The baseball gods (or MLB’s broadcasting office) just don’t want this season to end. Because the AL Central is still up for grabs, the Chicago White Sox had to face the Detroit Tigers in a make-up game at US Cellular Field on Monday. The scenario was simple - White Sox win, Twins come to town for a one-game playoff; White Sox lose, they can start scheduling tee times.

After sitting through a three hour rain delay, it seemed that the Sox’s season was sunk. Although he started off with a shaky 1st inning, Tigers pitcher Freddy Garcia held the White Hose in check, clinging to a 2-1 advantage entering the bottom of the 6th.

But two big factors turned the tide for the home team: Garcia’s elbow and Alexei Ramirez.

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USA TODAY has a piece today on the demise of Fidel Castro and how it could affect the talent flow to Major League Baseball.

Castro was noted for his particular baseball obsession, developing national teams over the years that have had major league scouts drooling. There were eight Cuban-born players in the major leagues during the 2007 season; all defectors from the country. Recent defector Alexei Ramirez is expected to join Jose Contreras and Livan and Orlando Hernandez when the White Sox begin play this year.

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