The White Sox are going to the World Series. I'm nearly 42 years old and I've never seen a World Series game played in Chicago. It hasn't happened since 1959. I'm not sure if Hell is actually freezing over, but I bet the overcoats are being broken out (it's been a long time for the Sox, but even longer for the Cubs).
Once again, the Sox have to sit and wait a week for an opponent. It looked like Houston had it won last night, but a 2-out, 3-run homer by Albert Pujols in the 9th keeps the NLCS going. I don't think the ball has landed yet. That's why he's the best player in baseball. But, I digress.
In the ALCS, the week of waiting hurt the Sox because they were off their rhythm for game 1. Obviously, things got a lot better after that.
The White Sox pitching in the ALCS was beyond remarkable. Throwing four straight complete games is unheard of in these days of relief specialization. The Sox hadn't done that in the regular season since 1974 and it hadn't been done in the playoffs since the mid-50s. I wonder how the bullpen will do early in the WS considering it will be 2 weeks since most of those guys have pitched in a game. But that's a problem for another day.
A couple more notes:
The two newspapers I get (Chicago Tribune and NW Indiana Times) both had the same headline on the front page: "Party Like It's 1959". That's a reference to the last time the Sox were in the WS.
When the Sox won the AL in 1959, the city set off air raid sirens to celebrate. Some people were frightened by those since they didn't warn anyone they might do that. Last week, an alderman suggested they set them off again if the Sox win, but in this post-9/11 era, that idea got shot down pretty quickly.
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4 comments:
I'm happy for the Sox. They clearly outplayed the Angels - hitting, defense, pitching (starting and relief). Four straight CG's in the postseason - that hasn't been done in 70 years!!
In the World Series, the pitcher has to bat in an NL park. Thus for the middle three games, the Sox starters will be challenged to stay in the game b/c they may need to be lifted for a pinch hitter.
Footnote - Houston shouldn't have to be second guessed for not IBB-ing Pujols to get to Reggie Sanders, who is an RBI machine, could have tied the game with a single and given St. Louis the lead with an extra base hit. Sanders did eventually strike out, but that was when the pressure was off. It's the methodology that has to be considered. Yes, Pujols is the game's best hitter, but Lidge is arguably the best reliever not named Mariano.
Correction - 49 years. The last time that four straight CG's were thrown during the postseason was the 1956 New York Yankees.
When I was watching the game last night, the thought of walking Pujols never crossed my mind. As tough as he is, you still don't put the tying runner in scoring position.
That's why he's the best player in baseball.
Certainly the best player to be denied league MVP 4 straight years. Inexplicable, even if Barry's clean.
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