Yes, I'm officially over inter-league play, with the White Sox finishing off a three-game sweep against the Cubs last night 5-1. If you're a Sox fan, you found much to like yesterday about not only the game, but the balance and quality of the team itself. And if you're a Cubs fan, you probably didn't find anything good about this entire series. Okay, I did escape having to listen to a Hawk Harrelson broadcast; but seriously, that's the only thing.

Get it together. Quick. The Cubs face a suddenly effective again Barry Zito tonight, Tim Lincecum on Thursday, and a big three-game set against the Cardinals this weekend -- who are trailing now by only 2.5 games. This series could set up as a fight for the division lead, and I can think of few psychological letdowns bigger than having to look up at the Cardinals at the ASB after the start that this team has had. The injuries are one thing. We accept that as part of the game. But last night was all about bad play.

Sean Marshall gets a pass, holding the Sox to three runs in seven innings of work. The kid deserved better. I still think that Lieber would have been the better bet to start -- especially given his solid performance against the Sox in game 1 -- but whatever. He deserved better. Bad umpire calls didn't help either, as home plate umpire Rob Drake had one of the odder zones that I've seen recently. How bad? So bad that Lou Piniella was ejected arguing a incredibly obvious Joe Crede check swing that was called no swing. Now, I know a bit about anger, and he looked awfully calculating to me, but the point was solid; even if you aren't supposed to argue strikes. But the Sox went home run crazy off of Sean, and that's just life at the Cell; first, a Carlos Quentin solo shot in the 4th, and then a Brady Brian Anderson two-run blast in the 5th. Jim Thome got in the act later off Jose Ascanio for good measure, hitting a two-run shot in the 8th. And that pretty much closed the book on what I'm happy to consider a lost weekend at US Cellular.

I do have a couple of thoughts running around though, as we enter a new week, and hopefully new streak. Ronny Cedeno gonna kill you quicker than a bullet. Every time he starts, I see within four innings why he's riding the bench. Last night, with the bases loaded and two out in the 2nd, he hits -- on what I believe was the first pitch -- a shallow ball out to center to end the inning. Then, with Henry Blanco on and no one out in the 5th, Ronny hits into a 5-3 double play. Lay down a bunt? Nope. Hit the ball to the right side? Nope? At least wait for something that you could drive to the outfield? Not even. You try to pull pitches, down on the road, with your backup catcher running at first. I can only hope that if we don't get a look at Andre Torres soon, that the Cubs will at least consider adding a bench player at the trade deadline.

And why was Jose Ascanio brought in the 8th? Seriously, most days you'll bring Carlos Marmol in if the wind blows wrong. Howry is in the pen; Cotts too. Bringing Neal in to at least face Jim Thome would have made a ton of sense, especially with a man on. I look at a bumbling play like that, and find myself wondering about the managerial prowess of Alan Trammell, especially given how quickly Jim Leyland turned around his Detroit Tigers. It was a dumb move. Just dumb.

Here's hoping to a much better series against the Giants.