn't right, Manuel resisted turning closing over to Marte and Gordon. By the time he did that, it was too late.

4. Konerko. He had 2 good months and four pretty crappy months. My memory of him will remain a guy who stands at home plate and hangs his head for a second EVERY TIME he hits a ball that he knows is an out. That needs to change before he turns it around. Somebody needs to show him a tape of how defeated his body language is.

5. The total meltdown against the Twins in the last five games. After taking the first two at home, they were primed to take at least four and maybe five of the final seven against the Twins.

But they totally stalled. The more they lost, the harder they tried -- and failed. And, unbelievably, lost them all.

It wasn't pretty.

There are other reasons. But I'll stick with those five for now -- while I wait for a time and place on the Manuel press conference.

Only 157 days until the first spring training game.

GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!