If the White Sox we’re going to make a run this season, they would have won last night. Mark Buehrle left with a 6-2 lead with two outs in the ninth, and the bullpen couldn’t hold on to it. Even the always reliable Bobby Jenks, the Sox only all-star, screwed up, allowing 2 earned runs, blowing the save, and getting the loss. Winners of 6 of 7 before last night, maybe the Sox could have went on a little run, had they held on. Sure, they only beat Tampa and KC, but before the D-Rays series, the Sox weren’t beating anyone, so those wins were still something to be happy about. But they should have won last night and they didn’t; the White Sox aren’t going anywhere this season, and Kenny and Ozzie should already start focusing on the future of the team.

For Kenny Williams, you would think that would involve a massive rebuilding project, replacing guys like Uribe, Dye, Iguchi, Contreras, Podsednik, and possibly Pierzynski, and going with youngsters. But Williams doesn’t think that’s that route he should take:

''There could be several different plans, but most of them entail keeping the same corps together, and that's one of the reasons we made this overture [to sign Buehrle] because we still believe in the talent,'' Williams said. ''We've won an awful lot of games the last couple of years. I see the same thing everyone else sees on the field, but I also see the names on the back are largely the same [as the 2005 championship team].

You know what, good for Kenny Williams, he’s exactly right. The Sox shouldn’t be this bad, why not go into battle with most of same troops next season?

Starting with the rotation, if the Sox resign Buehrle, that gives them him, Garland, Danks, and Vazquez as your 1-4. That’s probably as solid as any in the American League, and those guys are still young. Buehrle just turned 28, Garland hits 28 is September, Danks is only 22, and Vazquez, who has been real good this year, is just 31. Then, Williams mixes in either Gio Gonzalez, Jack Eggbert, Charlie Haegar, Gavin Floyd, Lance Broadway, or whoever he gets in trades this year for Contreras and Dye. That’s a great, young rotation. And maybe you use some of those other young guys to rebuild your bullpen, since the starters will be in place for at least a few more years. TUP friend of the program Al Bundy today noted that Floyd would make a solid set up man. Why not try those young arms in the pen? The starters are pretty much set, but the strength of the minor league system is still the pitching, those guys can start helping out next year in any way possible.

As for the lineup, the Sox will probably bring Crede back for one more year. They have to hit on at least two of the Fields, Sweeney, Owens trio, if they do that, those are some young, homegrown pieces that can be inserted into the lineup. Since Owens is the only centerfielder out of the bunch, if he doesn’t work out, then the Sox go get someone. How about bringing back Mike Cameron, or, dare I say, Aaron Rowand? The weakest part of this team right now is the middle infield, so get rid of Uribe and bring in a shortstop who can leadoff. If the Sox don’t resign Iguchi, they have Danny Richar in the minors who’s tearing it up since the Sox acquired him. He probably can’t play shortstop, but he could fill in for Iguchi, if he leaves. The Sox already have their 3 and 4 hitters set with Konerko and Thome, so surround them with a mixture of young talent and inexpensive vets and see what happens.

This year went horrible for Williams and the Sox, but if they resign Buehrle and maximize the trade value of Dye and Contreras, they could make next season a lot better.