put a sox in it A performance bereft of passion, even from the normally animated Ozzie Guillan, in front of a quiet White Sox crowd last night almost certainly means that the hope of reclaiming the 'world series' has gone the same way as that other Chicago icon, Marshall Fields.

It was another lukewarm performance in a season that would have them strolling into the play-off's if the MLB just took the best 8 teams with the best record but now 6 games behind the Tigers in the National League's Central Division its all but up for Ozzie Guillen's team.

Regaining the title has proved a pretty tough thing to do in baseball in recent years though, since 1979, only the New York Yankees (1998-2000) and the Toronto Blue Jays (1991-92) have won consecutive World Series titles.

Now, its a rather long story but I know the Mayor's niece and we were lucky enough to sit in his seats (the Daley family have been season ticket holders for 60-years) in what are the probably best seats in the modern US Cellular Stadium - anyone over 20 still calls it Comiskey Park by the way. We sat in the front row behind home plate and next to Ozzie, who I couldn't take my eyes off all game. I have to say his whole demure was one that suggested the season was over.

I wish I had taken my camera because you could literally touch the players and seeing the pitchers launch the ball at 90mph gave you a whole new appreciation of the sport and with those balls pinging over your head into the crowd, you couldn't afford to take your eyes of the action.  ¶ 15:23