With the White Sox getting back to business today (buying out Carl Everett and picking up an option on Cliff Politte) I figured that it might be time for VFLOAB to start getting back to biz.
But we'll start slowly.
The city of Toronto approved the funds necessary to build a soccer stadium meaning they will have a MLS team in 2007. I like this move to be honest. Toronto is a big city and extremely diverse, an MLS team should do okay there. Anytime you get Canada involved in anything is always a good time. And after the what looks to be failure of the Chivas team in LA, the MLS needed to look in another direction in terms of expansion. I'm sure last year they had dreams of Man U, Chelsea, and Arsenal funding and backing teams like Chivas did in LA. But that looks pretty unlikely now. None-the-less MLS has shown the willingness to be flexible yet progressive. I don't know the ins and outs of the league, but I think they're doing a nice job for what it's worth.
Of course with Toronto joining that means the MLS needs on more city to join. According to the article Philly, Houston, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and St. Louis are the leaders. Milwaukee? No offense, but if anyone is that soccer mad, they'll make the hour and half drive to Chicago. I'd cross that out. And Cleveland? Huh? I don't get that pick. St. Louis is interesting and I'd think it would work. Houston... after the World Series they shouldn't have any teams in any professional sports. So that leaves Philly... and you have to figure it's Philly's to lose at this point. A team in Seattle is always to be considered, but we'll have to wait and see.
31.10.05
28.10.05
Parade and Picks
Some highlights of the Victory Parade today in Chicago:
-Brian Anderson wearing a CPD hat.
-Geoff Blum has a job on the SouthSide for the rest of his life. He’s also most likely to open a bar in Birdgeport.
-I love Ozzie wearing the Venezuelan flag.
-The fans chanting “We Can’t Hear!” or something like that to that guy from U.S. Cellular.
-Bossard getting a shout out!
-The Mayor! Don’t you love how every banner during this parade had Daley’s name on it? Just fantastic. And I love how he never puts his face on any of these things. You know pictures of him holding a shotgun or standing up straight and looking out from the lake towards the city. Oh the subtle differences between dictators.
-Pretty cool moment when Konerko gave the final out ball to Jerry Reinsdorf.
-All the people who were there… amazing. Just amazing… the number of people who showed up alone is awesome. We have waited so long for this day. And this was our first chance to celebrate a championship winning baseball team in 88 years. Just a very cool day and few hours. Thanks to WGN for broadcasting that, even though you have to figure that it kills them to broadcast the Sox Victory Parade.
-It really was cool to watch them come down LaSalle and all the people cheering and the ticker tape falling. Only one other city in this country could pull something like that off and that’s New York. How cool.
-Did it get better than those guys holding up the Championship Trophy over their heads? I could never get sick of that.
-You really have to start wondering what sort of effect this is going to have on the baseball landscape in Chicago and in the Midwest. The Cubs will always have their fans because of all the transplants throughout the Midwest who move to Chicago and the North Side and get sucked in to the whole Cubbie bullshit.
-When Hawk goes “To those Heine Birds who didn’t believe. Screw 'Em!” Basically calling out Jay Mariotti. Fantastic.
Okay let’s get to the picks.
NCAA:
Let’s just get this out in the open. I took BC yesterday and boy is that painful. In the hole already to start the week. Never fun.
PENN STATE (-15.5) over Purdue
At some point Purdue will just roll over and give up. They put up a fight last week against the Badgers, but still lost by 11. I think they just roll over at this point. Either that or they run the table and make it to a bowl game… but that’s not going to happen. Purdue just isn’t that good this year. That said, I’m looking forward to next weeks “Most Disappointing Big Ten Team Game” against Michigan State.
Wisconsin (-21) over ILLINOIS
The Illini have nothing to play for and have been getting killed on the road. Meanwhile Wisconsin finds it self in the middle of the Big Ten race despite being just a good team this year. Oh and the new ‘handicapping’ the Big Ten race update! With Iowa’s loss (after I had them ranked #1)…
4) Northwester
3) Penn State
2) Wisconsin
1) Ohio State
Ohio State (-3.5) over Minnesota
Let’s just say that by taking Ohio State and ranking them #1 in the Big Ten race I’m hoping that the same thing happens to them that happened to Iowa. Minnesota is a good team, but that loss to the Badgers killed them.
Georgia (+3.5) over Florida
Just seems like I should take the points here.
NORTHWESTERN (+3) over Michigan
I know, I go against Michigan and then they turn around and win. Not this week. I swear.
BOISE STATE (-21) over Nevada
This is the game where the Broncos get the job done in part to the beautiful blue unis they wear.
Last week: 3-1
Overall: 6-6
NFL:
Call me what you will, but I’m not touching the ‘Skins and Giants game. I like both teams… a lot. In fact, maybe too much. The Redskins are for real and are in the middle of a season where they’re going to get every break. Some may call it magical in a few weeks. The Giants are a really good team too… so I don’t want to pick against either team. This has 17-13 written all over it, I just don’t know who. I guess Giants, but don’t hole me to it.
I know I love going against the Cowboys this year, and it’s been good to me (or at least it feels that way)… but not this week. But I don’t like ‘em that much either.
BENGALS (-9) over Packers
This game could get ugly. I’d love to see USC play the Packers. That would probably be the most entertaining game in the NFL season this year. Two teams that can score but can’t really stop the other team is always entertaining.
Raiders (-1.5) over TITANS
I know Fisher gets his guys ready week in and week out, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Titans. So much so that they should be in good shape going into next year. But the Raiders aren’t a bad team. They played a lot of good teams to start the year. They aren’t an elite team and that’s why they lost those games. But they can been the good to pretty good teams. And the Titans are an okay team at best.
SAINTS (-2.5) over Dolphins
Saints back in Louisiana for the first time. If they lose this game… I’m not going to think about it.
Chiefs (+6.5) over CHARGERS
There are two weird lines this week and this is one of ‘em. In fact this line is so weird, that the Lee Corso rule may apply. But I just think this is people saying ‘hey the Chargers keep losing heart breakers. That’s not going to happen at home!’
NINERS (+11) over Bucs
The other weird line of the week if only because Chris Simms in starting on the road. Also the Caddy might not play and I know Pittman isn’t a bad back up… but Chris Simms is starting on the road! And Alex Smith isn’t playing for the Niners, so that has to be a good sign right?
Eagles (+3.5) over BRONCOS
I just having a feeling about this one. It’s not every day that you get to take the Birds and get points. I just like that combination, sort of like getting bacon and turkey on a sandwich.
Bears (+3) over LIONS
I know Orton is on the road and Garcia is breathing life into the Lions but… the Bears have the best scoring defense in the NFL. They’ve only allowed 68 points (that’s just over 11 points a game). Meanwhile the Lions have a negative point differential and got creamed by the Bears in Chicago. Plus if Garcia goes down, Harrington is brought in and the Bears will probably win.
Bills (+8.5) over PATRIOTS
Two teams that can’t stop the run, which means it comes down to who is better at running the ball. And that’s easy, the Bills are. So I’m going with the Bills in a close one.
Last week: 5-3
Overall: 19-17
27.10.05
Greatest Day of My Life
Well they did it. The Chicago White Sox won the World Series for the first time since 1917. It still hasn’t registered. I still can’t believe it. But how fantastic. Bellow is a shorter running diary of the night for me. But before I go to that...
I’m not sure when it hit, that this year was going to be a magical year. Back in February I decided that I would do a journal, a year long journal of the 2005 Season. I think I got about two or three entries into it before I gave up. Here was my first one:
Saturday, February 26, 2005
This is the last weekend with no baseball for eight months. Unbelievable when you think about how long the season is, from spring training to the early days of the season to the Dog Days of Summer to the pennate race all the way to October. The season that covers all four of the seasons here in Chicago.
Hope springs internal, or so they say. Baseball does also, I sit here in late February and into March and beginning to believe that the Sox may just actually make the playoffs and then after that, who knows. But it’s that hope... that desire of hope that hits me every year around this time. I find myself answering what if questions about the Sox. I find myself hearing a bird chirp and think of warm weather. It’s sort of infectious, like hearing Michael Jackson or Marvin Gaye or any ole’ dance song and the only thing that you want to do is go out, drink, dance, and find a girl. Lust. And if spring is lust, then the White Sox are a drug.
And I don’t mean alcohol or caffeine. I’m talking about heroin.
The White Sox are heroin.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
So maybe I over stated my case a little bit back in late February, but at the same time, I never thought that the Sox were going to win it. They had too many “ifs” and question marks. But it all worked. Everything came together. Iguchi was more than solid at second. Uribe became a legitimate gold glove short stop. Crede found himself, especially in October. Konerko was Paulie getting big hit after big hit. Nothing may ever top the grand slam he hit in Game Two. Dye quietly went about his business. Rowand, despite a disappointing season at the plate, continued to amaze in center. Pods was the highlight of the first half, getting on base and seemingly stealing second every time and scoring like a machine. And then the pitching. We watched Garland put it all together. Buehrle was Buehrle battling and being his consistent self. Garcia seemed to be fortten in the mix because of Garland, Buehrle, and the two Cubans, El Duque and Contreras. And what a second half Contreras had, becoming the stopper for this staff and putting together all his talent and pitches and turning himself into one of the best in the majors. And then there was the bullpen with it’s seeming less endless supply of arms, including Bobby Jenks called up in July and taking over the closers roll by September.
And then Ozzie. Who learned from his mistakes from last year and kept his amazing ability to handle pitchers. Ozzie handles pitchers probably better than any other manager in the game today. He did an amazing job with all the arms and the team in general. And in the process he became huge in Chicago. If he keeps it up, he’ll approach Ditka like status.
It all worked, every player and almost every move… they all worked. And this was our year.
By the end of April I started thinking about October. By May I realized that they were going to be playing in October. In June I grew to enjoy every second of it. By July I learned to cherish every pitch. By August I couldn’t wait till October. By September I forced myself to remain hopeful despite the Indians run. And this month I’ve watched with nervousness and joy, trying to capture all my feelings and emotions.
And the Sox did it. They won it all and I don’t have to wonder what it’s like any longer. I’ve experience. And it was wonderful. I’ll tackle what it all means another day… for now, this is how last night broke down. I didn’t start till the fifth because we were playing poker (I was watching the game) and if I would have done it from the top, this would be about 5,000 words… enjoy. I know I did. (And I like BC tonight).
10:12 – What a play by Crede, he makes a nice fielding play on a hit and run, goes to second to get Ausmus and they get the double play in the bottom of the fifth. Now two outs.
10:16 – We finally have our well-pitched game of the series! It’s 0-0 here in the top of the 6th.
10:21 – Chris Meyers just informed us that the World Series is being broadcast in 220 countries, or something like that. That’s pretty cool. Let me see if I can find an article on the World Series in the Guardian.
10:23 – With George and Barbara Bush behind the plate I’ve been wondering what do they talk about? Money? Politics? What to get W for Christmas? And what do they say about W? Would they ever say something like “well you know how stubborn he can be” or “remember how poorly he did in English” or “We should never have had that child.”
10:26 – Found an article on the Guardian’s website! It’s from Reuters but hey, I’ll take it. http://sport.guardian.co.uk/americansports/story/0,,1594547,00.html
10:29 – Berkman walks and Morgan Ensberg steps to the plate. I’m a little worried here. Meanwhile McCarver is freaking out about the lack of the lead that Taveras is taking off first and now second.
10:36 – Sox put Lamb on to load the bases and Jason Lane steps to the plate…the Astros haven’t had a hit with a runner in scoring position in about 15 at bats or something.
10:39 – Let me say I’m sick of all these crowd shots. Really. I can’t take it any more. They show at least four different fans between pitches. I feel like I’m on a roller coaster.
10:41 – Freddy gets Lane swinging to end the inning. On to the seventh and still no score.
10:43 – Cool! The cigars I bought are called Garcia Y Vega or something like that. That’s a good sign though right?
10:46 – I’m sorry but there is no way that Berkman’s head is natural. That is the biggest head I’ve ever seen.
10:48 – You know what would be cool? If Backe would make a mistake. In fact Backe looks like he’s the white brother of the one and only Carlos Zambrano right now dancing around the mound and talking to either himself or the Ghost of Jimmy Piersall.
10:52 – Crede rips one off the wall in left for a double and he just missed it. Rowand goes to third. Oh how sweet would that have been if it had left the yard.
10:54 – Oh shit, they just showed a replay of Rowand slowing up going from first to second on Crede’s double apparently thinking there was only one out (there were two outs). If he was running the entire way he might have scored. I really hope that doesn’t cost the Sox.
10:56 – With my heart fluttering, Uribe is down 2-1 in the count right now. It’s amazing how much this game means to me. And Uribe strikes out as Backe dances off the mound like a girl. And to make matters worse, I’ve got to listen to “God Bless America” instead of the All American song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. Maybe if Ray Charles was singing the song I could deal with it. But no, it’s Lyle Lovett. Would it kill FOX and baseball to actually sing an unique American song? Would it kill them?
11:04 – Pods makes an awkward diving catch in left. As he dives to make the catch his knee creates a huge divot in the grass and that could have torn up his knee. But he looks fine. Bagwell to pitch hit for Backe. Thank you Phil!
11:07 – Bagwell grounds out to second and the inning is over. On to the 8th! I’m in a good mood I might add.
11:11 – Let’s Make a Wish! I’ve made mine and Willie Harris leads off for the White Sox. Garica’s night is done. Lidge pitching now for the Astros. Come on Willie. Backe is pacing the dugout making him either the most high-strung person in baseball or on drugs. I’m going with drugs.
11:12 – Ozzie can do no wrong. Harris singles to lead off the inning. I’m sending him here. And here comes Pods who last time he faced Lidge went yard.
11:13- Pods bunts Harris to second. How about a base hit here Iguchi. Whatdyasay? Wait, what’s this? It’s Carl Everett to pitch hit for Iguchi! Nice call. I like this move.
11:15 – Everett grounds out to second. I would have gone with keeping Iguchi. Dye up now and he’s had a nice night and a very nice series.
11:16 – Dye singles!!! It’s 1-0 White Sox!!!! Willie Harris scores after that huge lead off single. YESSSSSS!!!!
11:18 – I still can’t believe that Willie Harris singled off Lidge to get this started. I’m just floored. And Dye singles him home… Six outs… Six outs… Konerko strikes out. So here we go.
11:23 – Politte in for the White Sox to face Biggio to start the 8th who quickly goes down 0-2. Deep Breaths.
11:24 – Oh no. A ball falls between AJ and Crede in foul territory. I’m officially very nervous. Biggio gets a second life and that’s never good.
11:25 – As soon as I said that, Biggio grounds out to Uribe. One out. Five to go. And that crisis averted.
11:26 – Taveras is up. My heart is racing and I have to tell my self to take deep breaths.
11:27 – Taveras is hit by a pitch in the hand and the Houston crowd is… silent. This is the most pitiful performance by a stadium full of fans ever. I’m not even kidding. These people won’t cheer anything. I’d be embarrassed if I was from Houston right now.
11:29 – A wild pitch moves Taveras to second. Oh no. Berkman being put on here.
11:32 – Ensberg flies into right center and Rowand gets to the ball. Taveras goes to third. And here is a huge at bat. Cotts is coming on to face Lamb. And now it’s time to ask, what will Phil do? And shouldn’t Phil be happy that one of his players didn’t brutally beat him after that press conference last night basically placing all the blame on his team and throwing them in front of the bus?
11:36 – Cotts is in and Phil did lift Lamb for Vizcaino, maybe the best move Garner has made this Series which isn’t saying much.
11:37 – A slow roller… Cotts can’t get it… oh shit… Uribe gets there… this play is taking forever… he throws… and Vizcaino is out! THREE MORE OUTS! YEAH!!
11:40 – My oh my. I can’t believe this. And here is a very clear and audible “Let’s Go White Sox” in Houston. And the Houston fans don’t even try to drown them out. What a sorry bunch of fans. Lidge still in to face AJ.
11:42 – AJ doubles to lead off the inning. Brandon Lidge’s career is dieing in front of a nations eyes over the past week or so.
11:43 – Is there anything better than when the replay shows that McCarver is an idiot. This happens all the time to Paul McGuire also, but he never admits to being wrong. McGuire will say one thing, say take a look at this, the replay is shown and it shows McGuire to be wrong, but he sticks to his guns and keeps talking about his original point. At least McCarver will say, “well maybe it wasn’t as close as I thought.”
11:44 – Rowand bunts with two strikes and it goes foul and he’s out. Just a horrible decision. These guys won’t let me enjoy this. They have to do something stupid.
11:47 – I would say that there are 4,000 White Sox fans there, 3,000 Astro fans, and about 35,000 people who are just happy to be there.
11:48 – Uribe grounds out and we are three outs from the World Series. I think I’m having a panic attack. Oh my God.
11:51 – Bobby Jenks on to close this out. Let’s go Bobby! And his first pitch is 98 mph.
11:53 – Lane flairs a ball to center and it falls in. Lead off man on. Damn it. Ausmus up.
11:54 – Ausmus bunts Lane over to second. One out. Man on second. TWO MORE OUTS.
11:56 – Burke pitch hits for Everett and goes even 2-2…
11:57 – URIBE!!!! OH MY GOD!!!! HEY JUST MADE THAT JETER PLAY WHERE JETER GOES FULL SPEED INTO THE CROWD!!!!! MY OH MY!!!!!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!! WHAT A CATCH!!!!
11:58 – One…. More…. Out… Oh…. My… Lord…
11:59 – Come on… Come on…
12:00 – One more strike. Deep Breaths.
12:01 - Uribe charges…he gets it… and throws to first… AND THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX ARE THE WORLD CHAMPS!!!! ANOTHER GREAT PLAY FROM URIBE!!!!
12:04 – What a feeling. WE are WORLD CHAMPS!!!!
12:11 – I’ve been calling friends and been getting calls… crazy. Awesome. And it got a little misty at one point. But it’s all good.
12:15 – Someone in a bar on the South Side just dropped an F-Bomb on WGN! THIS IS FANTASTIC!!!!
12:18 – There is Ozzie with the trophy on FOX. Amazing!
12:21 – This is unbelievable. Just amazing. They did it! They WON!!!
12:26 – Buck is giving us props saying that this was a team effort and that it was everyone who played a part in winning. All 25 players were as important as the next player. They are the World Series Winners!!!! They DID IT!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!
12:34 – As Ozzie talks on WGN and they show fans going nuts… I mean 88 years of losing is over… I’m playing Etta James’ “At Last”. 1917… it no longer exists. Now it’s all about 2005. Amazing. My team… the team I’ve lived and died with… the team that I’ve given my heart and should too has won… amazing. This is great. At Last.
12:45 – The calls, the IMs, it’s all flowing in… this is great. We are winners. The trophy is ours. No more thinking about 1917. No more last time in the Series being 1959. No more worrying about the Sox not winning it before my Dad or uncles die. No more of that. Wow. I love it. Cigars are lit… champagne going down… A little Journey on the iTunes… WGN on TV… this is BLISS!!!
12:54 – It’s Lee Stern on TV!!! I know that guy!!! How cool!!! This is just fantastic. This team did it all. And they’ve won it. They won it all. No losing. No more of any of that. Just us. We are the Champs. Someone said that the Red Sox, in their path to winning it all, had to beat the Yankees and they did. Well we had to beat the Cubs to winning it all. And we did. And here’s to the Cubs winning next year. I’m serious. I’m rooting for the Cubs next year. Well not really, but you know what I mean. They should be able to experience this. Well now that we’ve won it all… go Cubs. No one should not experience this.
12:59 – I’m watching fans gathering at US Cellular Field… there are probably thousands of fans there. THIS IS SO AWESOME!!!!
1:08 – Pete Gammons just called the 2005 White Sox one of the best teams of the modern era with the ’84 Tigers, ’89 A’s, and ’99 Yankees (though I think he meant ’98 Yankees). And you know what… he might be right. This team just won. Sure in August they had some troubles, but this team was such a good teams. They had great starting pitching. They had a very good bullpen. They had good hitting. And they’ve got a very very very good manager. This team didn’t have any major holes and that’s why they are WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!
1:16 – Buehrle just talked about the city of Chicago… WE WON!!! No more 1959 or 1917 and in a way no more 1945 or 1908. In a way this was just as good for the entire city. Oh Mark Buehrle rocks… just made a joke about Coors Lite and Wheaties… now that was funny.
1:19 – As they show Sox fans on the street celebrating they try to talk about how this is for all of Chicago, as I was trying to say… and then there is a fan on the street with a shirt that says “CUBS SUCK!” Classic.
1:22 – Wow there are people that work for WGN that may be fired soon for cheering on the White Sox. WE ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!!! WE DID IT!!! WE WON IT ALL!!! I’ve been dreaming for this day for years… I mean years. After 1993, when I was 12 and watched Game One of the ALCS and the Sox lose and Jordan retire the next day… I think that’s when I started to realize how long it had been. I mean that is when it really registered in my young mind. By the time I as in college, I realized that we might never win. That today may never happen. I dreamed of this day, I dreamed of how I would act. What it would feel like. And in a way it’s nothing and everything like I expected. The joy, the relief, the bliss, the joy and thankfulness, what a great feeling.
1:26 – “Remember this in January when it’s 0 degrees and the snow is falling… remember we have the Chicago White Sox.” I couldn’t have said it any better. We have the Chicago White Sox.
The 2005 Chicago White Sox…
World Series Champions
I’m not sure when it hit, that this year was going to be a magical year. Back in February I decided that I would do a journal, a year long journal of the 2005 Season. I think I got about two or three entries into it before I gave up. Here was my first one:
Saturday, February 26, 2005
This is the last weekend with no baseball for eight months. Unbelievable when you think about how long the season is, from spring training to the early days of the season to the Dog Days of Summer to the pennate race all the way to October. The season that covers all four of the seasons here in Chicago.
Hope springs internal, or so they say. Baseball does also, I sit here in late February and into March and beginning to believe that the Sox may just actually make the playoffs and then after that, who knows. But it’s that hope... that desire of hope that hits me every year around this time. I find myself answering what if questions about the Sox. I find myself hearing a bird chirp and think of warm weather. It’s sort of infectious, like hearing Michael Jackson or Marvin Gaye or any ole’ dance song and the only thing that you want to do is go out, drink, dance, and find a girl. Lust. And if spring is lust, then the White Sox are a drug.
And I don’t mean alcohol or caffeine. I’m talking about heroin.
The White Sox are heroin.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
So maybe I over stated my case a little bit back in late February, but at the same time, I never thought that the Sox were going to win it. They had too many “ifs” and question marks. But it all worked. Everything came together. Iguchi was more than solid at second. Uribe became a legitimate gold glove short stop. Crede found himself, especially in October. Konerko was Paulie getting big hit after big hit. Nothing may ever top the grand slam he hit in Game Two. Dye quietly went about his business. Rowand, despite a disappointing season at the plate, continued to amaze in center. Pods was the highlight of the first half, getting on base and seemingly stealing second every time and scoring like a machine. And then the pitching. We watched Garland put it all together. Buehrle was Buehrle battling and being his consistent self. Garcia seemed to be fortten in the mix because of Garland, Buehrle, and the two Cubans, El Duque and Contreras. And what a second half Contreras had, becoming the stopper for this staff and putting together all his talent and pitches and turning himself into one of the best in the majors. And then there was the bullpen with it’s seeming less endless supply of arms, including Bobby Jenks called up in July and taking over the closers roll by September.
And then Ozzie. Who learned from his mistakes from last year and kept his amazing ability to handle pitchers. Ozzie handles pitchers probably better than any other manager in the game today. He did an amazing job with all the arms and the team in general. And in the process he became huge in Chicago. If he keeps it up, he’ll approach Ditka like status.
It all worked, every player and almost every move… they all worked. And this was our year.
By the end of April I started thinking about October. By May I realized that they were going to be playing in October. In June I grew to enjoy every second of it. By July I learned to cherish every pitch. By August I couldn’t wait till October. By September I forced myself to remain hopeful despite the Indians run. And this month I’ve watched with nervousness and joy, trying to capture all my feelings and emotions.
And the Sox did it. They won it all and I don’t have to wonder what it’s like any longer. I’ve experience. And it was wonderful. I’ll tackle what it all means another day… for now, this is how last night broke down. I didn’t start till the fifth because we were playing poker (I was watching the game) and if I would have done it from the top, this would be about 5,000 words… enjoy. I know I did. (And I like BC tonight).
10:12 – What a play by Crede, he makes a nice fielding play on a hit and run, goes to second to get Ausmus and they get the double play in the bottom of the fifth. Now two outs.
10:16 – We finally have our well-pitched game of the series! It’s 0-0 here in the top of the 6th.
10:21 – Chris Meyers just informed us that the World Series is being broadcast in 220 countries, or something like that. That’s pretty cool. Let me see if I can find an article on the World Series in the Guardian.
10:23 – With George and Barbara Bush behind the plate I’ve been wondering what do they talk about? Money? Politics? What to get W for Christmas? And what do they say about W? Would they ever say something like “well you know how stubborn he can be” or “remember how poorly he did in English” or “We should never have had that child.”
10:26 – Found an article on the Guardian’s website! It’s from Reuters but hey, I’ll take it. http://sport.guardian.co.uk/americansports/story/0,,1594547,00.html
10:29 – Berkman walks and Morgan Ensberg steps to the plate. I’m a little worried here. Meanwhile McCarver is freaking out about the lack of the lead that Taveras is taking off first and now second.
10:36 – Sox put Lamb on to load the bases and Jason Lane steps to the plate…the Astros haven’t had a hit with a runner in scoring position in about 15 at bats or something.
10:39 – Let me say I’m sick of all these crowd shots. Really. I can’t take it any more. They show at least four different fans between pitches. I feel like I’m on a roller coaster.
10:41 – Freddy gets Lane swinging to end the inning. On to the seventh and still no score.
10:43 – Cool! The cigars I bought are called Garcia Y Vega or something like that. That’s a good sign though right?
10:46 – I’m sorry but there is no way that Berkman’s head is natural. That is the biggest head I’ve ever seen.
10:48 – You know what would be cool? If Backe would make a mistake. In fact Backe looks like he’s the white brother of the one and only Carlos Zambrano right now dancing around the mound and talking to either himself or the Ghost of Jimmy Piersall.
10:52 – Crede rips one off the wall in left for a double and he just missed it. Rowand goes to third. Oh how sweet would that have been if it had left the yard.
10:54 – Oh shit, they just showed a replay of Rowand slowing up going from first to second on Crede’s double apparently thinking there was only one out (there were two outs). If he was running the entire way he might have scored. I really hope that doesn’t cost the Sox.
10:56 – With my heart fluttering, Uribe is down 2-1 in the count right now. It’s amazing how much this game means to me. And Uribe strikes out as Backe dances off the mound like a girl. And to make matters worse, I’ve got to listen to “God Bless America” instead of the All American song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. Maybe if Ray Charles was singing the song I could deal with it. But no, it’s Lyle Lovett. Would it kill FOX and baseball to actually sing an unique American song? Would it kill them?
11:04 – Pods makes an awkward diving catch in left. As he dives to make the catch his knee creates a huge divot in the grass and that could have torn up his knee. But he looks fine. Bagwell to pitch hit for Backe. Thank you Phil!
11:07 – Bagwell grounds out to second and the inning is over. On to the 8th! I’m in a good mood I might add.
11:11 – Let’s Make a Wish! I’ve made mine and Willie Harris leads off for the White Sox. Garica’s night is done. Lidge pitching now for the Astros. Come on Willie. Backe is pacing the dugout making him either the most high-strung person in baseball or on drugs. I’m going with drugs.
11:12 – Ozzie can do no wrong. Harris singles to lead off the inning. I’m sending him here. And here comes Pods who last time he faced Lidge went yard.
11:13- Pods bunts Harris to second. How about a base hit here Iguchi. Whatdyasay? Wait, what’s this? It’s Carl Everett to pitch hit for Iguchi! Nice call. I like this move.
11:15 – Everett grounds out to second. I would have gone with keeping Iguchi. Dye up now and he’s had a nice night and a very nice series.
11:16 – Dye singles!!! It’s 1-0 White Sox!!!! Willie Harris scores after that huge lead off single. YESSSSSS!!!!
11:18 – I still can’t believe that Willie Harris singled off Lidge to get this started. I’m just floored. And Dye singles him home… Six outs… Six outs… Konerko strikes out. So here we go.
11:23 – Politte in for the White Sox to face Biggio to start the 8th who quickly goes down 0-2. Deep Breaths.
11:24 – Oh no. A ball falls between AJ and Crede in foul territory. I’m officially very nervous. Biggio gets a second life and that’s never good.
11:25 – As soon as I said that, Biggio grounds out to Uribe. One out. Five to go. And that crisis averted.
11:26 – Taveras is up. My heart is racing and I have to tell my self to take deep breaths.
11:27 – Taveras is hit by a pitch in the hand and the Houston crowd is… silent. This is the most pitiful performance by a stadium full of fans ever. I’m not even kidding. These people won’t cheer anything. I’d be embarrassed if I was from Houston right now.
11:29 – A wild pitch moves Taveras to second. Oh no. Berkman being put on here.
11:32 – Ensberg flies into right center and Rowand gets to the ball. Taveras goes to third. And here is a huge at bat. Cotts is coming on to face Lamb. And now it’s time to ask, what will Phil do? And shouldn’t Phil be happy that one of his players didn’t brutally beat him after that press conference last night basically placing all the blame on his team and throwing them in front of the bus?
11:36 – Cotts is in and Phil did lift Lamb for Vizcaino, maybe the best move Garner has made this Series which isn’t saying much.
11:37 – A slow roller… Cotts can’t get it… oh shit… Uribe gets there… this play is taking forever… he throws… and Vizcaino is out! THREE MORE OUTS! YEAH!!
11:40 – My oh my. I can’t believe this. And here is a very clear and audible “Let’s Go White Sox” in Houston. And the Houston fans don’t even try to drown them out. What a sorry bunch of fans. Lidge still in to face AJ.
11:42 – AJ doubles to lead off the inning. Brandon Lidge’s career is dieing in front of a nations eyes over the past week or so.
11:43 – Is there anything better than when the replay shows that McCarver is an idiot. This happens all the time to Paul McGuire also, but he never admits to being wrong. McGuire will say one thing, say take a look at this, the replay is shown and it shows McGuire to be wrong, but he sticks to his guns and keeps talking about his original point. At least McCarver will say, “well maybe it wasn’t as close as I thought.”
11:44 – Rowand bunts with two strikes and it goes foul and he’s out. Just a horrible decision. These guys won’t let me enjoy this. They have to do something stupid.
11:47 – I would say that there are 4,000 White Sox fans there, 3,000 Astro fans, and about 35,000 people who are just happy to be there.
11:48 – Uribe grounds out and we are three outs from the World Series. I think I’m having a panic attack. Oh my God.
11:51 – Bobby Jenks on to close this out. Let’s go Bobby! And his first pitch is 98 mph.
11:53 – Lane flairs a ball to center and it falls in. Lead off man on. Damn it. Ausmus up.
11:54 – Ausmus bunts Lane over to second. One out. Man on second. TWO MORE OUTS.
11:56 – Burke pitch hits for Everett and goes even 2-2…
11:57 – URIBE!!!! OH MY GOD!!!! HEY JUST MADE THAT JETER PLAY WHERE JETER GOES FULL SPEED INTO THE CROWD!!!!! MY OH MY!!!!!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!! WHAT A CATCH!!!!
11:58 – One…. More…. Out… Oh…. My… Lord…
11:59 – Come on… Come on…
12:00 – One more strike. Deep Breaths.
12:01 - Uribe charges…he gets it… and throws to first… AND THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX ARE THE WORLD CHAMPS!!!! ANOTHER GREAT PLAY FROM URIBE!!!!
12:04 – What a feeling. WE are WORLD CHAMPS!!!!
12:11 – I’ve been calling friends and been getting calls… crazy. Awesome. And it got a little misty at one point. But it’s all good.
12:15 – Someone in a bar on the South Side just dropped an F-Bomb on WGN! THIS IS FANTASTIC!!!!
12:18 – There is Ozzie with the trophy on FOX. Amazing!
12:21 – This is unbelievable. Just amazing. They did it! They WON!!!
12:26 – Buck is giving us props saying that this was a team effort and that it was everyone who played a part in winning. All 25 players were as important as the next player. They are the World Series Winners!!!! They DID IT!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!
12:34 – As Ozzie talks on WGN and they show fans going nuts… I mean 88 years of losing is over… I’m playing Etta James’ “At Last”. 1917… it no longer exists. Now it’s all about 2005. Amazing. My team… the team I’ve lived and died with… the team that I’ve given my heart and should too has won… amazing. This is great. At Last.
12:45 – The calls, the IMs, it’s all flowing in… this is great. We are winners. The trophy is ours. No more thinking about 1917. No more last time in the Series being 1959. No more worrying about the Sox not winning it before my Dad or uncles die. No more of that. Wow. I love it. Cigars are lit… champagne going down… A little Journey on the iTunes… WGN on TV… this is BLISS!!!
12:54 – It’s Lee Stern on TV!!! I know that guy!!! How cool!!! This is just fantastic. This team did it all. And they’ve won it. They won it all. No losing. No more of any of that. Just us. We are the Champs. Someone said that the Red Sox, in their path to winning it all, had to beat the Yankees and they did. Well we had to beat the Cubs to winning it all. And we did. And here’s to the Cubs winning next year. I’m serious. I’m rooting for the Cubs next year. Well not really, but you know what I mean. They should be able to experience this. Well now that we’ve won it all… go Cubs. No one should not experience this.
12:59 – I’m watching fans gathering at US Cellular Field… there are probably thousands of fans there. THIS IS SO AWESOME!!!!
1:08 – Pete Gammons just called the 2005 White Sox one of the best teams of the modern era with the ’84 Tigers, ’89 A’s, and ’99 Yankees (though I think he meant ’98 Yankees). And you know what… he might be right. This team just won. Sure in August they had some troubles, but this team was such a good teams. They had great starting pitching. They had a very good bullpen. They had good hitting. And they’ve got a very very very good manager. This team didn’t have any major holes and that’s why they are WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!
1:16 – Buehrle just talked about the city of Chicago… WE WON!!! No more 1959 or 1917 and in a way no more 1945 or 1908. In a way this was just as good for the entire city. Oh Mark Buehrle rocks… just made a joke about Coors Lite and Wheaties… now that was funny.
1:19 – As they show Sox fans on the street celebrating they try to talk about how this is for all of Chicago, as I was trying to say… and then there is a fan on the street with a shirt that says “CUBS SUCK!” Classic.
1:22 – Wow there are people that work for WGN that may be fired soon for cheering on the White Sox. WE ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!!! WE DID IT!!! WE WON IT ALL!!! I’ve been dreaming for this day for years… I mean years. After 1993, when I was 12 and watched Game One of the ALCS and the Sox lose and Jordan retire the next day… I think that’s when I started to realize how long it had been. I mean that is when it really registered in my young mind. By the time I as in college, I realized that we might never win. That today may never happen. I dreamed of this day, I dreamed of how I would act. What it would feel like. And in a way it’s nothing and everything like I expected. The joy, the relief, the bliss, the joy and thankfulness, what a great feeling.
1:26 – “Remember this in January when it’s 0 degrees and the snow is falling… remember we have the Chicago White Sox.” I couldn’t have said it any better. We have the Chicago White Sox.
The 2005 Chicago White Sox…
World Series Champions
26.10.05
This is the Game that Never Ends...
Thoughts, feelings, and attempts of keeping down my food during last nights Game Three of the World Series. This is over 4,000 words only because this game seemed like it would never end. Anyway here is all five hours and forty-one minutes of it.
Pre-Game: Just heard the worst song of my life… “Heart of America” where four signers take themselves way too seriously and sing a really stupid song about liberty and America… I seriously thought about moving to London during that song. Can you picture the Brits or Germans singing a song called, “Heart of Germany”? Case closed. But that wasn’t the worst of it… it was just a bad song. I mean it sucked and it never ended. Talk about bad times.
Top of the First:
Pods gets over powered, Iguchi singles for his 104th hit after Pods makes an out, and then Dye hits into a double play. I have nothing to add.
Bottom of the First:
Biggio doubles… and they play the buzz of bees over the PA, talk about annoying. Why must all non-Midwestern and East Coast teams have annoying fans and gimmicks like that?... Berkman has a Bonds like sized head. Yet no one talks about this. Berkman singles home Biggio and the Astros set off fireworks!!! This was a RBI single! And they shoot off fireworks. They should be banned from baseball. I’m serious…
Top of the Second:
This whole roof closed/open controversy is weird. First of all, who really cares? Second of all, isn’t baseball an outdoor game? And finally, how is it such a huge advantage to have the roof closed? I’m missing something here… Joe Buck should be shot and the sooner the better; can he not let anyone enjoy anything? He has to make a big deal out of everything and it’s beyond annoying. In fact it’s RBI single fireworks annoying, but would Buck ever say anything about that? Of course not… Konerko doubles to lead off the inning and AJ follows with a walk… Rowand crushes one right at the shortstop and Konerko gets doubled up…Oswalt is nibbling, and after that short profile he’s also very, very Southern.
Bottom of the Second:
Not much to add, small strike zone tonight… Uribe is awesome.
Top of the Third:
Sox go down 1, 2,3… Oswalt throws all of eight pitches, not a good inning.
Bottom of Third:
Adam Everett gets a gift single then gets caught in a run down, but in the run down he is hit with a throw and is safe at first. Things are not going well for the White Sox. They don’t look sharp. Biggio singles and Everett scores. 2-0. Garland strikes out Tarvares, but Berkman singles and runners are on first and third with two outs. Cooper just made a trip to the mound… After Ensberg hits one foul about 450 feet Garland gives up another single and it’s now 3-0, things don’t look good.
Top of the fourth:
Dye hits one well, but Taveras runs it down for the first out… Scooter just explained what a fastball was… Thankfully AJ has gone back to the work the count tactic that worked okay in the first two innings.
Bottom of the Fourth:
Garland is starting to get rocked… Lane hits a solo shot to make it 4-0 and the Sox really need to do something with the bats now… Buck now wants to see if this was a home run. It looks like it does but it’s close. I’m sure we’ll never hear the end of it now… The fact that you can’t tell if that was a home run or not speaks for itself about this ballpark the Astros play in. I mean a home run should be clear and never in doubt, but of course in this gimmick filled sandbox that shouldn’t be allowed to host baseball games, it isn’t a clear home run. This is inexcusable.
Top of the Fifth:
Crede hits an opposite field home run to lead off the inning! 4-1 now and McCarver says that Lane’s home run wasn’t a home run… And the video now shows it isn’t a home run so it should be 3-1. I can’t really complain since the Sox have gotten some calls, but this Minute Made Park is bullshit. The entire place… Garland gets a chance to kill Ensberg since he’s playing about twenty feet from home plate waiting for Garland to bunt, but Garland can’t get the job done and strikes out…. Pods singles… Iguchi lines one up the middle and Uribe scores from second to make it 4-2… Oswalt’s fastball isn’t there tonight he’s also thrown over 70 pitches. If the Sox can get to this bullpen by the 7th…Why isn’t Joe Buck going on and on about a home run that shouldn’t have been a home run, but he went on and on about Dye’s ball four/hit by pitch in Game Two?... Dye with a nice at bat and then bloops a single into center with Pods and Iguchi running to make it 4-3. Very nice at bat from Dye… AJ doubles into right center to make it 5-4!!!! And it goes up the hill at the same time a insult to injury!! This is great! The Sox have batted around in the 5th!!! The Houston crowd is stunned. Fanfuckingtastic!.. Crede is hit by a pitch and he’s pissed, I’ve never seen that much emotion from Crede in my life, I love it. Now the two benches are yelling at each other, now this is baseball. I love it when two teams don’t like each other. Carl Everett just shouted, “Shut the fuck up” to Phil “Jagoff” Garner… Meanwhile the bases are loaded and Oswalt is coming apart. Right on cue, Joe Buck defends Oswalt by saying that he’s been getting squeezed even though he’s been nibbling all game… Uribe just, I mean just, missed a grand slam, that would have been a dagger, and the Sox look fantastic this inning, they are hitting good pitches and making Oswalt work… Uribe pops up to right, but what an inning, down 4-0, they score 5 to make it 5-4 and probably end Oswalt’s night.
Bottom of the Fifth:
The Astros don’t respond in the fifth going down 1, 2, 3 with only Berkman hitting the ball hard, but Rowand runs it down in center.
Top of the Sixth:
Garland and Pods go down quickly to start the inning… Ozzie just gave a shout out to Venezuela in his dugout interview… Ensberg with another bad defensive play. He doesn’t get his body in front of the ball and can’t field the bad bounce because of it. Therefore, Iguchi reaches on an error. Ensberg also made a bad play in Game Two by not getting in front of a ball, but wasn’t charged with an error… Dye pops out to center to end the inning. Oswalt is at 107 pitches…
Bottom of the Sixth:
The Astros have yet to respond to the Sox five run fifth by again going quietly in the sixth. They do not look good right now… The inning did allow us to see Uribe’s sick arm once again which is always fun as he threw out Lane from deep in the hole at short.
Top of the Seventh:
Oswalt’s demeanor doesn’t look good on the mound visibly showing that he disagrees with some of the calls and looking rattled out there. He’s almost showing too much emotion out there, as if he’s lost some of his poise. It’s sort of like watching Carlos Zambrano without the 492,487 cup adjustments and pointing up to God between pitches... He walks Konerko on four pitches and Garner makes the call to the pen… They just showed a Gatorade commercials where Jordan misses the shot against the Cavs and he looks all dejected while the Cavs and the fans celebrate. That was the weirdest thing I’ve seen in a while. In fact I actually got a little upset watching that. Wow that was weird. I never want to see that commercial again… Springer on for the Astros and he quickly gets AJ and Rowand… Crede grounds out to end the inning.
SEVENTH INNING STREACH
After a moment of silence for Rosa Parks (ironic only because the Astros don’t have a single American born black player on their team) FOX shows the singing of “God Bless America” and then cut away before we can hear “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. I don’t get this. What’s more American than Take Me Out to the Ball Game? Not much I’ll tell you that. So if you want to celebrate America, do something that is American, like singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. That is American. I’m repeating myself.
Bottom of the Seventh:
Ausmus with the dreaded lead off walk. I don’t like this one bit… After he’s bunted over to second Bagwell comes on to pitch hit and they play that stupid bee buzzing. How that pumps up the Astro hitters I don’t know… They just showed Frank again and I can’t tell you how happy I feel for him. I never knew I had these feelings for Frank until the last week or so. And I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, he was much needed in late May, June, and into July this year when he was hitting all those home runs and getting on base. It’s been somewhat over looked, but in those 34 games he played for the Sox in the middle of the year were huge… Bagwell pops out to Konerko for the second out and a huge out… Garland is throwing his change up for strikes right now, four in a row to be exact… Garland gets Biggio on the outside corner looking with a fastball after throwing six straight change ups… YESSS!!!!
Top of Eight:
First it was being a man of the High Life and now it’s the Girl on the Moon. The High Life is something that I desire to reach… Uribe pops out… Carl Everett on to pitch hit for Garland who is done for the night, not a bad start from Garland who settled down after struggling in the first four innings… Everett singles and there is Steve Perry from Journey!!! Cool!!... Harris pitch running for Everett steals second, and a very noticeable “Let’s Go White Sox” is being chanted. I like it… Pods pops out to left… The Sox bring a “Play Like a Champions Today” sign with them? NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...Iguchi grounds out to end the inning.
Bottom of Eight:
Well this is it. Houston needs one to tie and two to take the lead and Garland is out of the game. If they can’t the Sox will take a 3-0 lead in the series at it will be all but over. If Houston can tie or win this game, we’ve got a whole new series… Tareras pops out to left…Berkman strikes out and Ensberg is now up… Ensberg walks and Cotts is going to come on and face Lamb. I’ll go out on limb and saying this is a big at bat… They just played the “This is Budweiser, This is Beer” commercial which always makes me want to drink. Only one song has ever come as close to making me wanting to drink and that’s “Someday” by the Strokes, especially in 2002… Lamb walks on five pitches…Bad words… And Dustin Hermanson is coming on to pitch for the Sox for the first time this postseason…Hermanson gives up a double to Lane to tie the game and the Sox need an out here in the worst way…Hermanson gets Ausmus looking to end the inning. I hope Garner brings on Lidge. I hope that Garner brings on Lidge.
Top of the Ninth:
As our kitten Alex plays with a bottle top and ball of paper in the room running around like an idiot, I play “Go, Go, White Sox” to get ‘em pumped… Wheeler still pitching for the Astros…I’m really nervous, really nervous. I was at Game Two and I wasn’t as nervous as I am right now… Dye grounds out to short… Wheeler hits Konerko and he goes to first. Very nice…Gallo comes on to pitch and gets AJ to ground out. Konerko moves over to second… Garner makes the no brainier double switch bring on Lidge and putting Burke in center. The most overrated and obvious move in baseball, the double switch, strikes again!... Anyway Lidge is on and if he gives up a home run here he should just retire. That said there is no one I would rather face right now as my muscles tighten up and my stomach turns to knots… And he gets Rowand swinging. Damn it.
Bottom of the Ninth:
El Duque on for the White Sox and I feel confident…Pop up down the line in left and Uribe gets it but not before Pods almost runs into him. I love Uribe’s confidence… Burke walks on four pitches and then El Duque almost picks off Burke… Konerko just missed the throw to first from El Duque and it gets by him. Burke moves on to second… And Burke goes and steals third. Just great… Biggio is walked so now it’s first and third with one out… I feel sick… I hate Houston… The Sox infield is in so there is no chance of a double play. I don’t like that… My heart is pounding out of my chest and my hammies are tighter than a drum right now… El Duque gets Taveras to strike out… one more El Duque, one more… Ozzie comes out to talk to El Duque, I love it when Ozzie comes out to talk to Contreras and El Duque just to talk to them in Spanish… The Sox decide to put Berkman on and it all comes down to this: Ensberg vs El Duque… Anxiety would be an understatement… It’s 2-2 and I feel like a mess. It’s a very similar feeling to the times when I didn’t study for a test… EL DUQUE GETS HIM SWINGING!!!! HAHA!!! I’m smiling and laughing, that was great! I love Cuba!!
Top of the Tenth:
After that you’ve got to like the White Sox chances right now after the bottom of the ninth when the Astros had a runner on third with one out and couldn’t get him home… Crede grounds out to second… Uribe strikes out… And we now know why Lidge can’t get the job done. He’s a Doomer! But he looks really good right now, which I don’t like… And Widger strikes out. Still tied in the bottom of the 10th now.
Bottom of the Tenth:
El Duque gives up a four pitch walk and walks off injured and now… Oh no, Luis Vizcaino comes on… But he gets Lane to pop out in foul territory. One away… Ausmus pops up to center and two are away… Everett walks with two outs and now a single will probably win the game…Burke hits a come backer to Vizcaino to end the inning.
Top of the 11th:
Qualls on for the Astros… After a gift no-strike call, Pods singles to right. I would send him… Iguchi can’t get a bunt down and is now down 0-2… Pods steals second!... Wow and the Astros catch a huge break. Iguchi flies out to right, Pods fakes the tag up to third and the throw to third is air mailed, but hits the fencing and bounces back into play. If that had either gone down the line or into the stands Pods is on third or even scores… Dye strikes out in his worst at bat of the World Series… Konerko up is walked by the Astros and Timo Perez on deck circle to pitch hit… TIMO is coming up to bat. Mr. Clutch as some say… Timo grounds out to first and the inning is over. The Sox have to start worrying about having enough pitchers… I’m emotionally drained, so much so that I’m totally numb right now so no matter what happens it’s cool. Well not really, but I’m not as freaked out now.
Bottom of the 11th.
This is a great game, I haven’t mentioned it yet, but it is… Jenks on for the White Sox… Biggio strikes out for the first out… Taveras is hit in the head with a curve ball sending him to first and Berkman to the plate… I’m noticing a decent amount of empty seats in Houston… Berkman walks and Jenks needs to just throw some gas here… And not that I’m going to bitch, but this game should be over. The White Sox should have won 5-4 if it weren’t for this fucking bullshit stadium… Jenks’ fastball doesn’t seem to have that extra kick in it… Uribe goes out and takes a ball that Pods should have in mid left. He just decided to do it himself, sort of like Kobe Bryant in every basketball game… And suddenly Jenks has discovered his fastball going up 0-2 on 99 mph fastballs to Palmeiro… Jenks gets a come backer and the inning is over. This game may never end.
Top of 12:
Rowand strikes out to lead off… Crede grounds out to short… Uribe up and here is to hoping… instead he breaks his bat and pops out to short. In a way I don’t want to watch this game any more.
Bottom of 12:
I’m openly trying to avoid this game at this point… Lane pops out and it’s now 6:21 in London… Ausmus strikes out and once again looks really bad at the plate… This game is starting to feel like a playoff hockey game expect that neither team can get the puck past the center line… Everett strikes out to end the inning and we go to the 13th… The Astros haven’t gotten a hit since the 8th inning… And where are the Astro fans? Seriously, it’s almost as if they don’t care any more. They’re sitting on their hands or something because they don’t seem into it.
Top of 13…
McCarver said something stupid put I don’t feel like remembering it or writing it down… A leadoff walk for the Sox!! Widger gets the walk… 1,605 camera cuts in this game and about 843 of them were of rich, white people from Houston who are at their first baseball game ever… On a very, and I mean VERY questionable play, Ausmus fields a ball that’s barely fair, and I mean it was a foul ball, throws to second and are able to double up Pods who didn’t run on the play. Of course Buck says nothing about this and I’ve turned off the TV. I’ve had enough. Joe Buck is a fucking asshole. Fire Joe Buck. He bitches about the AJ play or Dye’s non-hit by the pitch, but he says NOTHING about the home run that wasn’t a home run or the few calls that have gone against the Sox tonight… Wouldn’t it be cool of Dieon Sanders dumped a tub of Gatorade on Joe Buck right now?
Bottom of the 13th:
So now Marte is in the game and gives up a lead off walk. Then again, what else is new since this is the Sox 28th walk in the last four innings. I’m also listening to the radio now because I’m starting to think that Buck is the anti-Christ and is the worst announcer of all time. Another good things about turning the TV off is that I don’t have to see the 492,337th crowd shot of some rich white person from Houston who owns a brand new “Astros/White Sox World Series” hat… Marte gets Biggio looking for the first out… I hate not watching the game… Tarveras strikes out looking. Two away now… Berkman now up from the right side of the plate. A match up that I like… Berkman grounds out to short and Uribe flips to second for the force.
Top of 14:
You have to figure now that the Sox have the advantage. The Astros have had about 937 runners since the 9th inning but haven’t gotten one of those runners home. Meanwhile the Sox have done next to nothing in the extra innings… someone seems due on that side… Ezequiel Astacio is on for Houston and I won’t make any jokes about the fact that his face looks like it has an huge bug on it… Dye leads off with a single and the TV is on, but the sound is off… Konerko steps up to the plate and kills one to third where Ensberg has to make a diving stop, goes to second, and since Konerko is so slow, he is doubled up. Why can’t Paulie be a half step faster. Crap… Blum lines a HOME RUN to right for a 6-5 WHITE SOX LEAD!!!!! Unbelievable! Awesome, just awesome… Garner chucked a stool down the stairs, what a prick… Blum hits a home run to take the lead in the 14th inning in his first World Series at bat. How awesome is that!?!?!?!... Rowand hits a weak grounder to third and Ensberg has no play… Crede hits a soft roller down the line that Ensberg allows to roll and it hits the bag. First and second with two outs now and Uribe coming up… I wish I was making this up, but ESPN just cut into the radio broadcast for a SportsCenter update, Who the fuck cares?... Uribe walks and I only know that because of TV since the update is still going on the radio and now they are broadcasting a commercial… In fact I have to turn the radio off because it’s “Up All Night” instead of the baseball game, I really am happy I’m not in a car right now… Seriously who cuts off the broadcast of a baseball game for “Up All Night”. I hope people are being fired for this… Astacio walks Widger to make it a 7-5 game… The Sox dugout looks joyful, the Astros like a bunch of dead men… You’ve got to wonder why Garner brought Astacio on. He’s been hit hard and now the bases are loaded to the point where this game could get out of hand. Yet another bad move made by Astacio… Pods goes down to end the inning, but the Sox are three outs from basically ending this series. Come on guys.
Bottom of the 14th:
Matre out there to hopefully finish this game… Ensberg goes down on three pitches and doesn’t even look remotely good at the plate… Matre is working faster than Buehrle right now… After a walk, Lane then pops out to second… One out from having a 3-0 lead in the World Series. ONE OUT… come on… come on… Ausmus coming up and he hasn’t looked good at the plate in the entire game… The Astro bench could show some encouragement or at least try to cheer on their team. Instead they are just sitting there all pissed off and dejected… Astros down to their last strike… full count… Fucking eh… Ausmus grounds to short, but Uribe misplays the ball to keep the game going… damn it and here comes Buehrle… Buehrle gets the pop out to short and the Sox win. All I can manage is a fist pump…. I can’t believe this game is over… And the Sox are now 27 outs from winning the World Series!!!! Wow! One more game… one more game… Let’s do this tomorrow.
Final thoughts (Wed afternoon)… I still can’t believe Garner ripped his team in the post-game press conference. What a prick this guy is. Not only did he manage a horrible game, now he’s blaming his players for not getting the job done. Nice work Phil. If I were the Astros I’d fire him tonight… The Astros had only one hit after Lane's home run, and that was Lane's double in the 8th. The Sox walked about 477 batters after the 8th, but the Astros couldn't get a run. Amazing. Did the Astros ever not have a man on second in extras last night? How did they lose that game? They couldn't get one hit, not even a single… Where was the crowd last night? After the 9th inning they seemed to give up. Just a horrible performance by the Astro fans last night. You’ve got to cheer on your team and go nuts. But it was almost like they were waiting for the White Sox to win. Get off your hands and cheer on your team in the biggest game of the year, maybe ever for the Astros… I know Uribe dropped that grounder in the 14th, but he took over the left side of the field last night. He was running half way out to left to catch pop ups (knowing that Pods shades away and pulls up). He basically took it upon himself to make every play hit to the left side last night. And the fact that he was in shallow left on Lane's double I'm still trying to figure out, but it probably saved a run and the game… And I didn’t say it at the time, but how huge is Buehrle coming out of the pen with only one day off? Amazing and awesome.
Pre-Game: Just heard the worst song of my life… “Heart of America” where four signers take themselves way too seriously and sing a really stupid song about liberty and America… I seriously thought about moving to London during that song. Can you picture the Brits or Germans singing a song called, “Heart of Germany”? Case closed. But that wasn’t the worst of it… it was just a bad song. I mean it sucked and it never ended. Talk about bad times.
Top of the First:
Pods gets over powered, Iguchi singles for his 104th hit after Pods makes an out, and then Dye hits into a double play. I have nothing to add.
Bottom of the First:
Biggio doubles… and they play the buzz of bees over the PA, talk about annoying. Why must all non-Midwestern and East Coast teams have annoying fans and gimmicks like that?... Berkman has a Bonds like sized head. Yet no one talks about this. Berkman singles home Biggio and the Astros set off fireworks!!! This was a RBI single! And they shoot off fireworks. They should be banned from baseball. I’m serious…
Top of the Second:
This whole roof closed/open controversy is weird. First of all, who really cares? Second of all, isn’t baseball an outdoor game? And finally, how is it such a huge advantage to have the roof closed? I’m missing something here… Joe Buck should be shot and the sooner the better; can he not let anyone enjoy anything? He has to make a big deal out of everything and it’s beyond annoying. In fact it’s RBI single fireworks annoying, but would Buck ever say anything about that? Of course not… Konerko doubles to lead off the inning and AJ follows with a walk… Rowand crushes one right at the shortstop and Konerko gets doubled up…Oswalt is nibbling, and after that short profile he’s also very, very Southern.
Bottom of the Second:
Not much to add, small strike zone tonight… Uribe is awesome.
Top of the Third:
Sox go down 1, 2,3… Oswalt throws all of eight pitches, not a good inning.
Bottom of Third:
Adam Everett gets a gift single then gets caught in a run down, but in the run down he is hit with a throw and is safe at first. Things are not going well for the White Sox. They don’t look sharp. Biggio singles and Everett scores. 2-0. Garland strikes out Tarvares, but Berkman singles and runners are on first and third with two outs. Cooper just made a trip to the mound… After Ensberg hits one foul about 450 feet Garland gives up another single and it’s now 3-0, things don’t look good.
Top of the fourth:
Dye hits one well, but Taveras runs it down for the first out… Scooter just explained what a fastball was… Thankfully AJ has gone back to the work the count tactic that worked okay in the first two innings.
Bottom of the Fourth:
Garland is starting to get rocked… Lane hits a solo shot to make it 4-0 and the Sox really need to do something with the bats now… Buck now wants to see if this was a home run. It looks like it does but it’s close. I’m sure we’ll never hear the end of it now… The fact that you can’t tell if that was a home run or not speaks for itself about this ballpark the Astros play in. I mean a home run should be clear and never in doubt, but of course in this gimmick filled sandbox that shouldn’t be allowed to host baseball games, it isn’t a clear home run. This is inexcusable.
Top of the Fifth:
Crede hits an opposite field home run to lead off the inning! 4-1 now and McCarver says that Lane’s home run wasn’t a home run… And the video now shows it isn’t a home run so it should be 3-1. I can’t really complain since the Sox have gotten some calls, but this Minute Made Park is bullshit. The entire place… Garland gets a chance to kill Ensberg since he’s playing about twenty feet from home plate waiting for Garland to bunt, but Garland can’t get the job done and strikes out…. Pods singles… Iguchi lines one up the middle and Uribe scores from second to make it 4-2… Oswalt’s fastball isn’t there tonight he’s also thrown over 70 pitches. If the Sox can get to this bullpen by the 7th…Why isn’t Joe Buck going on and on about a home run that shouldn’t have been a home run, but he went on and on about Dye’s ball four/hit by pitch in Game Two?... Dye with a nice at bat and then bloops a single into center with Pods and Iguchi running to make it 4-3. Very nice at bat from Dye… AJ doubles into right center to make it 5-4!!!! And it goes up the hill at the same time a insult to injury!! This is great! The Sox have batted around in the 5th!!! The Houston crowd is stunned. Fanfuckingtastic!.. Crede is hit by a pitch and he’s pissed, I’ve never seen that much emotion from Crede in my life, I love it. Now the two benches are yelling at each other, now this is baseball. I love it when two teams don’t like each other. Carl Everett just shouted, “Shut the fuck up” to Phil “Jagoff” Garner… Meanwhile the bases are loaded and Oswalt is coming apart. Right on cue, Joe Buck defends Oswalt by saying that he’s been getting squeezed even though he’s been nibbling all game… Uribe just, I mean just, missed a grand slam, that would have been a dagger, and the Sox look fantastic this inning, they are hitting good pitches and making Oswalt work… Uribe pops up to right, but what an inning, down 4-0, they score 5 to make it 5-4 and probably end Oswalt’s night.
Bottom of the Fifth:
The Astros don’t respond in the fifth going down 1, 2, 3 with only Berkman hitting the ball hard, but Rowand runs it down in center.
Top of the Sixth:
Garland and Pods go down quickly to start the inning… Ozzie just gave a shout out to Venezuela in his dugout interview… Ensberg with another bad defensive play. He doesn’t get his body in front of the ball and can’t field the bad bounce because of it. Therefore, Iguchi reaches on an error. Ensberg also made a bad play in Game Two by not getting in front of a ball, but wasn’t charged with an error… Dye pops out to center to end the inning. Oswalt is at 107 pitches…
Bottom of the Sixth:
The Astros have yet to respond to the Sox five run fifth by again going quietly in the sixth. They do not look good right now… The inning did allow us to see Uribe’s sick arm once again which is always fun as he threw out Lane from deep in the hole at short.
Top of the Seventh:
Oswalt’s demeanor doesn’t look good on the mound visibly showing that he disagrees with some of the calls and looking rattled out there. He’s almost showing too much emotion out there, as if he’s lost some of his poise. It’s sort of like watching Carlos Zambrano without the 492,487 cup adjustments and pointing up to God between pitches... He walks Konerko on four pitches and Garner makes the call to the pen… They just showed a Gatorade commercials where Jordan misses the shot against the Cavs and he looks all dejected while the Cavs and the fans celebrate. That was the weirdest thing I’ve seen in a while. In fact I actually got a little upset watching that. Wow that was weird. I never want to see that commercial again… Springer on for the Astros and he quickly gets AJ and Rowand… Crede grounds out to end the inning.
SEVENTH INNING STREACH
After a moment of silence for Rosa Parks (ironic only because the Astros don’t have a single American born black player on their team) FOX shows the singing of “God Bless America” and then cut away before we can hear “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. I don’t get this. What’s more American than Take Me Out to the Ball Game? Not much I’ll tell you that. So if you want to celebrate America, do something that is American, like singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. That is American. I’m repeating myself.
Bottom of the Seventh:
Ausmus with the dreaded lead off walk. I don’t like this one bit… After he’s bunted over to second Bagwell comes on to pitch hit and they play that stupid bee buzzing. How that pumps up the Astro hitters I don’t know… They just showed Frank again and I can’t tell you how happy I feel for him. I never knew I had these feelings for Frank until the last week or so. And I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, he was much needed in late May, June, and into July this year when he was hitting all those home runs and getting on base. It’s been somewhat over looked, but in those 34 games he played for the Sox in the middle of the year were huge… Bagwell pops out to Konerko for the second out and a huge out… Garland is throwing his change up for strikes right now, four in a row to be exact… Garland gets Biggio on the outside corner looking with a fastball after throwing six straight change ups… YESSS!!!!
Top of Eight:
First it was being a man of the High Life and now it’s the Girl on the Moon. The High Life is something that I desire to reach… Uribe pops out… Carl Everett on to pitch hit for Garland who is done for the night, not a bad start from Garland who settled down after struggling in the first four innings… Everett singles and there is Steve Perry from Journey!!! Cool!!... Harris pitch running for Everett steals second, and a very noticeable “Let’s Go White Sox” is being chanted. I like it… Pods pops out to left… The Sox bring a “Play Like a Champions Today” sign with them? NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...Iguchi grounds out to end the inning.
Bottom of Eight:
Well this is it. Houston needs one to tie and two to take the lead and Garland is out of the game. If they can’t the Sox will take a 3-0 lead in the series at it will be all but over. If Houston can tie or win this game, we’ve got a whole new series… Tareras pops out to left…Berkman strikes out and Ensberg is now up… Ensberg walks and Cotts is going to come on and face Lamb. I’ll go out on limb and saying this is a big at bat… They just played the “This is Budweiser, This is Beer” commercial which always makes me want to drink. Only one song has ever come as close to making me wanting to drink and that’s “Someday” by the Strokes, especially in 2002… Lamb walks on five pitches…Bad words… And Dustin Hermanson is coming on to pitch for the Sox for the first time this postseason…Hermanson gives up a double to Lane to tie the game and the Sox need an out here in the worst way…Hermanson gets Ausmus looking to end the inning. I hope Garner brings on Lidge. I hope that Garner brings on Lidge.
Top of the Ninth:
As our kitten Alex plays with a bottle top and ball of paper in the room running around like an idiot, I play “Go, Go, White Sox” to get ‘em pumped… Wheeler still pitching for the Astros…I’m really nervous, really nervous. I was at Game Two and I wasn’t as nervous as I am right now… Dye grounds out to short… Wheeler hits Konerko and he goes to first. Very nice…Gallo comes on to pitch and gets AJ to ground out. Konerko moves over to second… Garner makes the no brainier double switch bring on Lidge and putting Burke in center. The most overrated and obvious move in baseball, the double switch, strikes again!... Anyway Lidge is on and if he gives up a home run here he should just retire. That said there is no one I would rather face right now as my muscles tighten up and my stomach turns to knots… And he gets Rowand swinging. Damn it.
Bottom of the Ninth:
El Duque on for the White Sox and I feel confident…Pop up down the line in left and Uribe gets it but not before Pods almost runs into him. I love Uribe’s confidence… Burke walks on four pitches and then El Duque almost picks off Burke… Konerko just missed the throw to first from El Duque and it gets by him. Burke moves on to second… And Burke goes and steals third. Just great… Biggio is walked so now it’s first and third with one out… I feel sick… I hate Houston… The Sox infield is in so there is no chance of a double play. I don’t like that… My heart is pounding out of my chest and my hammies are tighter than a drum right now… El Duque gets Taveras to strike out… one more El Duque, one more… Ozzie comes out to talk to El Duque, I love it when Ozzie comes out to talk to Contreras and El Duque just to talk to them in Spanish… The Sox decide to put Berkman on and it all comes down to this: Ensberg vs El Duque… Anxiety would be an understatement… It’s 2-2 and I feel like a mess. It’s a very similar feeling to the times when I didn’t study for a test… EL DUQUE GETS HIM SWINGING!!!! HAHA!!! I’m smiling and laughing, that was great! I love Cuba!!
Top of the Tenth:
After that you’ve got to like the White Sox chances right now after the bottom of the ninth when the Astros had a runner on third with one out and couldn’t get him home… Crede grounds out to second… Uribe strikes out… And we now know why Lidge can’t get the job done. He’s a Doomer! But he looks really good right now, which I don’t like… And Widger strikes out. Still tied in the bottom of the 10th now.
Bottom of the Tenth:
El Duque gives up a four pitch walk and walks off injured and now… Oh no, Luis Vizcaino comes on… But he gets Lane to pop out in foul territory. One away… Ausmus pops up to center and two are away… Everett walks with two outs and now a single will probably win the game…Burke hits a come backer to Vizcaino to end the inning.
Top of the 11th:
Qualls on for the Astros… After a gift no-strike call, Pods singles to right. I would send him… Iguchi can’t get a bunt down and is now down 0-2… Pods steals second!... Wow and the Astros catch a huge break. Iguchi flies out to right, Pods fakes the tag up to third and the throw to third is air mailed, but hits the fencing and bounces back into play. If that had either gone down the line or into the stands Pods is on third or even scores… Dye strikes out in his worst at bat of the World Series… Konerko up is walked by the Astros and Timo Perez on deck circle to pitch hit… TIMO is coming up to bat. Mr. Clutch as some say… Timo grounds out to first and the inning is over. The Sox have to start worrying about having enough pitchers… I’m emotionally drained, so much so that I’m totally numb right now so no matter what happens it’s cool. Well not really, but I’m not as freaked out now.
Bottom of the 11th.
This is a great game, I haven’t mentioned it yet, but it is… Jenks on for the White Sox… Biggio strikes out for the first out… Taveras is hit in the head with a curve ball sending him to first and Berkman to the plate… I’m noticing a decent amount of empty seats in Houston… Berkman walks and Jenks needs to just throw some gas here… And not that I’m going to bitch, but this game should be over. The White Sox should have won 5-4 if it weren’t for this fucking bullshit stadium… Jenks’ fastball doesn’t seem to have that extra kick in it… Uribe goes out and takes a ball that Pods should have in mid left. He just decided to do it himself, sort of like Kobe Bryant in every basketball game… And suddenly Jenks has discovered his fastball going up 0-2 on 99 mph fastballs to Palmeiro… Jenks gets a come backer and the inning is over. This game may never end.
Top of 12:
Rowand strikes out to lead off… Crede grounds out to short… Uribe up and here is to hoping… instead he breaks his bat and pops out to short. In a way I don’t want to watch this game any more.
Bottom of 12:
I’m openly trying to avoid this game at this point… Lane pops out and it’s now 6:21 in London… Ausmus strikes out and once again looks really bad at the plate… This game is starting to feel like a playoff hockey game expect that neither team can get the puck past the center line… Everett strikes out to end the inning and we go to the 13th… The Astros haven’t gotten a hit since the 8th inning… And where are the Astro fans? Seriously, it’s almost as if they don’t care any more. They’re sitting on their hands or something because they don’t seem into it.
Top of 13…
McCarver said something stupid put I don’t feel like remembering it or writing it down… A leadoff walk for the Sox!! Widger gets the walk… 1,605 camera cuts in this game and about 843 of them were of rich, white people from Houston who are at their first baseball game ever… On a very, and I mean VERY questionable play, Ausmus fields a ball that’s barely fair, and I mean it was a foul ball, throws to second and are able to double up Pods who didn’t run on the play. Of course Buck says nothing about this and I’ve turned off the TV. I’ve had enough. Joe Buck is a fucking asshole. Fire Joe Buck. He bitches about the AJ play or Dye’s non-hit by the pitch, but he says NOTHING about the home run that wasn’t a home run or the few calls that have gone against the Sox tonight… Wouldn’t it be cool of Dieon Sanders dumped a tub of Gatorade on Joe Buck right now?
Bottom of the 13th:
So now Marte is in the game and gives up a lead off walk. Then again, what else is new since this is the Sox 28th walk in the last four innings. I’m also listening to the radio now because I’m starting to think that Buck is the anti-Christ and is the worst announcer of all time. Another good things about turning the TV off is that I don’t have to see the 492,337th crowd shot of some rich white person from Houston who owns a brand new “Astros/White Sox World Series” hat… Marte gets Biggio looking for the first out… I hate not watching the game… Tarveras strikes out looking. Two away now… Berkman now up from the right side of the plate. A match up that I like… Berkman grounds out to short and Uribe flips to second for the force.
Top of 14:
You have to figure now that the Sox have the advantage. The Astros have had about 937 runners since the 9th inning but haven’t gotten one of those runners home. Meanwhile the Sox have done next to nothing in the extra innings… someone seems due on that side… Ezequiel Astacio is on for Houston and I won’t make any jokes about the fact that his face looks like it has an huge bug on it… Dye leads off with a single and the TV is on, but the sound is off… Konerko steps up to the plate and kills one to third where Ensberg has to make a diving stop, goes to second, and since Konerko is so slow, he is doubled up. Why can’t Paulie be a half step faster. Crap… Blum lines a HOME RUN to right for a 6-5 WHITE SOX LEAD!!!!! Unbelievable! Awesome, just awesome… Garner chucked a stool down the stairs, what a prick… Blum hits a home run to take the lead in the 14th inning in his first World Series at bat. How awesome is that!?!?!?!... Rowand hits a weak grounder to third and Ensberg has no play… Crede hits a soft roller down the line that Ensberg allows to roll and it hits the bag. First and second with two outs now and Uribe coming up… I wish I was making this up, but ESPN just cut into the radio broadcast for a SportsCenter update, Who the fuck cares?... Uribe walks and I only know that because of TV since the update is still going on the radio and now they are broadcasting a commercial… In fact I have to turn the radio off because it’s “Up All Night” instead of the baseball game, I really am happy I’m not in a car right now… Seriously who cuts off the broadcast of a baseball game for “Up All Night”. I hope people are being fired for this… Astacio walks Widger to make it a 7-5 game… The Sox dugout looks joyful, the Astros like a bunch of dead men… You’ve got to wonder why Garner brought Astacio on. He’s been hit hard and now the bases are loaded to the point where this game could get out of hand. Yet another bad move made by Astacio… Pods goes down to end the inning, but the Sox are three outs from basically ending this series. Come on guys.
Bottom of the 14th:
Matre out there to hopefully finish this game… Ensberg goes down on three pitches and doesn’t even look remotely good at the plate… Matre is working faster than Buehrle right now… After a walk, Lane then pops out to second… One out from having a 3-0 lead in the World Series. ONE OUT… come on… come on… Ausmus coming up and he hasn’t looked good at the plate in the entire game… The Astro bench could show some encouragement or at least try to cheer on their team. Instead they are just sitting there all pissed off and dejected… Astros down to their last strike… full count… Fucking eh… Ausmus grounds to short, but Uribe misplays the ball to keep the game going… damn it and here comes Buehrle… Buehrle gets the pop out to short and the Sox win. All I can manage is a fist pump…. I can’t believe this game is over… And the Sox are now 27 outs from winning the World Series!!!! Wow! One more game… one more game… Let’s do this tomorrow.
Final thoughts (Wed afternoon)… I still can’t believe Garner ripped his team in the post-game press conference. What a prick this guy is. Not only did he manage a horrible game, now he’s blaming his players for not getting the job done. Nice work Phil. If I were the Astros I’d fire him tonight… The Astros had only one hit after Lane's home run, and that was Lane's double in the 8th. The Sox walked about 477 batters after the 8th, but the Astros couldn't get a run. Amazing. Did the Astros ever not have a man on second in extras last night? How did they lose that game? They couldn't get one hit, not even a single… Where was the crowd last night? After the 9th inning they seemed to give up. Just a horrible performance by the Astro fans last night. You’ve got to cheer on your team and go nuts. But it was almost like they were waiting for the White Sox to win. Get off your hands and cheer on your team in the biggest game of the year, maybe ever for the Astros… I know Uribe dropped that grounder in the 14th, but he took over the left side of the field last night. He was running half way out to left to catch pop ups (knowing that Pods shades away and pulls up). He basically took it upon himself to make every play hit to the left side last night. And the fact that he was in shallow left on Lane's double I'm still trying to figure out, but it probably saved a run and the game… And I didn’t say it at the time, but how huge is Buehrle coming out of the pen with only one day off? Amazing and awesome.
Fire Joe Buck
More later, but this jerk is calling the worst World Series of all time. I've had to turn off the TV because he sucks so much. He makes a big deal out of ever call that goes for the Sox doesn't say a word when a call, a clearly bad call, goes against the White Sox. Buck sucks.
Buck Sucks.
Fire Joe Buck.
Buck Sucks.
Buck Sucks.
Fire Joe Buck.
Buck Sucks.
22.10.05
The World Series: White Sox vs Astros
Well today is the day. The day that in some ways I never thought I’d see. A day that I’ve thought about how it would feel and now that it’s here, I feel… well normal right now. But still deep down, I can feel that little bit of excitement building. By game time I’m sure I’ll be going out of my mind.
Game One of the World Series and the Chicago White Sox are hosting it. How cool is that? How amazing is that? For the first time in 46 years, Chicago and the Southside will be seeing a World Series game live and in their own backyard. The thought alone brings a smile to my face.
As for who’s going to win? Let’s break this down.
Catching:
AJ Pierzynski vs Brad Ausmus
This really isn’t much of a contest. Ausmus is the better defensive catcher, but he’s not the same catcher that he was. Pierzynski has been involved in every big play, he’s always cheering on his teammates, and he plays hard. While Ausmus did have a huge hit in the NLDS, he’s not the threat that AJ is at the plate. And he’s defense behind the plate isn’t enough to strike the fear of God in the White Sox running game.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
First base:
Paul Konerko vs Mike Lamb
Since I think we’ll see Lamb at first more often than Berkman, we’ll draw it up as is. And as is, Konerko is the better player hands down. Lamb is a faster runner, but that’s really about it. Konerko’s glove is solid, and while his range is lacking, it doesn’t hurt the White Sox.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Second base:
Tadahito Iguchi vs Craig Biggio
Biggio isn’t who he was and he’s somewhat of a liability at second now, but he plays hard and he never gives up. He does the things that you need him to do, be it get hit-by-a-pitch or double in the gap. He can still steal a base if necessary, though don’t look for it. Iguchi has very quietly done a fantastic job for the Sox this year hitting behind runners, driving the ball when necessary, and doing everything he can to win. But Biggio has him here.
EDGE: ASTROS
Third base:
Joe Crede vs Morgan Ensberg
Crede’s got the better glove and he has come up huge in big spots for the White Sox, but Ensberg is the Astros offense at this point. Since teams pitch around Berkman, if Ensberg can get some hits, the Astros will be in these games and win. If he doesn’t, they won’t score more than a run or two. Ensberg is the better bat and gets the nod here, but don’t be shocked if Crede comes up with the bigger hits. Ensberg has 9 RBIs, but no home runs and is hitting .256 in the playoffs.
EDGE: ASTROS
Shortstop:
Juan Uribe vs Adam Everett
Both guys hit in the nine hole… but this isn’t even a contest. Uribe is the best defensive player that no one talks about and can hit every once in a while (with some power too). Everett is a liability at the plate and he’s D isn’t as good as Uribe’s.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Left Field:
Scott Podsednik vs Lance Berkman
If Pods gets on base, good things happen for the White Sox. He can steal a base, but a leg injury doesn’t make him as much of a threat. Berkman is the other half of the Astros offense. And he’s gotten the job done thus far in the playoffs, 2 home runs, 8 RBIs, and he’s hitting .314. No he’s not the defensive player that Pods is, but he’s a bigger threat at the plate and gets the nod here.
EDGE: ASTROS
Centerfield:
Aaron Rowand vs Chris Burke/Taveras
Even though Rowand didn’t have the greatest ALCS, he’s still been decent in the playoffs. His defense is above average and he plays hard every single play. Burke and Taveras are going to split time in the outfield, I think Taveras is a bigger threat on the field, so any time he’s not out there, I like the Sox chances a whole lot more. Burke has had a nice run in the playoffs, but he can still be pitched to.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Right field:
Jermaine Dye vs Jason Lane
Dye hasn’t had a great playoffs so far, but neither has Lane. And Dye in almost every area is a bigger threat and a better player. I don’t have much to say about Lane besides that the Sun-Times called him Jerome Lane today. If Dye gets hot, watch out. And he showed some signs in Orange County of heating up.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
DH:
Carl Everett vs Jeff Bagwell
Bagwell has only been to the plate three times in the postseason, Everett 26 times. Bagwell can’t run or play on the field any more, and he might not even be the best option for the Astros at DH, even though I think you have to play him. Everett hasn’t done too much in the postseason, a few singles and still tries to hit home runs too often, but he’s a bigger threat at this point than Bagwell.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Starting Pitching:
Who knows? Contreras, Buehrle, Garland, and Garcia vs Clemens, Pettitte, Oswalt, and Backe. Those are some good starting pitchers. You’ve got Contreras with the best stuff, Buehrle the fast working warrior, Garland the now doesn’t walk anyone low ball pitcher, and Garcia who would be a #1 starter on a number of teams. Meanwhile the Astros have two #1s in Oswalt and Clemens, maybe the best #2 in Pettitte, and Backe to round things off. The Astros have the best pitcher going into the series in Oswalt, but the White Sox have more depth. If I were to rank them, 1-8, it’d look like this:
Oswalt, Contreras, Buehrle, Pettitte, Garland, Garcia, Clemens, Backe.
I know Clemens is low on the list, but here’s why… he can be beat in the playoffs. He’s 12-8 all time with a 3.56 ERA. One of those wins came out of the bullpen this year. And I think we all know he basically pulled himself out of Game Six of the 1986 World Series. I’m not saying anything there, but something to consider.
EDGE: WHITE SOX, in the end they have more depth and we saw what they can do in the ALDS, four straight complete games.
Bullpens:
You know, I don’t think they’ll factor in that much. Who ever has better starting pitching and doesn’t have to use their pen as much will be in better shape. Since I have to pick… geeze I don’t know. The Sox have more rest, the Astros pen has been good… the Sox have better lefties; I’ll give them the nod because of Cotts and Marte.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Closers:
Bobby Jenks vs Brad Lidge
This is easy, Lidge. He’s been there, done that, maybe the best closer in the National League… but he also gave up a home run that my dad described as “Something form The Natural, if only there was a light tower…” in Game Five of the NLCS. If it wasn’t for Oswalt, the Cardinals would be playing tonight instead of the Astros. I have no clue where Lidge’s head is. But if anyone gets on when he’s pitching, you have to figure he’s a dead man out there on the mound. Therefore…
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Bench:
Ozzie didn’t even use anyone on his bench in the ALCS besides letting Ozuna pitch run in Game Two. Once again, don’t look for Ozzie to use his bench in games played at the Cell. The Astros feature names such as Eric Bruntlett, Raul Chavez, and Orlando Palmerio. But they’ll also have the guy who sits between Chris Burke, Mike Lamb, and Willy Taveras.
EDGE: ASTROS
Manager:
Ozzie Guillen vs Phil Garner
First things first, Garner is a prick, a jagoff, and that’s being kind. The Sox and teams he’s managed have had plenty of run in though the years… the Brewers and Sox hated each other in the mid 90s when he was the manager there, and who can forget the 2000 brawl where Garner kept fueling the fire. He’s also not that good of a manager; he’s got a career losing record and has never finished in first place. He makes more questionable moves than Jerry Manuel (including taking out Lance Berkman in a tie game in the 10th inning in Game Four of the NLDS, a game they should have lost). Meanwhile Ozzie hasn’t made one bad call in the last month or so. He’s pressed all the right buttons and with help from pitching coach Don Cooper, developed a new way to handle pitchers… don’t worry about ‘em till the hit 100 pitches, then figure out what to do. He’s not going to try and fix something that isn’t broke. Garner will.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Stadiums:
The Cell vs the Juicebox
MLB should ban the park in Houston… a hill in centerfield and a left field porch that a five year old could hit home runs too. Meanwhile the Cell has under gone a renaissance in the last four years to become a very good and friendly place to see a game.
EDGE: WHITE SOX and who would have thunk it five years ago?
Cities:
Chicago vs Houston
We’re kidding right? What is Houston known for? Give me one thing? Enron? The Astrodome? Can you name a song that centers around or features Houston? A movie? A book? Anything? What kind of food are they known for? Why does anyone live in Houston? Can you name a famous building? Do they even have museums in Houston? Meanwhile anyone who’s ever been to Chicago always comes back saying “Wow… I had a great time.”
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Fans:
SouthSiders vs People from Texas? Houston?
Both fans have been tormented of sorts. Sox not being in the Series since 1959 and not winning one since 1917 and the Astros have never been to the Series, let alone won one. So I’ll just call this one a draw.
Random Thoughts and Facts:
The Astros are the whitest team in baseball. If Taveras doesn’t start they feature 9 white guys and a white starting pitcher. Their bullpen is white. They should be banned for not having any color, any flavor on their team. It’s like watching pre-1947 baseball. And that’s not right…. Everyone is picking the White Sox it seems, which is sort of scary. But the Sox are 9-1 in their last ten, all ten played against teams who had to win (Cleveland, Boston, and LAAofAinOC). Their starting pitching has been unbelievable. And I think they take advantage of that short porch in left to really hurt the Astros in one of the games in Houston… The SouthSide is going to be in full 1985 Bears mode, I’m not kidding. They are just waiting to go off… Speaking of the GREATEST TEAM OF ALL TIME, the Bears will honor them at half time tomorrow. I’m not making that up. So the 1985 Bears will be in town this weekend, add a little MJ at the game, and this down is going to be in full “Let’s Go, Go, Go, Go White Sox” mode south of Madison. And who would have thought that the 1985 Bears would ever be over shadowed? Anyone? Just think if the Sox win, all 25 guys will have some sort of job in the media or doing events if they win. The 2005 White Sox would take the torch from the ’85 Bears. Or at least I hope they will… I love the fact that Cub fans are bitter. It’s like crisis mode for all Cub fans. Just fantastic. They’ve always been able to take the High Road with us Sox fans when it comes to the Cubs/Sox thing because Sox fans are so insecure about it all. But now that we’re in the World Series and they’re still waiting (60 years since the Cubbies been playing in the World Series), I think it’s hit them. They’re saying things like “Holy Christ, they beat us to the Series? Where’s Bartman? How is this happening? We’re bigger losers officially now right?” If the White Sox win it, they might just be able to become the Team in Chicago. Especially with the Bears only being so so.
PREDICTION:
WHITE SOX in Six.
Game One of the World Series and the Chicago White Sox are hosting it. How cool is that? How amazing is that? For the first time in 46 years, Chicago and the Southside will be seeing a World Series game live and in their own backyard. The thought alone brings a smile to my face.
As for who’s going to win? Let’s break this down.
Catching:
AJ Pierzynski vs Brad Ausmus
This really isn’t much of a contest. Ausmus is the better defensive catcher, but he’s not the same catcher that he was. Pierzynski has been involved in every big play, he’s always cheering on his teammates, and he plays hard. While Ausmus did have a huge hit in the NLDS, he’s not the threat that AJ is at the plate. And he’s defense behind the plate isn’t enough to strike the fear of God in the White Sox running game.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
First base:
Paul Konerko vs Mike Lamb
Since I think we’ll see Lamb at first more often than Berkman, we’ll draw it up as is. And as is, Konerko is the better player hands down. Lamb is a faster runner, but that’s really about it. Konerko’s glove is solid, and while his range is lacking, it doesn’t hurt the White Sox.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Second base:
Tadahito Iguchi vs Craig Biggio
Biggio isn’t who he was and he’s somewhat of a liability at second now, but he plays hard and he never gives up. He does the things that you need him to do, be it get hit-by-a-pitch or double in the gap. He can still steal a base if necessary, though don’t look for it. Iguchi has very quietly done a fantastic job for the Sox this year hitting behind runners, driving the ball when necessary, and doing everything he can to win. But Biggio has him here.
EDGE: ASTROS
Third base:
Joe Crede vs Morgan Ensberg
Crede’s got the better glove and he has come up huge in big spots for the White Sox, but Ensberg is the Astros offense at this point. Since teams pitch around Berkman, if Ensberg can get some hits, the Astros will be in these games and win. If he doesn’t, they won’t score more than a run or two. Ensberg is the better bat and gets the nod here, but don’t be shocked if Crede comes up with the bigger hits. Ensberg has 9 RBIs, but no home runs and is hitting .256 in the playoffs.
EDGE: ASTROS
Shortstop:
Juan Uribe vs Adam Everett
Both guys hit in the nine hole… but this isn’t even a contest. Uribe is the best defensive player that no one talks about and can hit every once in a while (with some power too). Everett is a liability at the plate and he’s D isn’t as good as Uribe’s.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Left Field:
Scott Podsednik vs Lance Berkman
If Pods gets on base, good things happen for the White Sox. He can steal a base, but a leg injury doesn’t make him as much of a threat. Berkman is the other half of the Astros offense. And he’s gotten the job done thus far in the playoffs, 2 home runs, 8 RBIs, and he’s hitting .314. No he’s not the defensive player that Pods is, but he’s a bigger threat at the plate and gets the nod here.
EDGE: ASTROS
Centerfield:
Aaron Rowand vs Chris Burke/Taveras
Even though Rowand didn’t have the greatest ALCS, he’s still been decent in the playoffs. His defense is above average and he plays hard every single play. Burke and Taveras are going to split time in the outfield, I think Taveras is a bigger threat on the field, so any time he’s not out there, I like the Sox chances a whole lot more. Burke has had a nice run in the playoffs, but he can still be pitched to.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Right field:
Jermaine Dye vs Jason Lane
Dye hasn’t had a great playoffs so far, but neither has Lane. And Dye in almost every area is a bigger threat and a better player. I don’t have much to say about Lane besides that the Sun-Times called him Jerome Lane today. If Dye gets hot, watch out. And he showed some signs in Orange County of heating up.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
DH:
Carl Everett vs Jeff Bagwell
Bagwell has only been to the plate three times in the postseason, Everett 26 times. Bagwell can’t run or play on the field any more, and he might not even be the best option for the Astros at DH, even though I think you have to play him. Everett hasn’t done too much in the postseason, a few singles and still tries to hit home runs too often, but he’s a bigger threat at this point than Bagwell.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Starting Pitching:
Who knows? Contreras, Buehrle, Garland, and Garcia vs Clemens, Pettitte, Oswalt, and Backe. Those are some good starting pitchers. You’ve got Contreras with the best stuff, Buehrle the fast working warrior, Garland the now doesn’t walk anyone low ball pitcher, and Garcia who would be a #1 starter on a number of teams. Meanwhile the Astros have two #1s in Oswalt and Clemens, maybe the best #2 in Pettitte, and Backe to round things off. The Astros have the best pitcher going into the series in Oswalt, but the White Sox have more depth. If I were to rank them, 1-8, it’d look like this:
Oswalt, Contreras, Buehrle, Pettitte, Garland, Garcia, Clemens, Backe.
I know Clemens is low on the list, but here’s why… he can be beat in the playoffs. He’s 12-8 all time with a 3.56 ERA. One of those wins came out of the bullpen this year. And I think we all know he basically pulled himself out of Game Six of the 1986 World Series. I’m not saying anything there, but something to consider.
EDGE: WHITE SOX, in the end they have more depth and we saw what they can do in the ALDS, four straight complete games.
Bullpens:
You know, I don’t think they’ll factor in that much. Who ever has better starting pitching and doesn’t have to use their pen as much will be in better shape. Since I have to pick… geeze I don’t know. The Sox have more rest, the Astros pen has been good… the Sox have better lefties; I’ll give them the nod because of Cotts and Marte.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Closers:
Bobby Jenks vs Brad Lidge
This is easy, Lidge. He’s been there, done that, maybe the best closer in the National League… but he also gave up a home run that my dad described as “Something form The Natural, if only there was a light tower…” in Game Five of the NLCS. If it wasn’t for Oswalt, the Cardinals would be playing tonight instead of the Astros. I have no clue where Lidge’s head is. But if anyone gets on when he’s pitching, you have to figure he’s a dead man out there on the mound. Therefore…
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Bench:
Ozzie didn’t even use anyone on his bench in the ALCS besides letting Ozuna pitch run in Game Two. Once again, don’t look for Ozzie to use his bench in games played at the Cell. The Astros feature names such as Eric Bruntlett, Raul Chavez, and Orlando Palmerio. But they’ll also have the guy who sits between Chris Burke, Mike Lamb, and Willy Taveras.
EDGE: ASTROS
Manager:
Ozzie Guillen vs Phil Garner
First things first, Garner is a prick, a jagoff, and that’s being kind. The Sox and teams he’s managed have had plenty of run in though the years… the Brewers and Sox hated each other in the mid 90s when he was the manager there, and who can forget the 2000 brawl where Garner kept fueling the fire. He’s also not that good of a manager; he’s got a career losing record and has never finished in first place. He makes more questionable moves than Jerry Manuel (including taking out Lance Berkman in a tie game in the 10th inning in Game Four of the NLDS, a game they should have lost). Meanwhile Ozzie hasn’t made one bad call in the last month or so. He’s pressed all the right buttons and with help from pitching coach Don Cooper, developed a new way to handle pitchers… don’t worry about ‘em till the hit 100 pitches, then figure out what to do. He’s not going to try and fix something that isn’t broke. Garner will.
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Stadiums:
The Cell vs the Juicebox
MLB should ban the park in Houston… a hill in centerfield and a left field porch that a five year old could hit home runs too. Meanwhile the Cell has under gone a renaissance in the last four years to become a very good and friendly place to see a game.
EDGE: WHITE SOX and who would have thunk it five years ago?
Cities:
Chicago vs Houston
We’re kidding right? What is Houston known for? Give me one thing? Enron? The Astrodome? Can you name a song that centers around or features Houston? A movie? A book? Anything? What kind of food are they known for? Why does anyone live in Houston? Can you name a famous building? Do they even have museums in Houston? Meanwhile anyone who’s ever been to Chicago always comes back saying “Wow… I had a great time.”
EDGE: WHITE SOX
Fans:
SouthSiders vs People from Texas? Houston?
Both fans have been tormented of sorts. Sox not being in the Series since 1959 and not winning one since 1917 and the Astros have never been to the Series, let alone won one. So I’ll just call this one a draw.
Random Thoughts and Facts:
The Astros are the whitest team in baseball. If Taveras doesn’t start they feature 9 white guys and a white starting pitcher. Their bullpen is white. They should be banned for not having any color, any flavor on their team. It’s like watching pre-1947 baseball. And that’s not right…. Everyone is picking the White Sox it seems, which is sort of scary. But the Sox are 9-1 in their last ten, all ten played against teams who had to win (Cleveland, Boston, and LAAofAinOC). Their starting pitching has been unbelievable. And I think they take advantage of that short porch in left to really hurt the Astros in one of the games in Houston… The SouthSide is going to be in full 1985 Bears mode, I’m not kidding. They are just waiting to go off… Speaking of the GREATEST TEAM OF ALL TIME, the Bears will honor them at half time tomorrow. I’m not making that up. So the 1985 Bears will be in town this weekend, add a little MJ at the game, and this down is going to be in full “Let’s Go, Go, Go, Go White Sox” mode south of Madison. And who would have thought that the 1985 Bears would ever be over shadowed? Anyone? Just think if the Sox win, all 25 guys will have some sort of job in the media or doing events if they win. The 2005 White Sox would take the torch from the ’85 Bears. Or at least I hope they will… I love the fact that Cub fans are bitter. It’s like crisis mode for all Cub fans. Just fantastic. They’ve always been able to take the High Road with us Sox fans when it comes to the Cubs/Sox thing because Sox fans are so insecure about it all. But now that we’re in the World Series and they’re still waiting (60 years since the Cubbies been playing in the World Series), I think it’s hit them. They’re saying things like “Holy Christ, they beat us to the Series? Where’s Bartman? How is this happening? We’re bigger losers officially now right?” If the White Sox win it, they might just be able to become the Team in Chicago. Especially with the Bears only being so so.
PREDICTION:
WHITE SOX in Six.
21.10.05
Weekend Picks
Before I get to my picks, let me pat myself on the back. I was 7-0 in my NFL picks. That’s right, seven up and seven down. Now, I also realized that everyone else saw what I was seeing… Panthers +1 and the line moved big time to Panthers -1 by kickoff, which would have changed my record to 6-0-1. But I’ll take the 7-0 and move to .500 over all and on a roll.
Of course, I can’t pick NCAA games any more. I went 2-2 (the Gophers ended up giving 3, and I would have taken them). And before I get to my picks… how great was last Saturday? Why hasn’t this dominated the news? Seriously, if you compare the quality of football on Saturday to Sunday, it’s not even close. The college football games were amazing… from Wisconsin’s blocked punt to win with 34 seconds left, to the Penn State/Michigan finish, to the fun LSU/Florida game… and then of course the simply amazing Notre Dame/USC game that was easily one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen, yet almost no one talked about how great those games were last week. If one NFL game was as good as the entertaining Michigan State/Ohio State game, we would never hear the end of it. I really don’t get it, the college game is just better that the NFL at this point. Sure there isn’t fantasy football, but in terms of quality of play and excitement, the NCAA destroys the NFL. College football is just better than the NFL.
NCAA:
IOWA (-2.5) over Michigan
My “Michigan isn’t a good team this year” rant continues… let’s just say that Penn State got robbed. Two bad calls on that final drive that went against Michigan, first the refs adding the two seconds and then the catch on the sidelines where the guys foot was out of bounce. Poor Penn State, I can’t see them winning the Big Ten now, in fact if I were to handicap the Big Ten Race among the one loss teams…
5) Northwestern
4) Penn State
3) Wisconsin
2) Ohio State
1) Iowa
WISCONSIN (-8) over Purdue
What happened to Purdue this year? Maybe not getting to play Ohio State and Michigan was a disadvantage. They don’t look good at all. Wisconsin should win this at home with some ease.
TEXAS (-16.5) over Texas Tech
Texas has played one game that was decided by less than 25 points and that was the game at Ohio State. Texas Tech has beaten a bunch of nobodies. Texas rolls.
UTAH STATE (+18.5) over Boise State
Boise wins, but I just don’t like how they haven’t dominated anyone besides Bowling Green. I’m a little worried.
NFL, look don’t want to say it, but I’m going to say it. Another bad set of games in the NFL. Seriously, at this point, we’re lucky to get one or two good games in a week. This week happens to be a ‘might be a good game’ when the Chargers go to Philly. But that’s it. Every other game is boring or just uninteresting. People can hype up the Steelers vs Bengals game all they want, but I’m not a believer in either team.
VIKINGS (+1.5) over Packers
Hey look! Everyone’s given up on the Vikings and since the Packers have played one good game, let’s make them the favorites on the road in a dome! Folks, Brett Farve stinks it up in Domes, why should this be any different? That said, stay away from this game. Only bad things can happen.
Colts (-15.5) over TEXANS
Between innings of the Sox game on Sunday, I was watching parts of the Seahawks and Texans game until the Walker movie came on… let me tell you, if you didn’t know, the Texans suck. I mean they stink. Since their offensive line consists of one NFL player and four high school kids they can’t do anything on offense. Therefore their defense, which isn’t that good, spends most of the time on the field. They’re not even remotely competitive. The Colts will jump out to a big lead, pull everyone by the start fourth quarter and it still won’t matter because the Texans can’t score.
BEARS (-2) over Ravens
I’ve watched the Ravens this year. They aren’t good, and get them away from home and they’re that much worse. If this game was in Maryland, I’d take the Ravens, but it’s in Illinois in what is shaping up to be one of the greatest days of my life.
BROWNS (-2.5) over Lions
Let’s just say that if the Bears can figure out how to beat Farve finally, they’ll win the NFC North. Browns aren’t a bad team, they just aren’t good.
SEAHAWKS (-3.5) over Cowboys
I never thought I’d enjoy betting against a team so much, and then the 2005 Cowboys came along. That said, how are they 4-2? How did they win last week? And when does the NFC East start playing each other? Seriously, other than the Cowboys, none of the other teams have played each other. I have no feel for this division because of that. I mean, trying to measure the NFC East against only the Cowboys is darn near impossible.
REDSKINS (-12) over Niners
I hate to do this, I really do, but I can’t see any other way… I mean the 49ers stink. And they aren’t going to score many points against the Redskins who suddenly look really good. I still can’t believe how good they looked last week against the Chiefs. So good for the Redskins.
RAMS (-3) over Saints
I know I shouldn’t, but I like the Rams at home. I almost always do.
EAGLES (-3.5) over Chargers
I’m not sold on either team, but I like the Birds at home. Sure they can’t run the ball, sure they look like a team that might struggle to make the playoffs, sure their D isn’t as good… but they’re coming off a bye and the Chargers just don’t seem like a very good road team, especially when they have to go across the country.
Last week 7-0
14-14 on the year.
Of course, I can’t pick NCAA games any more. I went 2-2 (the Gophers ended up giving 3, and I would have taken them). And before I get to my picks… how great was last Saturday? Why hasn’t this dominated the news? Seriously, if you compare the quality of football on Saturday to Sunday, it’s not even close. The college football games were amazing… from Wisconsin’s blocked punt to win with 34 seconds left, to the Penn State/Michigan finish, to the fun LSU/Florida game… and then of course the simply amazing Notre Dame/USC game that was easily one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen, yet almost no one talked about how great those games were last week. If one NFL game was as good as the entertaining Michigan State/Ohio State game, we would never hear the end of it. I really don’t get it, the college game is just better that the NFL at this point. Sure there isn’t fantasy football, but in terms of quality of play and excitement, the NCAA destroys the NFL. College football is just better than the NFL.
NCAA:
IOWA (-2.5) over Michigan
My “Michigan isn’t a good team this year” rant continues… let’s just say that Penn State got robbed. Two bad calls on that final drive that went against Michigan, first the refs adding the two seconds and then the catch on the sidelines where the guys foot was out of bounce. Poor Penn State, I can’t see them winning the Big Ten now, in fact if I were to handicap the Big Ten Race among the one loss teams…
5) Northwestern
4) Penn State
3) Wisconsin
2) Ohio State
1) Iowa
WISCONSIN (-8) over Purdue
What happened to Purdue this year? Maybe not getting to play Ohio State and Michigan was a disadvantage. They don’t look good at all. Wisconsin should win this at home with some ease.
TEXAS (-16.5) over Texas Tech
Texas has played one game that was decided by less than 25 points and that was the game at Ohio State. Texas Tech has beaten a bunch of nobodies. Texas rolls.
UTAH STATE (+18.5) over Boise State
Boise wins, but I just don’t like how they haven’t dominated anyone besides Bowling Green. I’m a little worried.
NFL, look don’t want to say it, but I’m going to say it. Another bad set of games in the NFL. Seriously, at this point, we’re lucky to get one or two good games in a week. This week happens to be a ‘might be a good game’ when the Chargers go to Philly. But that’s it. Every other game is boring or just uninteresting. People can hype up the Steelers vs Bengals game all they want, but I’m not a believer in either team.
VIKINGS (+1.5) over Packers
Hey look! Everyone’s given up on the Vikings and since the Packers have played one good game, let’s make them the favorites on the road in a dome! Folks, Brett Farve stinks it up in Domes, why should this be any different? That said, stay away from this game. Only bad things can happen.
Colts (-15.5) over TEXANS
Between innings of the Sox game on Sunday, I was watching parts of the Seahawks and Texans game until the Walker movie came on… let me tell you, if you didn’t know, the Texans suck. I mean they stink. Since their offensive line consists of one NFL player and four high school kids they can’t do anything on offense. Therefore their defense, which isn’t that good, spends most of the time on the field. They’re not even remotely competitive. The Colts will jump out to a big lead, pull everyone by the start fourth quarter and it still won’t matter because the Texans can’t score.
BEARS (-2) over Ravens
I’ve watched the Ravens this year. They aren’t good, and get them away from home and they’re that much worse. If this game was in Maryland, I’d take the Ravens, but it’s in Illinois in what is shaping up to be one of the greatest days of my life.
BROWNS (-2.5) over Lions
Let’s just say that if the Bears can figure out how to beat Farve finally, they’ll win the NFC North. Browns aren’t a bad team, they just aren’t good.
SEAHAWKS (-3.5) over Cowboys
I never thought I’d enjoy betting against a team so much, and then the 2005 Cowboys came along. That said, how are they 4-2? How did they win last week? And when does the NFC East start playing each other? Seriously, other than the Cowboys, none of the other teams have played each other. I have no feel for this division because of that. I mean, trying to measure the NFC East against only the Cowboys is darn near impossible.
REDSKINS (-12) over Niners
I hate to do this, I really do, but I can’t see any other way… I mean the 49ers stink. And they aren’t going to score many points against the Redskins who suddenly look really good. I still can’t believe how good they looked last week against the Chiefs. So good for the Redskins.
RAMS (-3) over Saints
I know I shouldn’t, but I like the Rams at home. I almost always do.
EAGLES (-3.5) over Chargers
I’m not sold on either team, but I like the Birds at home. Sure they can’t run the ball, sure they look like a team that might struggle to make the playoffs, sure their D isn’t as good… but they’re coming off a bye and the Chargers just don’t seem like a very good road team, especially when they have to go across the country.
Last week 7-0
14-14 on the year.
Three Memories
Top three White Sox moments prior to this month...
3) The meaningless games in September from 1996-1999 (aka high school) where about 3,000 people would show up. Highlights included people cheering more for Belle than Frank and Terry Bevenington's "I'm managing a 8 year old girls softball team right?" managerial style. At least I was able to recognize that not only was this team rudderless, but they stunk too. But there's a badge of honor in attending those games in the drab, characterless, no fun New Comisk.
2) The late 80s and the results of Ken "Hawk" Harrelson: General Manager 1986. I don't remember #72 in left or him running La Russa out of town (though on second thought, that was a good thing, of course it took 20 years to realize this, but if TLR was managing this team, he would have found a way to lose to the Red Sox, no one finds way to lose in the playoffs like Tony La Russa ('83, '88, '90, '92, '96, '00, '01, '02, '04, '05), but I do have vage memories of those late 80s teams, including 1989 when Calderon lead the team with 14 home runs, Melido Perez was our #1 going 11-14 with a 5.01 ERA, Freddy Manrique, and we were in the back yard on Kosner when the news of the Baines trade hit. It was the first time when I had to deal with a trade and that Baines wasn’t coming back. It was also the first time I heard the name Sammy Sosa (incase you care Sosa hit 3 home runs for the Sox in ’89).
1) The Old Park... which started off with a stop at the Mexican stand by the video games, then a few innings of the game, and eventually the long walk around the park with my dad. A stop at the bullpens, a trip to the upper deck where Dad would be encouraged to speak of his first game and the Mick, a peek though the chicken wire fence in right and left. And then back to the seats for the rest of the game, cheering and hoping for home runs to see the fire works. Maybe a little “Run Around Sue” to get the crowd going during a pitching change. Memories I’ll never forget.
Best article or piece I've read of the White Sox winning:
3) The meaningless games in September from 1996-1999 (aka high school) where about 3,000 people would show up. Highlights included people cheering more for Belle than Frank and Terry Bevenington's "I'm managing a 8 year old girls softball team right?" managerial style. At least I was able to recognize that not only was this team rudderless, but they stunk too. But there's a badge of honor in attending those games in the drab, characterless, no fun New Comisk.
2) The late 80s and the results of Ken "Hawk" Harrelson: General Manager 1986. I don't remember #72 in left or him running La Russa out of town (though on second thought, that was a good thing, of course it took 20 years to realize this, but if TLR was managing this team, he would have found a way to lose to the Red Sox, no one finds way to lose in the playoffs like Tony La Russa ('83, '88, '90, '92, '96, '00, '01, '02, '04, '05), but I do have vage memories of those late 80s teams, including 1989 when Calderon lead the team with 14 home runs, Melido Perez was our #1 going 11-14 with a 5.01 ERA, Freddy Manrique, and we were in the back yard on Kosner when the news of the Baines trade hit. It was the first time when I had to deal with a trade and that Baines wasn’t coming back. It was also the first time I heard the name Sammy Sosa (incase you care Sosa hit 3 home runs for the Sox in ’89).
1) The Old Park... which started off with a stop at the Mexican stand by the video games, then a few innings of the game, and eventually the long walk around the park with my dad. A stop at the bullpens, a trip to the upper deck where Dad would be encouraged to speak of his first game and the Mick, a peek though the chicken wire fence in right and left. And then back to the seats for the rest of the game, cheering and hoping for home runs to see the fire works. Maybe a little “Run Around Sue” to get the crowd going during a pitching change. Memories I’ll never forget.
Best article or piece I've read of the White Sox winning:
17.10.05
They Finally Did It!
I’m not sure how to set up this game… The White Sox are one game away from going to the World Series. The team I’ve rooted for my entire life, is only 27 outs away from going to the World Series. I don’t think this has fully hit me yet.
Since the series has shifted out to SoCal, the Sox have dominated. The Sox are up three games to one is because their starting pitching has been brilliant. Today’s starter Jose Contreras is the only Sox starter not to pitch a complete game thus far in this series, and he went 8 2/3 in Game One. That’s right, the White Sox bullpen has thrown 2/3 of an inning and seven total pitches in the first four games. That’s pretty good.
Paul Byrd goes for the Angels, who has the Angels only win in this series. The Angels need to score some runs, in fact getting guys on base would be a huge help for God’s Soldiers. The top eight hitters have been less than impressive:
Vlad - .083
Anderson - .091
Molina - .100
Figgins - .100
Finley - .167
Rivera - .000
Finley isn’t getting the start tonight, but the rest of the guys listed there are. If the Angels don’t start getting some guys on base, they’ll be playing golf on Tuesday.
8:24pm EST – In the booth tonight? Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, and Lou Piniella. Let’s see here... Buck doesn’t want to be doing the ALCS, has been bitching about the umpires since Game Two, has been totally unprepared, aloof, and glib the entire series. McCarver’s best days are way behind him and he’s still best known for getting punked by Deion Sanders. And Piniella… let’s just say it’s a lot more interesting when current players are doing the games instead of current/former managers.
8:29 – Pods leads off taking a strike. I’ll take it as a good sign.
8:32 – Iguchi gets hit in the ribs and takes first. The close up of Byrd follows, and the good news is he that doesn’t look homeless tonight.
8:34 – Piniella just informed us that Mike Scioscia likes deep-dish pizza, as if that’s one of the major reasons why the Angels want to win tonight. But not to be outdone, McCarver responds with, ”Chicago is the best place to get deep dish pizza.”
8:39 – After Everett pops out to end the inning, I flip to ESPN and the Seahawks and Texans game to hear… “Now, here is the situation…” It’s Joe Theisman! Suddenly I feel a lot better about the booth in the ALCS.
8:42 – Piniella just called Contreras’ forkball “Señor Tombolina” apparently the Cuban name for a forkball and Piniella’s best comment of the series. But not be outdone, McCarver comments, “That sounds like something you’d order at a Cuban restaurant.” You know between this game and the Sunday night NFL game, I may never watch a sporting event with the sound up ever again.
8:48 – Vlad pops up to end the inning and is now 1 for 17 in the series. Right now, somewhere, A-Rod is jealous.
8:52 – AJ bunts Rowand over to third after he doubled, so now a man is on third with one out. Smart baseball, Ozzieball.
8:54 – Crede flies out to deep center, and it’s 1-0 White Sox. “That’s good baseball,” says the roomie. And it’s hard to disagree.
8:59 – It’s raining in Southern California… I would say it’s surreal, but I feel that surreal is over used, so we’ll call the rain, dreamy… even Hollywoodish.
9:02 – As Sean Alexander mussels his way into the end zone for a touchdown, Paul McGuire praises the run by saying that Alexandria displayed his “strength and his power”.
9:05 – A Lee Elia reference from Piniella! “I’ll tell you one fuckin’ thing…” Oh the Great Lee Elia gets a shout out in the ALCS that just put me in a really good mood.
9:06 – It’s been 10 years since the last rain out in Angels Stadium… that’s pretty funny and amazing. Ten years! I wonder how much the head grounds grew guy makes.
9:13 – After Rivera leads off with a double, Contreras tries to pick him off second by throwing the ball into centerfield… what was Contreras thinking?
9:15 – Kennedy singles to tie the game… I don’t like this. I like winning.
9:21 – Vlad grounds out to end the inning with runners on first and third. Maybe A-Rod isn’t as jealous; maybe he’s just envious.
9:29 – The Sox are done in the 4th, and I’ve got to say I’m not nervous. It’s 1-1, and I feel good, confident, and secure with everything.
9:32 – FOX just showed some fan with a balloon hat, I wish I were making that up. But it was a balloon hat. Seriously what’s wrong with showing cool and/or good-looking people instead of borderline losers in the crowd?
9:39 – Crede robs Rivera of extra bases and maybe prevents the go ahead run from scoring. I like that, I like that Joey!
9:43 – Uribe rips a double down the line and the makes a great slide to reach second. But the close play at second allows Buck to doubt the umpires and make something out of nothing. If Joe Buck isn’t fired after these playoffs there is no justice in this world. I’m not kidding, he’s on the “Really, really, really don’t like list” with George W. Bush, the Bush administration, Terry Bevington, Cub fans, and most Red Sox fans (and yes I know that is most of white America, just deal with it).
9:49 – Iguchi swings at the first pitch and pops it up to left. That might be his worst at bat of the season.
9:50 – Dye hits one hard to left, scoring Uribe to make it 2-1… and then catches the Angels infield napping by taking second when Cabrera has his back to the play. Great hitting and great base running. And Byrd is done.
9:54 – Konerko just misses one to end the inning. If that one had left the building, I probably would have started drinking heavily.
9:56 – You know what I love about Coors Lite commercials? It’s the only time when you see people happy about drinking Coors Lite. And they aren’t happy, they’re “I make ten million a moive and I’m dating Kate Holmes” happy.
9:59 – After Kennedy singles, Scioscia calls a hit and run with Figgins and who closed his eyes and jams one out into the right field corner, but a fan reaches over and grabs the ball! Second and third… that guy just saved the Sox a run! Yes!
10:00 – The umps get together and give Kennedy home, tie game and Joe Buck is the happiest man in SoCal. 2-2 game now. And this is starting to feel like Games One and Two… every pitch is becoming a heart attack.
10:04 – Anderson hits one hard and deep, but it stays in the park with Dye catching it, Figgins scores to make it 3-2, but that looked like a home run when it left his bat so I’ll take it.
10:06 – Vlad grounds out again and the inning is over, but it’s 3-2 Angels. I’m still pretty confident.
10:08 – All right I’ll say it. I’m going to miss the Sunday Night Football booth next year… they’re becoming like “Walker: Texas Ranger” of broadcast booths… they are so bad they are good. And something we’ll miss after the fact. And speaking of Walker… It’s the “Walker Movie” on CBS! Decisions, decisions… okay fine White Sox are back on.
10:12 – Byrd highest mark on the radar gun tonight? 85 mph… and the Sox only got two runs off him. Now I’m starting to feel really nervous. It’s a confident nervousness though.
10:14 – There are villains, there are the bad guys in a bad action flick, and then there are the villains in a Walker show… Not only do they look mean, they act heinously. Just now they kicked some guy in the nuts, and then finished him off with a wheel kick to the face that sent him falling five stories off a parking deck onto concrete. I wonder if that will catch up to them?
10:23 – AND YOU CAN BUT IT ON THE BOARD… YESSSSSS!!!! Joe Crede goes yard to tie the game at three! That feels good, really good.
10:24 – FOX shows a replay of Crede’s home run and then a dugout shot where you can here AJ shout “Fuck Yeah!” If the FCC looks into this, not only will it be about time to just give up on this experiment called America, but also AJ is fast becoming the Polish Janet Jackson.
10:29 – Pods walked to get on base yet again and then steals second even thought the Angels pitched out… stealing bases is fun.
10:35 – The Sox can’t get Pods home, and the game goes to the bottom of the 7th tied 3-3… enter butterflies.
10:46 – Between the Angels going down one, two, three and the Walker movie getting emotional and serious, I’m on pins and needles right now. If this game goes extra, I might not be able to watch.
10:51 – Let me just go on the record saying that I hate the sport glasses that the Angels relievers wear. They’re just so stupid. I also can’t sit still at this point. I should think about doing heavy drugs on my wedding day.
10:57 – Okay I can move again… AJ hits the ball hard and off of the back of Escobar, the ball rolls towards the first base line, and Escobar picks the ball up and tags AJ, but the ball isn’t in Escobar’s glove, it’s in his right hand, so he didn’t tag him out. The umps called AJ out, and Ozzie was out of the dugout in about a half second. The first base ump then decides to talk to the other umps, who correctly rule that AJ should have first. I’m not sure I actually saw that happen, I do remember thinking, he’s SAFE… call him SAFE!, and then they called him out, and the rommie shouting “he didn’t tag him with the ball!” But the umps got the call right and I moved for the first time in two minutes. I’m not kidding, I was frozen, I guess that’s what it’s like to be in a state of shock.
11:01 – Nothing like a little a little Walker to lighten the mood in the room.
11:05 – Crede hits a chopper back up the middle, Kennedy has to dive to knock the ball down in the grass behind second. Since it was a 3-2 count, Rowand was running on the play and scored from second to make it 4-3. I really can’t believe what just happened over the last seven or eight minutes.
11:11 – I’m makin’ a wish… but in the mean time Pods strikes out looking to end the inning after K-Rod loaded the bases. Six outs.
11:14 – Contreras is out there to start the eighth… but you’ve got to figure that he won’t face Anderson. Cabrera grounds out and what is Ozzie going to do?
11:16 – Ozzie leaves Contreras out there to face Anderson and he pops out to Center… and Vlad grounds out to second. The Sox are three outs away from the World Series. That’s two outs closer than the Cubs were in 2003. Damn that feels good to say.
11:19 – To be honest, I could careless what happens in the top of the 9th… really whatever. Go down on three pitches and let’s try to get this over with. That said a huge smile just crossed my face. But it ain’t over, until it’s over.
11:24 – Iguchi just stole second and K-Rod can’t seem to get his curveball over… and he just walked Dye. Konerko is coming to the plate… where is James Brown when you need him?
11:27 – The just showed this stat:
Bullpen Comparison in the ALCS
White Sox – 2/3 of an inning, 7 pitches
Angels – 19 innings, 301 pitches
11:27 – Konerko hits one deep to right and off the wall, Iguchi scores to make it 5-3. Third and second, no outs… lets blow this open Carl! YESSSSS!!!!!
11:29 – I know, I know, they should score more runs, but I just want this game to end. I’m shaking like a heroin junkie going 37 hours between hits.
11:33 – Rowand flies out to right, Vlad’s throw home is up the third base line, Dye is safe, but they get Konerko at third. It’s 6-3 and the CHICAGO WHITE SOX ARE THREE OUTS FROM GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES. I can’t take this. I’m happy, but I won’t let myself get too happy. Thoughts of Bartman, Schiraldi, Stanley, and Buckner, Leo Durham, Aaron Boone… I’m a horrible fan.
11:37 – As my heart pounds wildly, Contreras is out there to start the 9th, this is a big Middle Finger to the rest of baseball from Oswaldo Jose Guillen Barrios. Gosh this is awesome… finish ‘em off Jose! And he gets Erstad to ground out to Uribe who makes his 38,396th nice play of this series.
11:38 – Damn it Joe Buck, stop talking about how long it has been since the Sox won. Let me enjoy this, you bastard. He’s the worst announcer whose father is/was a famous announcer… yes worse than Chip Carey.
11:39 – Molina lines out to center… I’m going to have a heart attack. I’m not going to live to see this. Oh My God, one out… one out…
11:40 – A ground ball to Konerko… and it’s over. The Chicago White Sox are the American League Champions!!!!
11:43 – Just switched over to WGN… this is great. Chicago is going to the World Series for the first time since 1959. Drunk South Siders!!!! YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!
11:51 – The South Side is going nuts… WE’RE GOING TO THE FUCKING WORLD SERIES!!!!
11:57 – I love how WGN doesn’t want to cover this… this one reporter just asked one of the fans at a bar on the South Side “What’s it like having your team win?” That’s right take that and love it Cubbies! 1935! HAHAHAHA!!!
12:02am – Just talked to one of my buddies, he’s from Philly but went to the ND game this weekend. Anyway, right now he’s on State and Ontario after a night on Rush Street and an afternoon on a Lake Michigan Cruise with the Minnesota Vikings (his joke, btw, but it was too good not to use).
12:03 – I love WGN right now… really I do… unfortunately the City isn’t turning on the air raid sirens to celebrate. By the way, I’m drinking champagne by myself.
12:04 – WGN just said that Ozzie could run for President in Venezuela… he’s not that popular guys. My man Hugo Chavez is pretty freaking popular.
12:09 – I love how everyone wants four more wins… this is just fantastic. I’m not kidding; everyone in these crowds is either chanting “Ozzie!” or “Four More Wins!” I can’t agree more. This is so fucking awesome. I wish I was in Chicago.
12:14 - White Sox! White Sox! Go, Go White Sox! We’re going to root, root White Sox! I can’t believe this happened. I really can’t. I mean you read this and that… the history of this team, videos and old reels of this team for years and years… I mean… no one takes you serious, no one knows you exist. Everyone from outside Chicago assumes you’re a Cubs fan. And you take it and learn to accept it… just shrug it off as if it’s just one of those things that people stereotype about. You’re just some team that everyone has forgotten about. And then you do it… I mean you’re team wins. It’s just insane. I love it. I love all of this. Finally someone recognizes that not only do you exist, but also you’re just as die hard as any other media darling, if not more so. After so many years of giving your heart to a much of men who play a game and watching them break it… well it’s just a fantastic feeling knowing that this year they might not. This year they might give you all that you’ve ever wanted.
12:22 – They’re talking to Frank right now… and really there is no one I feel better for. He’s taken more shit from everyone on this city for such a long time… and now he’s going to the Series. I know he won’t play, but he did come up huge for this team in the 34 games he played for the Sox this year. He gave that needed boost in June that this team needed… those win in June came in handy in September and thanks to Frank, we got those wins.
12:24 – The situation right now? WGN, Kiss Him Goodbye/Go, Go White Sox on iTunes, and a bottle of champagne. This is fucking awesome.
12:25 – I’d give my first born for an interview with Hawk right now.
12:30 – The City of Chicago will see it’s first World Series game in 46 years! 46 years!!!!! We have two teams too!!! I wish I was in Hyde Park right now. People are on the street celebrating. This is so awesome. I can’t believe it.
12:40 – It’s been an hour and you know what… it’s so much better. We are going to the World Series… we won… we WON!
12:44 – WGN just signed off… but thank you so much you Trib owning assholes. And with that, I’m going to sign off too. What a great night. One of the best I’ve ever experienced.
Since the series has shifted out to SoCal, the Sox have dominated. The Sox are up three games to one is because their starting pitching has been brilliant. Today’s starter Jose Contreras is the only Sox starter not to pitch a complete game thus far in this series, and he went 8 2/3 in Game One. That’s right, the White Sox bullpen has thrown 2/3 of an inning and seven total pitches in the first four games. That’s pretty good.
Paul Byrd goes for the Angels, who has the Angels only win in this series. The Angels need to score some runs, in fact getting guys on base would be a huge help for God’s Soldiers. The top eight hitters have been less than impressive:
Vlad - .083
Anderson - .091
Molina - .100
Figgins - .100
Finley - .167
Rivera - .000
Finley isn’t getting the start tonight, but the rest of the guys listed there are. If the Angels don’t start getting some guys on base, they’ll be playing golf on Tuesday.
8:24pm EST – In the booth tonight? Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, and Lou Piniella. Let’s see here... Buck doesn’t want to be doing the ALCS, has been bitching about the umpires since Game Two, has been totally unprepared, aloof, and glib the entire series. McCarver’s best days are way behind him and he’s still best known for getting punked by Deion Sanders. And Piniella… let’s just say it’s a lot more interesting when current players are doing the games instead of current/former managers.
8:29 – Pods leads off taking a strike. I’ll take it as a good sign.
8:32 – Iguchi gets hit in the ribs and takes first. The close up of Byrd follows, and the good news is he that doesn’t look homeless tonight.
8:34 – Piniella just informed us that Mike Scioscia likes deep-dish pizza, as if that’s one of the major reasons why the Angels want to win tonight. But not to be outdone, McCarver responds with, ”Chicago is the best place to get deep dish pizza.”
8:39 – After Everett pops out to end the inning, I flip to ESPN and the Seahawks and Texans game to hear… “Now, here is the situation…” It’s Joe Theisman! Suddenly I feel a lot better about the booth in the ALCS.
8:42 – Piniella just called Contreras’ forkball “Señor Tombolina” apparently the Cuban name for a forkball and Piniella’s best comment of the series. But not be outdone, McCarver comments, “That sounds like something you’d order at a Cuban restaurant.” You know between this game and the Sunday night NFL game, I may never watch a sporting event with the sound up ever again.
8:48 – Vlad pops up to end the inning and is now 1 for 17 in the series. Right now, somewhere, A-Rod is jealous.
8:52 – AJ bunts Rowand over to third after he doubled, so now a man is on third with one out. Smart baseball, Ozzieball.
8:54 – Crede flies out to deep center, and it’s 1-0 White Sox. “That’s good baseball,” says the roomie. And it’s hard to disagree.
8:59 – It’s raining in Southern California… I would say it’s surreal, but I feel that surreal is over used, so we’ll call the rain, dreamy… even Hollywoodish.
9:02 – As Sean Alexander mussels his way into the end zone for a touchdown, Paul McGuire praises the run by saying that Alexandria displayed his “strength and his power”.
9:05 – A Lee Elia reference from Piniella! “I’ll tell you one fuckin’ thing…” Oh the Great Lee Elia gets a shout out in the ALCS that just put me in a really good mood.
9:06 – It’s been 10 years since the last rain out in Angels Stadium… that’s pretty funny and amazing. Ten years! I wonder how much the head grounds grew guy makes.
9:13 – After Rivera leads off with a double, Contreras tries to pick him off second by throwing the ball into centerfield… what was Contreras thinking?
9:15 – Kennedy singles to tie the game… I don’t like this. I like winning.
9:21 – Vlad grounds out to end the inning with runners on first and third. Maybe A-Rod isn’t as jealous; maybe he’s just envious.
9:29 – The Sox are done in the 4th, and I’ve got to say I’m not nervous. It’s 1-1, and I feel good, confident, and secure with everything.
9:32 – FOX just showed some fan with a balloon hat, I wish I were making that up. But it was a balloon hat. Seriously what’s wrong with showing cool and/or good-looking people instead of borderline losers in the crowd?
9:39 – Crede robs Rivera of extra bases and maybe prevents the go ahead run from scoring. I like that, I like that Joey!
9:43 – Uribe rips a double down the line and the makes a great slide to reach second. But the close play at second allows Buck to doubt the umpires and make something out of nothing. If Joe Buck isn’t fired after these playoffs there is no justice in this world. I’m not kidding, he’s on the “Really, really, really don’t like list” with George W. Bush, the Bush administration, Terry Bevington, Cub fans, and most Red Sox fans (and yes I know that is most of white America, just deal with it).
9:49 – Iguchi swings at the first pitch and pops it up to left. That might be his worst at bat of the season.
9:50 – Dye hits one hard to left, scoring Uribe to make it 2-1… and then catches the Angels infield napping by taking second when Cabrera has his back to the play. Great hitting and great base running. And Byrd is done.
9:54 – Konerko just misses one to end the inning. If that one had left the building, I probably would have started drinking heavily.
9:56 – You know what I love about Coors Lite commercials? It’s the only time when you see people happy about drinking Coors Lite. And they aren’t happy, they’re “I make ten million a moive and I’m dating Kate Holmes” happy.
9:59 – After Kennedy singles, Scioscia calls a hit and run with Figgins and who closed his eyes and jams one out into the right field corner, but a fan reaches over and grabs the ball! Second and third… that guy just saved the Sox a run! Yes!
10:00 – The umps get together and give Kennedy home, tie game and Joe Buck is the happiest man in SoCal. 2-2 game now. And this is starting to feel like Games One and Two… every pitch is becoming a heart attack.
10:04 – Anderson hits one hard and deep, but it stays in the park with Dye catching it, Figgins scores to make it 3-2, but that looked like a home run when it left his bat so I’ll take it.
10:06 – Vlad grounds out again and the inning is over, but it’s 3-2 Angels. I’m still pretty confident.
10:08 – All right I’ll say it. I’m going to miss the Sunday Night Football booth next year… they’re becoming like “Walker: Texas Ranger” of broadcast booths… they are so bad they are good. And something we’ll miss after the fact. And speaking of Walker… It’s the “Walker Movie” on CBS! Decisions, decisions… okay fine White Sox are back on.
10:12 – Byrd highest mark on the radar gun tonight? 85 mph… and the Sox only got two runs off him. Now I’m starting to feel really nervous. It’s a confident nervousness though.
10:14 – There are villains, there are the bad guys in a bad action flick, and then there are the villains in a Walker show… Not only do they look mean, they act heinously. Just now they kicked some guy in the nuts, and then finished him off with a wheel kick to the face that sent him falling five stories off a parking deck onto concrete. I wonder if that will catch up to them?
10:23 – AND YOU CAN BUT IT ON THE BOARD… YESSSSSS!!!! Joe Crede goes yard to tie the game at three! That feels good, really good.
10:24 – FOX shows a replay of Crede’s home run and then a dugout shot where you can here AJ shout “Fuck Yeah!” If the FCC looks into this, not only will it be about time to just give up on this experiment called America, but also AJ is fast becoming the Polish Janet Jackson.
10:29 – Pods walked to get on base yet again and then steals second even thought the Angels pitched out… stealing bases is fun.
10:35 – The Sox can’t get Pods home, and the game goes to the bottom of the 7th tied 3-3… enter butterflies.
10:46 – Between the Angels going down one, two, three and the Walker movie getting emotional and serious, I’m on pins and needles right now. If this game goes extra, I might not be able to watch.
10:51 – Let me just go on the record saying that I hate the sport glasses that the Angels relievers wear. They’re just so stupid. I also can’t sit still at this point. I should think about doing heavy drugs on my wedding day.
10:57 – Okay I can move again… AJ hits the ball hard and off of the back of Escobar, the ball rolls towards the first base line, and Escobar picks the ball up and tags AJ, but the ball isn’t in Escobar’s glove, it’s in his right hand, so he didn’t tag him out. The umps called AJ out, and Ozzie was out of the dugout in about a half second. The first base ump then decides to talk to the other umps, who correctly rule that AJ should have first. I’m not sure I actually saw that happen, I do remember thinking, he’s SAFE… call him SAFE!, and then they called him out, and the rommie shouting “he didn’t tag him with the ball!” But the umps got the call right and I moved for the first time in two minutes. I’m not kidding, I was frozen, I guess that’s what it’s like to be in a state of shock.
11:01 – Nothing like a little a little Walker to lighten the mood in the room.
11:05 – Crede hits a chopper back up the middle, Kennedy has to dive to knock the ball down in the grass behind second. Since it was a 3-2 count, Rowand was running on the play and scored from second to make it 4-3. I really can’t believe what just happened over the last seven or eight minutes.
11:11 – I’m makin’ a wish… but in the mean time Pods strikes out looking to end the inning after K-Rod loaded the bases. Six outs.
11:14 – Contreras is out there to start the eighth… but you’ve got to figure that he won’t face Anderson. Cabrera grounds out and what is Ozzie going to do?
11:16 – Ozzie leaves Contreras out there to face Anderson and he pops out to Center… and Vlad grounds out to second. The Sox are three outs away from the World Series. That’s two outs closer than the Cubs were in 2003. Damn that feels good to say.
11:19 – To be honest, I could careless what happens in the top of the 9th… really whatever. Go down on three pitches and let’s try to get this over with. That said a huge smile just crossed my face. But it ain’t over, until it’s over.
11:24 – Iguchi just stole second and K-Rod can’t seem to get his curveball over… and he just walked Dye. Konerko is coming to the plate… where is James Brown when you need him?
11:27 – The just showed this stat:
Bullpen Comparison in the ALCS
White Sox – 2/3 of an inning, 7 pitches
Angels – 19 innings, 301 pitches
11:27 – Konerko hits one deep to right and off the wall, Iguchi scores to make it 5-3. Third and second, no outs… lets blow this open Carl! YESSSSS!!!!!
11:29 – I know, I know, they should score more runs, but I just want this game to end. I’m shaking like a heroin junkie going 37 hours between hits.
11:33 – Rowand flies out to right, Vlad’s throw home is up the third base line, Dye is safe, but they get Konerko at third. It’s 6-3 and the CHICAGO WHITE SOX ARE THREE OUTS FROM GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES. I can’t take this. I’m happy, but I won’t let myself get too happy. Thoughts of Bartman, Schiraldi, Stanley, and Buckner, Leo Durham, Aaron Boone… I’m a horrible fan.
11:37 – As my heart pounds wildly, Contreras is out there to start the 9th, this is a big Middle Finger to the rest of baseball from Oswaldo Jose Guillen Barrios. Gosh this is awesome… finish ‘em off Jose! And he gets Erstad to ground out to Uribe who makes his 38,396th nice play of this series.
11:38 – Damn it Joe Buck, stop talking about how long it has been since the Sox won. Let me enjoy this, you bastard. He’s the worst announcer whose father is/was a famous announcer… yes worse than Chip Carey.
11:39 – Molina lines out to center… I’m going to have a heart attack. I’m not going to live to see this. Oh My God, one out… one out…
11:40 – A ground ball to Konerko… and it’s over. The Chicago White Sox are the American League Champions!!!!
11:43 – Just switched over to WGN… this is great. Chicago is going to the World Series for the first time since 1959. Drunk South Siders!!!! YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!
11:51 – The South Side is going nuts… WE’RE GOING TO THE FUCKING WORLD SERIES!!!!
11:57 – I love how WGN doesn’t want to cover this… this one reporter just asked one of the fans at a bar on the South Side “What’s it like having your team win?” That’s right take that and love it Cubbies! 1935! HAHAHAHA!!!
12:02am – Just talked to one of my buddies, he’s from Philly but went to the ND game this weekend. Anyway, right now he’s on State and Ontario after a night on Rush Street and an afternoon on a Lake Michigan Cruise with the Minnesota Vikings (his joke, btw, but it was too good not to use).
12:03 – I love WGN right now… really I do… unfortunately the City isn’t turning on the air raid sirens to celebrate. By the way, I’m drinking champagne by myself.
12:04 – WGN just said that Ozzie could run for President in Venezuela… he’s not that popular guys. My man Hugo Chavez is pretty freaking popular.
12:09 – I love how everyone wants four more wins… this is just fantastic. I’m not kidding; everyone in these crowds is either chanting “Ozzie!” or “Four More Wins!” I can’t agree more. This is so fucking awesome. I wish I was in Chicago.
12:14 - White Sox! White Sox! Go, Go White Sox! We’re going to root, root White Sox! I can’t believe this happened. I really can’t. I mean you read this and that… the history of this team, videos and old reels of this team for years and years… I mean… no one takes you serious, no one knows you exist. Everyone from outside Chicago assumes you’re a Cubs fan. And you take it and learn to accept it… just shrug it off as if it’s just one of those things that people stereotype about. You’re just some team that everyone has forgotten about. And then you do it… I mean you’re team wins. It’s just insane. I love it. I love all of this. Finally someone recognizes that not only do you exist, but also you’re just as die hard as any other media darling, if not more so. After so many years of giving your heart to a much of men who play a game and watching them break it… well it’s just a fantastic feeling knowing that this year they might not. This year they might give you all that you’ve ever wanted.
12:22 – They’re talking to Frank right now… and really there is no one I feel better for. He’s taken more shit from everyone on this city for such a long time… and now he’s going to the Series. I know he won’t play, but he did come up huge for this team in the 34 games he played for the Sox this year. He gave that needed boost in June that this team needed… those win in June came in handy in September and thanks to Frank, we got those wins.
12:24 – The situation right now? WGN, Kiss Him Goodbye/Go, Go White Sox on iTunes, and a bottle of champagne. This is fucking awesome.
12:25 – I’d give my first born for an interview with Hawk right now.
12:30 – The City of Chicago will see it’s first World Series game in 46 years! 46 years!!!!! We have two teams too!!! I wish I was in Hyde Park right now. People are on the street celebrating. This is so awesome. I can’t believe it.
12:40 – It’s been an hour and you know what… it’s so much better. We are going to the World Series… we won… we WON!
12:44 – WGN just signed off… but thank you so much you Trib owning assholes. And with that, I’m going to sign off too. What a great night. One of the best I’ve ever experienced.
14.10.05
A few GOP thoughts... and Picks
I figure since the Sox start up again tonight and Homecoming is this weekend, I should just get my picks in now.
But first, seriously what is up with Rove? It seems pretty obvious that he did something wrong, said something to someone that he shouldn’t have. But this thing is dragging out to the point where I don’t think it will matter if anything even does come about. I wish he, and Bush for that matter, would just go away, but they can’t and won’t.
That said, interesting and probably totally useless three years ahead of us. I highly doubt things are going to get that much better for Bush in the next year, and once the mid-terms elections take place in 13 months, the GOP is going to jet on W. So we’ll have this totally bizarre year where Bush will say things, and the GOP on the Hill will sort of look down the Hill at the White House and try to figure out how to say no without saying no. And pretty much nothing will get done unless of course another natural disaster hits or if the US is attacked again. But the things that Congress should be taking care of, social security, health care, taxes, you know the day to day stuff that they’re suppose to do, will all sit on the back burner until 2009 or something.
And as I’ve said, thanks to the gerrymandering done over the last 10 to 15 years, there’s almost not chance that the GOP will lose control of the House, and the Dems have to pick up, what six seats to take the Senate to take control? That’s a lot of seats and probably not going to happen since the Democrats couldn’t be more rudderless at this point. I’m as anti-Bush as the next European, but at some point the Democrats have to do something, they need some sort of plan and alterative than “Not Bush” especially considering that the GOP is about 8 months from doing the same thing, if they aren’t already behind closed doors.
Okay, whatever, football…
Yet again the best game of the weekend is on Saturday when USC travels to South Bend to take on Notre Dame. Notre Dame is getting 11.5 at home… that’s a lot of points for a good football team with a great college coach playing at home to get. I know USC might win the NFC North, but they aren’t a good road team. Both teams will be pumped, blah, blah, blah… I think the question is, duh, will USC win by more than 10 points? I don’t think so. I think USC wins, but the final is 45-34. So Notre Dame is the pick.
There isn’t a line for the Badger and Gopher game, but I think the Gophers win for the record. And knowing the Gophers luck, they’ll win the Big Ten and end up playing in the Sugar Bowl… in Atlanta. Talk about a bummer. But hey, when you’re the Chicago White Sox of the Big Ten, that’s what you get. No one notices you, you’re just there, you aren’t bad, but you aren’t good, and you’re always good for a choke job.
Penn State (+3) over MICHIGAN
I’m not sure if Penn State is going to win the Big Ten, but I do know that Michigan isn’t that good this year. I’ll go as far to say that this is Lloyd Carr’s last year in Ann Arbor.
BOSIE STATE (-31) over San Jose State
Here’s to the "Jared Zabransky playing on Sundays" Dream.
NFL
Giants (+3.5) over COWBOYS
Easiest game this week if you ask me. I know, the Cowboys won last week. But I’ve seen the Cowboys play a few times this year… they’re probably the worst team in the NFC East. Which is weird to say, by the way, because I didn’t think it could get worse than the Redskins. I just don’t like the Cowboys, they’re too old, Jones is banged up, and I wouldn’t have any faith in their secondary. Meanwhile the Giants are headed for the playoffs and if things work out, maybe even the NFC Championship game.
Panthers (+1) over LIONS
Huh? Does the Lee Corso “somebody knows something I don’t know” rule apply here? Wait one second here…
BEARS (-3) over Vikings
… okay what’s the difference here? Both home teams are favorites, but the Bears playing a worse opponent, are only favored by two more points? Something smells fishy here, and it isn’t the Bears/Vkings line. Shouldn’t the Lions be the underdogs? I mean it’s not like the Lions are a better team than the Bears. Well whatever, I’ll stick with the Panthers. As for the Bears and Vikes, look the Vikings never win at Soldier Field. I’m not kidding, they find ways to lose there. And now add to the fact that the team is in utter chaos and not very good… well seems to me the Bears win by two touchdowns. Culpepper may even be intercepted every time he touches the ball in this game. I’m not kidding.
CHIEFS (-5.5) over Redskins
Oh please, look I know that the Redskins D is good, but it isn’t this good. The Chiefs need to win this game, and I’m still not sold on the ‘Skins since they've played with fire way too much this year. By the way, does anyone else know that LaVar Arrington isn’t playing for the Redskins? If I wasn’t in DC and they didn’t talk about this all the time, I would have no clue. It’s never mentioned on ESPN.com or ESPN or anywhere for that matter. Weird.
BUCS (+4.5) over Dolphins
Too many people like the Fins right now. And if you’re taking an underdog, you’re also pretty much taking them to win the game. I don’t think the Fins are winning this game.
SEAHAWKS (-9.5) over Texans
Again, this looks way too easy. Why anyone would take the Texans (what a stupid name I might add... Texans. Second worst name in sports), I’m not sure. They can’t protect Carr and therefore they can’t score. Don’t the Seahawks score 20 with ease in this game, and in all likely hood score at least 24? Am I trying to talk myself out of this game?
BILLS (-3) over Jets
I haven’t lost going against the Jets this year. Is there anyway to make these two teams honorary NFC North teams this year?
But first, seriously what is up with Rove? It seems pretty obvious that he did something wrong, said something to someone that he shouldn’t have. But this thing is dragging out to the point where I don’t think it will matter if anything even does come about. I wish he, and Bush for that matter, would just go away, but they can’t and won’t.
That said, interesting and probably totally useless three years ahead of us. I highly doubt things are going to get that much better for Bush in the next year, and once the mid-terms elections take place in 13 months, the GOP is going to jet on W. So we’ll have this totally bizarre year where Bush will say things, and the GOP on the Hill will sort of look down the Hill at the White House and try to figure out how to say no without saying no. And pretty much nothing will get done unless of course another natural disaster hits or if the US is attacked again. But the things that Congress should be taking care of, social security, health care, taxes, you know the day to day stuff that they’re suppose to do, will all sit on the back burner until 2009 or something.
And as I’ve said, thanks to the gerrymandering done over the last 10 to 15 years, there’s almost not chance that the GOP will lose control of the House, and the Dems have to pick up, what six seats to take the Senate to take control? That’s a lot of seats and probably not going to happen since the Democrats couldn’t be more rudderless at this point. I’m as anti-Bush as the next European, but at some point the Democrats have to do something, they need some sort of plan and alterative than “Not Bush” especially considering that the GOP is about 8 months from doing the same thing, if they aren’t already behind closed doors.
Okay, whatever, football…
Yet again the best game of the weekend is on Saturday when USC travels to South Bend to take on Notre Dame. Notre Dame is getting 11.5 at home… that’s a lot of points for a good football team with a great college coach playing at home to get. I know USC might win the NFC North, but they aren’t a good road team. Both teams will be pumped, blah, blah, blah… I think the question is, duh, will USC win by more than 10 points? I don’t think so. I think USC wins, but the final is 45-34. So Notre Dame is the pick.
There isn’t a line for the Badger and Gopher game, but I think the Gophers win for the record. And knowing the Gophers luck, they’ll win the Big Ten and end up playing in the Sugar Bowl… in Atlanta. Talk about a bummer. But hey, when you’re the Chicago White Sox of the Big Ten, that’s what you get. No one notices you, you’re just there, you aren’t bad, but you aren’t good, and you’re always good for a choke job.
Penn State (+3) over MICHIGAN
I’m not sure if Penn State is going to win the Big Ten, but I do know that Michigan isn’t that good this year. I’ll go as far to say that this is Lloyd Carr’s last year in Ann Arbor.
BOSIE STATE (-31) over San Jose State
Here’s to the "Jared Zabransky playing on Sundays" Dream.
NFL
Giants (+3.5) over COWBOYS
Easiest game this week if you ask me. I know, the Cowboys won last week. But I’ve seen the Cowboys play a few times this year… they’re probably the worst team in the NFC East. Which is weird to say, by the way, because I didn’t think it could get worse than the Redskins. I just don’t like the Cowboys, they’re too old, Jones is banged up, and I wouldn’t have any faith in their secondary. Meanwhile the Giants are headed for the playoffs and if things work out, maybe even the NFC Championship game.
Panthers (+1) over LIONS
Huh? Does the Lee Corso “somebody knows something I don’t know” rule apply here? Wait one second here…
BEARS (-3) over Vikings
… okay what’s the difference here? Both home teams are favorites, but the Bears playing a worse opponent, are only favored by two more points? Something smells fishy here, and it isn’t the Bears/Vkings line. Shouldn’t the Lions be the underdogs? I mean it’s not like the Lions are a better team than the Bears. Well whatever, I’ll stick with the Panthers. As for the Bears and Vikes, look the Vikings never win at Soldier Field. I’m not kidding, they find ways to lose there. And now add to the fact that the team is in utter chaos and not very good… well seems to me the Bears win by two touchdowns. Culpepper may even be intercepted every time he touches the ball in this game. I’m not kidding.
CHIEFS (-5.5) over Redskins
Oh please, look I know that the Redskins D is good, but it isn’t this good. The Chiefs need to win this game, and I’m still not sold on the ‘Skins since they've played with fire way too much this year. By the way, does anyone else know that LaVar Arrington isn’t playing for the Redskins? If I wasn’t in DC and they didn’t talk about this all the time, I would have no clue. It’s never mentioned on ESPN.com or ESPN or anywhere for that matter. Weird.
BUCS (+4.5) over Dolphins
Too many people like the Fins right now. And if you’re taking an underdog, you’re also pretty much taking them to win the game. I don’t think the Fins are winning this game.
SEAHAWKS (-9.5) over Texans
Again, this looks way too easy. Why anyone would take the Texans (what a stupid name I might add... Texans. Second worst name in sports), I’m not sure. They can’t protect Carr and therefore they can’t score. Don’t the Seahawks score 20 with ease in this game, and in all likely hood score at least 24? Am I trying to talk myself out of this game?
BILLS (-3) over Jets
I haven’t lost going against the Jets this year. Is there anyway to make these two teams honorary NFC North teams this year?
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