The Year That Was 2005

My Top 8 Sports Moments of 2005

1.  Chicago White Sox sweep past the Houston Astros for their first World Series title in 88 years.  Absolutely amazing postseason for the White Sox (for my sister and I also).  Paul Konerko.  Starting pitching.  Joe Crede turning into a defensive dynamo.  What a great time in Chicago.

2.  Illinois going undefeated and making a run to the Final Four.  Their comeback vs Arizona in Chicago in the Elite Eight was the best college basketball game I've seen in a long, long time.  Down 75-60 with less than four minutes left, Deron Williams and company hit four late three-pointers to win in overtime, 90-89.   

3.  Tiger Woods holes out on the 16th at The Masters.  The ball rolled for days and Tiger's reaction was why we watch The Masters on Sunday.

 

4.  Lance Armstrong winning his seventh consecutive Tour de France.  He is my athlete of the year until the day he dies. 

5.  Matt Leinart.  Fourth and nine.  Down 31-28.  At Notre Dame.  Best pass in college football since Doug Flutie's hail mary 20 years ago.  A 61-yard gain to Dwayne Jarrett that set up USC's 28th straight win.  Leinart then called his own name and sneaked into the endzone for the game winner vs the Irish.  Unbelievable.  College football's game of the year.  The Trojans also dominated my Sooners in the National Championship game last January.  I can admit it.  That's Step #1.

6.  Baseball's steroid controversy.  Mark McGwire pleading the 5th.  Sammy Sosa still trying to speak English in front of Congress.  Rafael Palmeiro adamantly stating 'I have never used steroids, period.'  Funny.  Five months later he tested positive for 'performance enhancing drugs' AKA STEROIDS!  Stupid.  At least McGwire pleaded the 5th. 

7.  Terrell Owens being a complete idiot.  Where to start.  Getting kicked out of camp.  Sit-ups in his front yard.  Ripping his team and his quarterback.  Stupid...er...super agent Drew Rosenhaus' news conference 'Next question.  Next question.  Next question.' 

8.  Roy Williams getting his first NCAA men's basketball title at the University of North Carolina.  Nobody deserved it more.  He had a few teams at Kansas worthy of winning the title.  He took a bunch of guys who wouldn't or couldn't (either way) play for Matt Doherty straight to the top.  Helps having four of those guys drafted in the top 14 in the NBA Draft.  One player came off the bench, Marvin Williams.  Can you imagine not starting for your college team but being the number 2 pick in the draft?  Incredible.

For me, 2005 is a year I don't want to end.  Seeing the White Sox in the American League Championship Series and World Series was the most fantastic time of my life.  (I also got stuck in traffic on my way down for the Division Series Game 2 vs Boston...talk about pissed.)  Being front row for Coldplay didn't hurt either.  Following my brother, Mik, and his friend, Brian finishing Ironman Wisconsin in great times was awesome.  The best was watching my nephew, Wesley, run the last couple hundred yards with his proud dad.

Here's to 2006 being another 2005.  For me at least.

I Am The Scientist

The Scientist by Coldplay

Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are

I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart

Tell me your secrets
Ask me your questions
Oh, let's go back to the start

Running in circles
Coming up tails
Heads only science apart

Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard

Oh, take me back to the start

I was just guessing
At numbers and figures
Pulling your puzzles apart

Questions of science
Science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart

Tell me you love me
Come back and haunt me
Oh, and I rush to the start

Running in circles
Chasing our tails
Coming back as we are

Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard

I'm going back to the start...

Life

You'll Think Of Me by Keith Urban

I woke up early this morning around 4am
With the moon shining bright as headlights on the interstate
I pulled the covers over my head and tried to catch some sleep
But thoughts of us kept keeping me awake
Ever since you found yourself in someone else's arms
I've been tryin' my best to get along
But that's OK
There's nothing left to say, but

Take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need 'em
Take your space and take your reasons
But you'll think of me
And take your cat and leave my sweater
'Cause we have nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot BETTER
But you'll think of me, you'll think of me

I went out driving trying to clear my head
I tried to sweep out all the ruins that my emotions left
I guess I'm feeling just a little tired of this
And all the baggage that seems to still exist
It seems the only blessing I have left to my name
Is not knowing what we could have been
What we should have been
So...

Take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need 'em
Take your space and take your reasons
But you'll think of me
And take your cat and leave my sweater
'Cause we have nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me

Someday I'm gonna run across your mind
Don't worry, I'll be fine
I'm gonna be alright
While you're sleeping with your pride
Wishing I could hold you tight
I'll be over you
And on with my life

So take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need 'em
And take your cat and leave my sweater
'Cause we have nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me

So take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need 'em
Take your space and all your reasons
But you'll think of me
And take your cat and leave my sweater
'Cause we got nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me, you'll think of me, yeah

And you're gonna think of me
Oh someday baby, someday

Good Readin'

Whose idea was the yams? And -- by show of forks here -- can we consider this person a third-time offender of baseball's steroids policy? Does anybody really like yams? Turkey? Check. Stuffing? Double check. Mashed potatoes? Cool except for the carbs. Gravy? Duh. But yams? Aside from a little color on the plate to keep Martha Stewart from squawking, they serve no purpose. That got us to thinking about sports on TV this Thanksgiving weekend. We've looked out for you, the couch potato, and we found too many yams. San Francisco-Tennessee in the NFL? South Florida-Connecticut in college football? IPFW-Michigan State in college hoops? Yam. Yam. Yam. We don't even get Notre Dame-USC this year. Instead, the Irish are playing Stanford, which lost to UC Davis, which ... well, it isn't good. But fear not. There's a little turkey amidst the yams. For your viewing pleasure, we find it.

       Nashville Predators vs. Boston Bruins
       Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics
       Noon ET, 7:30 p.m. ET - Friday
 
We love this tradition: a TD Banknorth Garden twin bill the day after Thanksgiving. Too bad the hometown teams are playing like such turkeys. The particulars: The under-.500 Bruins host streaking Philly at high noon. The Flyers' Joni Pitkanen won the first one in OT. Then, about five hours after that ends, the under-.500 Celtics host the under-.500 Hornets. In case you like to play hunches and are in Nevada, here's one: The last two times the teams have done this, they split. So depending on what the Bruins do ... not that we condone that sort of thing.

Okay, so above is ESPN's 'Thanksgiving Viewers' Menu.' I have deleted the 'Starters' (games like Cavs/Pacers, Lakers/Sonics, etc.) and the 'Desserts' (Giants/Seahawks, Steelers/Colts, etc.) and left just the important 'Main Course.'  First of all, I completely understand writers make mistakes.  For God's sake, my local newspaper (The Janesville Gazette) is full of mistakes every single time I pick it up...which isn't often by the way.  So when I see a mistake online in an article I don't think much about it.  It happens.  People make mistakes.  This mistake from ESPN.com completely blows me away. 

The NHL's Nashville Predators were to play the Boston Bruins at noon ET Friday.  Exciting stuff, let me tell you.  Following that, five hours later, at the Garden was to be the Milwaukee Bucks taking on the Boston Celtics.  Check out the logo's of the teams playing each other.  That's not the Bucks logo; that's the Charlotte Bobcats logo.  Okay, one mistake.  No biggie.  Now read the paragraph talking about the game.  It says the Celtics are playing the Hornets.  The Hornets are located in NEW ORLEANS, NOT CHARLOTTE.  (Actually, the Hornet's are playing in Oklahoma City this year because of the Hurricane a couple months back but I'll let that slide.)

So that's two mistakes in one little paragraph.  Congratulations ESPN.com.  That's officially pathetic.

--  Okay, onto another topic.  I love Dick Vitale.  Always have.  His enthusiasm to me is great.  Makes college hoops that much better.  Tonight was the Final of the preseason NIT tournament from Madison Square Garden.  Great game by the way with Duke pulling it out at the end.  People have always said Vitale tends to favor Duke because he loves everything about their program (Coach K, the Cameron Crazies, year after year in the top 5, etc).  I have never really thought much of it...until tonight. 

This was the first time I can say Vitale was blatantly in favor of the Dukies.  When Duke Freshman guard Greg Paulus made a great pass to Sheldon Williams for a hoop, Vitale went absolutely insane 'WOW, THATS INCREDIBLE BAAAAAYYYYBBBEEEE!  THIS DIAPER DANDY IS GOING TO BE SPECIAL!!!'  When Memphis guard Darius Washington would make an equally great pass for a layup all Vitale would say is 'Very nicely done, good play.'  Notice the caps and the exclamation points.  Come on Dick, call it down the middle.

 

Not Your Average Bucks

 Michael Redd is still the go-to guy in Milwaukee.

As excited as all of us were in June when we found out our Milwaukee Bucks were going to select Utah's Andrew Bogut (sarcasm), we couldn't help but think.  Jack Sikma?  Frank Brickowski?  Brad Lohaus?  Larry Krystkowiak.  Sorry, this list could be a paragraph in itself.  WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER SLOW, GANGLY WHITE BOY!

I can say I saw enough of Bogut in the past couple years while at Utah.  He completely dismantled my Sooners in the NCAA Tournament last Spring doing everything besides making the pregame dinner for his team.  He could score, pass amazingly well, defend and run the floor.  What more can you ask for?  Well, for one...how about North Carolina freshman Marvin Williams?  Talk about talent.  The sky's the limit for that guy.  I did realize we didn't need somebody like Williams.  The Bucks had good shooting guards and small forwards.  I just felt we needed somebody with a stronger presence than Bogut's.

I have been proven otherwise.  I'll admit it; I was wrong.  Is Bogut the only reason why the Bucks have started the season 4-1?  Not so much.  Trading for All-Star Jamal Magloire has helped immensely.  Signing Bobby Simmons has been helpful.  How about the return from a career-threatening spinal injury by T.J. Ford?  He was named Eastern Conference player of the week last week. 

As I've mentioned above, Bogut has been much more effective than I would ever have imagined, but adding Magloire was huge.  Some teams have an inside presence, but only one.  For example, the 76ers and Chris Webber.  One very good inside presence can be stopped (other than Shaq), but not two.  You can't leave to double team because the other will score. 

 Mo Williams celebrates after hitting the game-winning 3 to beat the Pacers Saturday night.  The Bucks overcame a 14-point fourth quarter deficit.

Do I feel the Bucks can make it to the Eastern Conference finals this year?  Not quite.  But I do see a win in the playoffs and the Bucks growing off that next year.  I haven't been this optimistic about the Bucks since the Vin Baker/Glenn Robinson years.  Thinking about those years make me think this years team is twice as good as that team was.  Two words:  Depth and defense.

Sox Finishes Off the 'Stros in 4

  A. J. Pierzynski (right) leads the celebration as the Sox clinch the World Series. 

On Wednesday night in Houston, the Chicago White Sox showed why they were the best team in baseball.  Reason #1, great pitching.  Reason #2, great defense.  Reason #3, clutch hitting.  Reason #4, doing all the little things. 

Sox starter Freddy Garcia completely shut down the Astros old lineup on 4 hits through 7 innings.  Yet another solid outing by the Sox bullpen.  Cliff Politte, Neal Cotts and Bobby Jenks allowed just one hit over the last 2 innings to end any shot Houston had of coming back in the game and the Series. 

 World Series MVP Jermaine Dye singled to center scoring Willie Harris.  Game.  Set.  Match.

In the top of the 8th inning, Willie Harris pinch hit for Garcia and singled to left.  Scott Podsednik moved Harris to second on a sacrifice.  Carl Everett, pinch hitting for Tadahito Iguchi, grounded out but moved Harris to third.  World Series MVP Jermaine Dye then singled to center scoring Harris to give the Sox their first World Series title in 88 years.  Defensive wizard Juan Uribe made a couple of great plays to preserve the victory.  A diving grab into the stands that looked Jeter-esque and the play to end the game.  A bouncer up the middle over Jenks made Uribe charge onto the grass and throw to first to end the game. 

 Was that Derek Jeter diving into the crowd in the ninth inning to snag Chris Burke's foul ball?  Not so much.  That's Juan Uribe.

What did Jermaine Dye do to win MVP honor you ask?  How about going 7 for 16 for a .438 batting average.  Dye homered in Game1 vs Roger Clemens.  If you remember Dye made Clemens throw 8 pitches before slugging his homer.  In Game 2's win, Dye reached base on the controversial hit by pitch call which set the stage for Paul Konerko's grand slam.  In Game 3, Dye singled and scored in the five run fifth inning.  Dye was a one man show in Game 4.  He went 3-for-4 and drives home the game winning run in the eighth inning.

For the postseason, the Sox went 11-1.  Of course, the one game they did lose was Game 1 of the ALCS which I happened to attend.  They were 5-0 on the road in the playoffs.  One win in Boston (Game 3 of the ALDS); three in Anaheim (Games 3, 4 and 5); two in Houston (Games 3 and 4).  Did I mention they won their final 11 games overall on the road?  They also had the best record in the American League (99-63), swept defending 2004 world champion Boston in the AL Division Series and beat the Angels 4-1 for their first league championship since 1959.  The Sox won their last eight games (4 in each of the ALCS and WS). 

My Top Eight Moments of the Sox run to the World Series Title:

1.  Scott Podsedniks homer in the bottom of the ninth in Game 2 of the WS gave the Sox a 2-0 lead in the Series heading to Houston.

2.  Paul Konerko's grand slam in the seventh inning of Game 2 that gave the Sox a 6-4 lead.  The Cell was electric.  I didn't think the stadium could get any louder than after this, but I was proved wrong in the ninth inning by Podsednik.

3.  Tony Graffanino. His one-out error in Game 2 of the ALDS on a groundball on a dribbler by Juan Uribe in the bottom of the fifth proved to be crucial in sending the Red Sox to a second straight loss to the White Sox.

4.  Tadahito Iguchi's homer to give the Sox a 5-4 lead two batters after Graffanino's error.  Of course I was listening to this game on the radio after trying to drive down for the game but getting stuck in traffic. 

5.  A.J. Pierzynski strike out / sneak to first base.  Pinch runner Pablo Ozuna stole second to set up Joe Crede's double to win Game 2 of the ALCS. 

6.  Konerko's homers in the top of the first inning in Games 3 and 4 of the ALCS vs the Angels.  A two run homer in Game 3 and a three run shot put the Sox ahead in both games and shot any chance the Angels had of winning either game.

7.  Jermaine Dye's foul ball...I mean, getting hit by a pitch in Game 2 of the WS.  Konerko's grand slam followed.

8.  Juan Uribe's diving grab in the ninth inning of the WS.  Poor Chris Burke just stood there like a 12-year-old in Little League who just had his cotton candy stolen after the game. 

8A?  Joe Crede's diving plays in Game 2 of the WS which stopped the 'Stros from scoring both times.  He made some other great diving plays and had clutch hits in the ALCS and WS.  In my opinion, he was the ALCS MVP.  Konerko wasn't bad either though. 

8B.  Geoff Blum's homerun in the top of the 14th inning to beat the 'Stros (one of his ex-teams none the less).  Manager Ozzie Guillen was going to stick Pablo Ozuna in to pinch hit until a bench coach told Guillen to go with Blum instead.  Game over.

Not A Peach, But A Blum!!

It was the top of the 14th inning at Minute Maid Park in Houston when little used Geoff Blum stepped to the plate.  The Sox Paul Konerko had just hit into a double play, fantastically fielded by a diving Morgan Ensberg.  Up to the plate stepped ex-Astro Blum, making his first World Series at-bat, who nailed a shot to the right field bleachers off Ezequiel Astacio to make the score 6-5.  Astacio loaded the bases after the homer and walked in another run to make the final score 7-5. 

 Blum puts Astacio's pitch in the right field bleachers and puts the Sox one game from its first World Series title in 88 years.

In the longest game in World Series history (5 hours and 41 minutes), the Sox jumped ahead in the 5th inning.  Down 4-0, the Sox scored 5 runs in the inning off Astros starter Roy Oswalt.  Consequently, this would be the only other inning, besides the 14th, that the Sox would score in.  Damaso Marte would pitch an inning and two-thirds for the win giving up no runs and no hits on two walks and three strikeouts.  Mark Buerhle, Game 2's starting pitcher just two days ago, came in for the final out of the game to record the save.  Buehrle was the Sox ninth pitcher of the game which is a World Series record.  The Astros used 8 pitchers of their own.  Astacio took the loss.

 'Roy, you can't give up five runs in an inning buddy.  You are supposed to be the stud of the Astros pitching staff.'

Wednesday night's game pits Freddy Garcia of the Sox vs Brandon Backe of the Astros.  Garcia is rested and a great road pitcher.  Backe is 2-1 this postseason.  In his last outing vs the Cardinals in the NLCS, Backe gave up 1 run on 2 hits in 5 2/3 innings for the win.

 Sox third baseman Joe Credestarted off the five run fifth inning with a solo blast off Oswalt.

* Side notes

-- Did anybody else see the clip of Phil Garner slamming a stool into the ground after the Blum homer?  He was not a happy camper. 

-- I put on my lucky wristband in the 12th inning.  Coincidence?  I think not.

-- It's been how long since the Sox last won the World Series?  88 years?  What's my favorite number and the title of this journal?  Hmmm.........

-- I am featured on the Hardball Bloggers website for Sports Bloggers.  AOL Sports Writer says of my journal entry after Games 1 and 2 'great writeup. i'm officiallly jealous. so glad you had such a wonderful experience.'  Thanks Jamie, I appreciate the kind words.  Check out what he says here.

 

 

Can You Say Sweep?

Sunday night after Game 2, some friends, my sister and I were on the train back in from US Cellular field and I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed.   One of the best baseball games the world has ever seen and I didn't come down off my high for nearly 24 hours. 

I was in the Upper Deck for both games with the true die-hard Sox fans.  Fans that have been with the team for 10, 20, 30, 40 years and longer.  When you see the eyes of real tough guys start to swell up with tears you start to realize something special is happening.  I mean guys screaming in Game 1 'HEY ROGER, YOU AIN'T GOT SH!T!!!' then nearly start crying like a baby is something to see. 

Game 1 was Joe Crede's night.  His homer in the fourth powered the Sox past the Astros 5-3.  Crede made a couple amazing plays in the field with his glove also.  Twice with guys on third he took away RBI doubles.  Astros pitcher Roger Clemens was taking out after only two innings having thrown more than fifty pitches.  Jermaine Dye made Clemens throw 8 pitches before he hit a homer off him in the 1st inning.  It was just that kind of night for Roger and the 'Stros. 

 Closer Bobby Jenks reacts after shutting down the Astros in the top of the 9th to give the Sox a 5-3 win in Game 1.

Game 2 came down to the bottom of the 9th knotted at 6.  Podsednik stepped to the plate and everybody in the crowd was thinking 'just get on base Scotty.'  Juan Uribe had just missed a homer right before.  Everybody had just sat down when all of a sudden, Podsednik nails a shot to left.  We sat in awe for a split second not sure if it was going to be caught.  When it crossed the right-center wall the place went amazingly insane. 

 Houston closer Brad Lidge watches Scott Podsednik's game winning homerun in the bottom of the 9th sail over the wall giving the Sox a 7-6 win and a 2-0 lead in the World Series. 

I didn't think the place could get any louder than in the 7th inning.  With Uribe and Iguchi on, Jermaine Dye's hit-(cough)-by-(cough)-pitch, loaded thebases.  Up stepped Paul Konerko who rocketed a grand slam over the left field wall.  Talk about out of control.  That was the best feeling I've ever had at a sporting event.  Fans seemingly threw whatever they had in their hands up in the air.  One guy in our row had an entire cup of beer dumped on him by the guy behind him during the celebration.

With no homers in the regular season, Podsednik was hoping, with the rest of us, just to get on base.  Steal second and hopefully score on a single.  He now has hit two postseason homers.  Sunday nights game winner will live on in White Sox history until the end of time. 

I have been to some incredible sporting events but I can honestly say nothing will live up to what I witnessed first hand at US Cellular field on Sunday night (and Saturday night).  People have been saying to me 'Wasn't it cold and rainy?  It was in the low-40's, wasn't it?'  It could have been 5 degrees or 95 degrees and it wouldn't have mattered. 

Game 3 is Tuesday night at Houston's Minute Maid Park.  Roy Oswalt of Houston faces off against the Jon Garland of the Sox.  Oswalt is 3-0 this postseason and just itching for his chance to shut down the Sox.  Garland is 1-0 in the postseason.  In Game 3 of the ALCS you'll remember Garland gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in the complete game win. 

WE GOT TICKETS!!!

MY SISTER AND I GOT TICKETS!!!! 

All four home games for the Sox (1, 2 and 6 and 7 if necessary).  World Series Journal Entry below. 

GO SOX!!! 

 

2005 World Series: White Sox vs Astros

    Temps will be in the 40's this weekend on the South side of Chicago.

                                                                                           

The party starts late Saturday afternoon in Chicago.  Actually, the party started last Sunday night in Anaheim when the Sox beat the Angels 6-3 to win the American League Championship Series 4 games to 1.  Personally, I couldn't be more ecstatic.  I was at Games 1 and 2 of the ALCS and am still hoping for a call Saturday morning that we'll (my sister and I) have tickets Saturday night. 

Game 2 was the most exciting sporting event I have ever seen in person.  When Joe Crede doubled home Pablo Ozuna in the bottom of the 9th (after A.J. Pierzynski's strike out / sneak to first base), US Cellular Field went absolutely out of control.  Nobody left the stadium for thirty minutes and the whole crowd chanted 'Let's Go White Sox' and 'Joe Crede.'  FOX commentator Tim McCarver described the scene like this, 'I don't think I've ever seen a crowd that excited for a game win unless it was for the World Series.' 

Let's breakdown the Sox and the 'Stros from top to bottom: 

Catcher --  A.J. Pierzynski (Sox) vs Brad Ausmus ('Stros):  Both catchers are good hitters and very good defensively, but Pierzynski is the better power hitter (three homers this postseason).  Pierzynski gets the nod because he's on a roll (look back to Game 2 and avoiding the major interference call in Game 4 with Steve Finley).  Advantage:  WHITE SOX

 Konerko is a free agent this winter.  You think his play this postseason has increased his price?

First Base --  Paul Konerko vs Lance Berkman:  Berkman is a proven clutch hitter but this category is all Konerko.  Konerko is the big gun in the middle for the Sox.  Having four homers in the ALDS and ALCS combined, Konerko is having a postseason to remember.  Advantage:  WHITE SOX

Second Base -- Tadahito Iguchi vs Craig Biggio:  Ozzie Guillen calls Iguchi his team MVP for all the little things he does in the lineup.  Biggio is the heart of the Astros even at age 39 and is a solid leadoff hitter batting .326 this offseason.  Being better defensively and having more power, the edge goesto Iguchi.  Advantage:  WHITE SOX

Shortstop -- Jose Uribe vs Adam Everett:  Nearly flawless in the field, Uribe can turn a game around with his glove, but Everett is steadier which might turn out to be very important.  Advantage:  Astros

Third base -- Joe Crede vs Morgan Ensberg:  Just 27, Crede is starting to put it all together.  He's at his best when the pressure is on and is hot in this postseaon.  Ensberg did it all year with a career year and can be a difference maker at home where he hit 20 of his 36 homers.  Advantage:  ASTROS

Left Field -- Scott Podsednik vs Chris Burke:  Burke is batting .348 this offseason and won the ALDS vs the Braves with his 18th-inning homer.  Scotty Pod faded late in the year, but has had a wonderful postseason and set's the table for what the Sox will do by getting on base and stealing second.  Advantage:  WHITE SOX

Center Field -- Aaron Rowand vs Willy Taveras:  Taveras led all rookies with 34 stolen bases but was benched in the NLCS at times.  Rowand is steady, a great center fielder and goes through valuable hot stretches at the plate.  Advantage:  WHITE SOX

Right Field -- Jermaine Dye vs Jason Lane:  Dye has postseason experience which he could use to his advantage vs the Astros.  Lane hit .305 in the second half of the season and has been a force at the plate and in the field this postseason.  Advantage:  WHITE SOX

Designated Hitter -- Carl Everett vs Jeff Bagwell/Mike Lamb:  Bagwell missed most of the season after shoulder surgery and has had only three at-bats this postseason.  Everett is able to switch-hit and has the power to help the Sox when needed.  Advantage:  WHITE SOX

 Roger Clemens and Jose Contreras face off in Game 1 Saturday night.

Starting Pitchers -- Jose Contreras, Mark Buerhle, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia for the Sox; Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt, Brandon Backe for the Astros:  Sox starters were untouchable vs the Angels.  Four straight complete game wins in the ALCS is remarkable.  The Astros aren't slouches either.  Clemens and Pettitte have postseason experience with the Yankees (and Clemens with the BoSox) which should give the Astros the edge.  The 'Stros also have the big gun in Roy Oswalt.  Oswalt is the most dominant pitcher in the series.  Clemens, Pettitte and Oswalt would start six of the seven games if it went the distance.  To me, it comes down to the fourth starter and Garcia is better than Backe any day of the week.  Advantage:  WHITE SOX

 Oswalt pitched seven full innings in Game 6 of the NLCS and gave up one run.

Relief Pitchers -- Bobby Jenks vs Brad Lidge:  Jenks is pure power and added a drop-off-a-cliff curveball which made him close to untouchable.  Lidge has the track record, but gave up the huge homer in Game 5 to Pujols.  I'd take Lidge when the game is on the line.  Advantage:  ASTROS

Bench -- Guillen didn't touch his lineup through the ALCS.  The insertion of Ozuna for Pierzynski to steal a base was huge in Game 2.  The biggest advantage the Sox have off the bench is speed.  Ozuna, Willie Harris and Timo Perez can steal a base when needed.  For the Astros, Jose Vizcaino is a decent hitter and can play several positions.  Advantage:  WHITE SOX

The Verdict:  History doesn't help either team.  Sox haven't been to the Series in 46 years (1959) and the Astros have never been.  Astros are rolling at the right time.  Their starting pitching is phenominal and has postseason experience.  The White Sox were rolling and are rested and healthy.  Both teams have dominant pitching and great bullpens, but the speed and clutch hitting will pull the Sox though.  White Sox in 6. 

Series begins Saturday

Game Matchup Day Date Time ET TV

Gm 1 HOU @ CWS Sat Oct. 22 7:30 pm FOX (Contreras vs Clemens)

Gm 2 HOU @ CWS Sun Oct. 23 7:30 pm FOX (Buerhle vs Pettitte)

Gm 3 CWS @ HOU Tue Oct. 25 8 pm FOX (Garland vs Oswalt)

Gm 4 CWS @ HOU Wed Oct. 26 8 pm FOX (Garcia vs Backe)

Gm 5* CWS @ HOU Thu Oct. 27 8 pm FOX

Gm 6* HOU @ CWS Sat Oct. 29 7:30 pm FOX

Gm 7* HOU @ CWS Sun Oct. 30 7:30 pm FOX * - if necessary

Want to read more on the Series?  MLB.com has it covered here.

The Legend of Matt Leinart

                                                          

Being a college football fan, I know all about the University of Southern California and it's quarterback Matt Leinart.  But I had no idea how good Leinart and his teammates were until this past Saturday when they beat Notre Dame on the last play of the game. 

 The Man, the Myth, the Legend....Matt Leinart.

USC was down and out with two minutes left.  It was third down and forever.  Leinart scampered for ten yards or so to make fourth down manigible.  What happened in the next few moments is the stuff of legends.  On fourth down, Leinart stepped back and looked for wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett. 

Hold it right there.  Have I mentioned the Trojans haven't lost in over two years?  Twenty-seven straight games until Saturday.  I have witnessed USC completely maul my Oklahoma Sooners into submission last January in the National Title game.  I've seen them come back from a 21-3 halftime deficit to beat Arizona State but  nothing compares to what Leinart did on this fourth down on a beautiful fall Saturday in South Bend, Indiana.

So this was the game.  Fourth down.  Leinart drops back and lays out the most amazing of passes to Jarrett.  Jarrett was covered like a glove by an Irish defender, but Leinart's pass was slid perfectly into Jarrett's outstretched hands and off went the wide receiver 61 yards down the field to set up one of the most incredible finishes to a football game anyone has ever seen.  Cut to 16 seconds left.  USC has the ball on the ND 4 yard line.  One timeout left.  Leinart runs towards the endzone, jumps for the goal line and is met head on by an Irish defender.  Leinart circles in the air and lands on the 1 yard line and time runs out.  But wait.  The jarring hit Leinart took in the air had knocked the ball out of his hands and out of bounds.  That left seven seconds left on the clock.

Leinart then called his own number again.  And again, Leinart cemented his position as a legend.  The ball was hiked and he went straight up the middle but was hit head on by an Irish defender.  He stayed on his feet and bounced to his left and found the endzone...with a little push by Reggie Bush of course.  Bush would later say he 'shoved him as hard as he could' because he could see Leinart wasn't going to make it in on his own. 

 Leinart wouldn't let his Trojans lose.

And with that, the Trojans beat Notre Dame 34-31 in one of the best college football games I, or anybody else for that matter, have ever seen.  Leinart didn't do this all on his own though.  He and Bush are the two best players in the country for a reason.  Bush was completely outstanding.  He rushed for 160 yards, caught another four passes for 35 more yards and had three touchdowns. 

On this October Saturday I finally realized what it means to 'leave it all on the field.'  Leinart and Bush both had glazed looks in their eyes at the end of the game.  They went through a war on Saturday and came away unscathed.  Twenty-eight games in a row and not much standing in their way of another National Title game this coming January. 

 I told you he was tired and had a glazed look in his eyes.  This pic shows it all.

*  I have yet to mention what an amazing day of college football Saturday was.  Wisconsin, down by 10 with three minutes left, blocked a Minnesota punt with thirty seconds left to beat the Gophers 38-34.  Chad Henne and Michigan beat undefeated Penn State 27-25 on a pass to Mario Manningham as time ran out.  Ohio State beat Michigan State 35-24.  LSU beat Florida 21-17 and West Virginia and UCLA both went to overtime to keep their BCS chances alive.  WVU beat Louisville 46-44 and UCLA beat Washington State 44-41. 

Sox Move Into The Fall Classic For First Time Since 1959

 Joe Crede hit a sacrifice fly in the second inning to score Aaron Rowand.

On Sunday night, the White Sox finished off the Angels 6-3 in the ALCS on solid pitching by Jose Contreras, clutch hitting and great defense.  Joe Crede, who went 2 for 3, hit a solo homerun in the 7th inning to tie the game at 3-3, then Crede gave the Sox the lead for good in the 8th inning on an infield single that scored Aaron Rowand from second on smart baserunning.    ALCS MVP Paul Konerko doubled home Tadahito Iguchi and Rowand had a sacrifice fly to finish the scoring in the 9th. 

 Contreras was still pitching 95 mph in the fifth inning. 

It was the fourth straight complete game for the White Sox.  Contreras gave up just three runs on five hits to give the Sox their first four straight complete games since September of 1974.  Angels All-Star Vladimir Guererro again went 0-4 to take his ALCS batting average to .050 on 1-21 hitting.  The Sox also had a nice ump mistake overturned which helped out again.  A.J. Pierzynski hit a dribbler to Angels pitcher Kelvim Escobar.  Escobar ran and tagged Pierzynski with his glove, but the ball was in his other hand.  A.J. was called out but the ump's changed the call and correctly put Pierzynski on first.  Crede came up to bat next to face Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez who gave up the single up the middle to score Rowand and give the Sox the lead they wouldn't relinquish 4-3.

 The White Sox celebrate after their Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim takes them into the World Series.

In the ALCS, the Sox starting pitcher's went 44 1/3 innings out of 45 total innings.  In the four wins, Games 2-5 in the ALCS, the Mark Buerhle, Jon Garland, Contreras and Freddy Garcia foursome gave up a total of 20 hits and 8 runs.  Completely amazing.  The only pitcher to be used out of the bullpen for the Sox was Neal Cotts.  The Belleville, Illinois native Cotts finished out the top of the 9th getting the last two outs on seven pitches in the 3-2 Game 1 loss.

Just think about that.  How incredible is it that the Sox only had to use one pitcher out of the bullpen.  And that one pitcher only was needed for two outs in a loss.  Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had faith in all four starting pitchers letting them take the ball in the 9th to finish up each game instead of using his bullpen. 

World Series previews coming all this week.  Game 1 will be Saturday night in Chicago at US Cellular Arena.  The NLCS between the Astros and Cardinals is 3-1 Astros going into Game 5 on Monday night in Houston. 

Great article on ESPN.com here.  By the way, a lot of naysayers along the way said the Sox couldn't make it to the World Series without trading for a big bat (Ken Griffey) or another top-notch starter (AJ Burnett).  What do you say now?

 

 

One Win From Fall Classic For Sox

                                                       

Heading to Anaheim for Friday's game with the Angels, the White Sox had to be somewhat confident.  With the 'lucky' win under their belt in Game 2, the Sox had Jon Garland going in Game 3 and Freddy Garcia going in Game 4.  Including Mark Buerhle's performance in Game 2, what has happened over the past three games of the ALCS is nothing less than spectacular and hasn't happened in the playoffs in over 30 years. 

On Friday night, Garland scattered four hits and threw a complete game stifling the Angels.  On Saturday night, Garcia was a machine going all nine innings and giving up just two runs on six hits.  Tack on Mark Buerhle's five hitter in Game 2 on Wednesday and you have three complete games.  Not since the 1973 Mets has a team had three straight complete games by their starting pitchers in the postseason. 

On Friday night, Jermaine Dye doubled to score Scott Podsednik then Paul Konerko hit a two run homer to give Garland a three run lead in the first inning.  Garland would say with that lead he went to the mound much more relaxed.  The Angels Orlando Cabrera hit a two run homer in the sixth but that was all the Halo's got in a Sox 5-2 victory.

 Konerko's two run homer in the first inning of Game 3 gave the Sox a big lift.

On Saturday night, again in the first inning, Podsednik walked and second baseman Tadahito Iguchi was hit by a pitch.  Konerko again stepped to the plate and hit a three run homer to givethe Sox the early lead they covet, especially on the road, and strolled to an 8-2 victory over the Angels. 

 Garcia's six hit, complete game has given the Sox a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

In Game's 2, 3 and 4 Buerhle, Garland and Garcia have given up 15 hits and 5 runs.  Going into this series with the Angels, every Sox fan was hoping for a chance to see Bobby Jenx with his 99-mph fastball and untouchable slider.  Jenx and the rest of the bullpen (Hermanson, Cotts, Marte, etc) have been sitting on their hands in awe of what Buerhle, Garland, Garcia and even Jose Contreras (three runs on seven hits in Game 1) have been able to do. 

What has happened to Vladimir Guererro by the way?  He has one hit in 12 at-bats and that one hit was an infield single that ricocheted off Jon Garland's foot Friday in Game 3.  Not that anybody in the Angels lineup is ripping the cover off the ball, but you'd like to expect your All-Everything outfielder to make some sort of contribution. 

On Sunday, Jose Contreras takes the mound for the Sox with the World Series on the line.  The bullpen is relaxed and healthy.  Paul Konerko is batting .285 (8-for-28) with four home runs and 10 RBI in the playoffs and Scott Podnedsik is finally back to doing what he does best; getting on base, stealing second and scoring.  The White Sox are sitting pretty and have the Fall Classic in their sights.

 

The Lucky Strike

 Does this ball touch the ground?  Would instant replay have helped or just been inconclusive?  It just doesn't matter. 

So all the papers in Chicago on Wednesday after the Sox Game 1 loss to the Angels talked about how the fans lost interest after Garrett Anderson's homerun in the 2nd inning.  Not quite the case on Wednesday at the Cell.  This is the scenario (and if you don't understand the rule, don't ask me because I don't get it either):  A.J. Pierzynski is up to bat.  Score is 1-1 in the bottom of the 9th.  Two outs and two strikes.  Extra innings right? 

Angels pitcher Kelvim Escobar throws a pitch that Pierzynski completely whiffs at, but catcher Josh Paul traps Escobar's 3-and-2 pitch.  AJ runs to first base after the ball had been tossed back to the pitchers mound by Paul.  Umpire Doug Eddings calls Pierzynski safe at first saying because the ball was trapped by Paul the ball was in play.  Angels manager Mike Scioscia runs out to yell at Eddings, but Pierzynski is ruled safe at first.  Pablo Ozuna comes in as a pinch runner and steals second.  Joe Crede comes up to bat and rips a double off the left field wall.  Game over.  2-1 White Sox.  Next stop:  Anaheim Friday night for Game 3. 

 Joe Crede is congatulated by Pierzynski at home after Crede's game winning double in the bottom of the 9th scored Pablo Ozuna who was pinch running for Pierzynski. 

Did the pitch hit the ground?  Does it really matter now?  All Angels catcher Josh Paul had to do was tag Pierzynski and that would have been the end of it.  He didn't, his fault.  Sox win. 

*More on the game later today and a Top 8 list of things said at the games that is just hilarious.  By the way, I saw the most disgusting thing in the history of the world on Wednesday afternoon.  Tell you all about it later*  GO SOX!!!

League Championship Series Predictions

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

                            

The White Sox finished off a sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway last Friday night and have been eager for an opponent.  The top pitcher in baseball during since the All Star break, Jose Contreras, is set to mow down a solid Angels offense on Tuesday night.  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Don't ask me about the name, I don't get it either) will be running on fumes after playing Game 4 of the ALDS Sunday in NYC, flying to Anaheim for Game 5 Monday, then flying through the night for Game 1 of the ALCS.  Paul Byrd goes in Game 1 for the Angels vs Contreras.  Bobby Jenx has a 98 mph fastball to go along with a nasty slider coming out of the bullpen. 

Prediction:  The Sox are rested, pitching that is White hot and a smoking offense waiting to unload on the Angels.  Sox in 6.

 Paul Konerko rounds third after his 2-run homer in the sixth inning secured a sweep of Boston.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

                             

Houston is a scrappy bunch witnessed by their 18 inning win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS.  Roger Clemens, Game 2's pitcher, came back to pitch three shutout innings to earn the win in one of the most amazing games in baseball playoff history.  Both teams have great starting pitching.  Houston with Pettitte, Clemens and Oswalt.  St Louis with Mulder, Carpenter and Morris.  Both teams have great closers in Brad Lidge and Jason Isringhausen.  This series comes down to offense.  The Astros have the B's....Biggio, Bagwell and Berkman.  The Cardinals have....everybody.  Jim Edmonds, Albert Pujols, Reggie Sanders, Larry Walker and the list goes on. 

Prediction:  Having swept away the inept Padres, the Cardinals are ready to unleash the best team in the baseball on the Astros.  Cards in 5. 

 Having hit the game-winning homerun in the bottom of the 18th inning, Chris Burke receives a congratulatory hug from winning pitcher Roger Clemens.

*Note:  I'll be in Chicago for Games 1 & 2 of the ALCS.  Back on Thursday with inside info...or something...*

Playoff Predictions

American League Division Series

     Chicago White Sox vs Boston Red Sox --  Better pitching, better defense and Jose Contreras is on fire right now.  South Siders finally picked it up in the last week to push aside the Indians.  GO WHITE SOX!!!  White Sox in 5.

     New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim -- Angels have Vlad and great right handed pitching, but no lefties to counter all the left hand hitters in the Yankees line-up.  Yanks are rolling now.  Yanks in 4.

National League Division Series

     Houston Astros vs Atlanta Braves -- Astros pitching finally came around at the All Star break.  Braves are young but incredibly talented.  Chipper, Andruw Jones and John Smoltz push Atlanta in the NLCS.  Braves in 5.   

     St Louis Cardinals vs San Diego Padres -- Are you kidding?  The best team in baseball vs a team barely above .500.  I guess this is why they play the games because if this is played on paper its 3-0 St Louis.  Cardinals won't lose a game non the less.  3-0 Cards.

All the detailed info on the MLB playoffs here.

Odd's and End's

 Iowa Pinkeyes?

-- As much as I dislike the University of Iowa, I find it hilarious they have the away locker room colored pink (lockers, walls, carpet, etc) to upset, I mean calm, their opponents.  How great is that?  They should put up a poster of Billie Jean King and a vase of flowers too.  More power to them.

 Hey John, worry about the Hurricane victims, not baseball.

-- Is it me or does Senator John McCain (R-AZ) need to stay the heck out of what happens with baseball and steroids?  McCain...when did you become an authority on baseball?  Go back to running for President which obviously went extraordinarily well.  Read about the Senate hearings on steroids here.

 Eli, Eli, He's our man, He won't play for you, But he'll surely be your fan.

-- Has anybody else seen the 'Be A Saint' commercials Eli Manning has been doing?  It's for a good cause, Katrina victims, and Manning is a New Orleans native.  Thinking about this...if the Saints had had the # 1 pick in the 2004 draft, would he have played for the Saints?  I highly doubt it.  For those of you who don't remember...Eli was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, but said he wouldn't play for them.  The Chargers then traded him to the New York Giants.  Just recently, Archie Manning, Eli's wonderful father, said he received a call before the draft from inside the Charger front office saying 'Don't let your son play for this organization.'  Right, that happened.

-- The NHL season starts next week.  YES!!  Couldn't be more excited.  I can't name more than five players who play hockey, past or present.  Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, Howe and um, well....there's this one guy...he played for this one team at one time...yeah, I forget. 

-- Being that I don't work a normal 9-5 day I'm able to see some live soccer, the real football, from Europe.  I rushed home from Madison to see a huge UEFA Champions League game between Chelsea and Liverpool.  Two of the best teams in England playing in the biggest tournament in Europe.  Crespo, Duff, Lampard, Gerrard, Cisse...goals galore right?  I fall asleep in the second half and wake up with five minutes left thinking I've missed a ton of goals.  Nope.  Zero-zero draw. 

-- On a non-sports note I was thinking this afternoon, does ABC's Extreme Makeover show make the people of the houses they are remaking sign something so they don't sell their house right after they redo it?  I imagine some little shack getting redone for people who have next to nothing and the family turns around and sells the house for ten times what it was worth before the renovations.  Don't think it couldn't happen.  This is America where people sue over spilled coffee...and not other people's, their own.