White Sox vs Astros ? ? ?

Last night, when the Sox had 2nd and 3rd with 2 out in the 7th, somebody popped up to end the inning and they did it on the first pitch. I told my wife that I would never understand major league players hitting the first pitch. My philosophy on hitting is to work the count.

Then, Paul Konerko jacked the first pitch he saw into the left field seats. Jose Vizcaino laced his first pitch into left in the 8th. I told my wife I guess I wouldn't be talking about things that I don't know anything about anymore.

What's up with the relief, especially Lidge? First, it took Qualls one pitch to blow the lead, then Lidge gave up a 2nd game winning jack in as many appearances. Pujols I get, because he's a great hitter? But, Podsednik?

In G1, Bagwell did not get hit by that pitch in the top of the 2nd. It went right by him and glanced off the catcher's mitt. I don't get how the ump missed that one. It made no difference as Lane grounded into a DP, but it was worth noting. Especially since Dye got to 1st on a phantom HPB in G2.

Why didn't Adam Everett throw home in G1 after the force in the bottom of the 2nd? He could have nailed Carl Everett but didn't even make the throw.

I look for 3 more tight games in Houston. If Oswalt pitches like he did against the Cardinals, he'll get a win in G3.

 

As an Astros fan I'm glad they finally made it to the World Series. If they lose to the White Sox, maybe even swept, then they lose. But at least the Astros made it to the World Series during my lifetime.

Maybe the Series will turn around in Houston like the NLCS did last season.

 

I don't know if I can be satisfied with just a world series appearance, but judging by how the whitesox are playing ... I think I need learn to be content upon all things.

One thing is sure Astro's pitching has been a little bit of a let down, but the hitting has been good enough to win. They have fought a decent fight so far, but the whitesox have came up with shut down relief pitching in game one and perfect timing, clutch hitting in game two.

Do(should) the Astro's only draft players with the last name B? Should Ensberg change his last name to Bergg?

 

I think Houston will win at least 2 games in Houston. But if Oswalt doesn't win it tomorrow night, they don't really have a chance.

I was an Astros' fan from 1969, the first year I understood enough about baseball to follow it. When the Rangers moved into Arlington, I remained an Astros' fan the first 2 years because the Rangers (much closer to where I lived) were inherantly the worst team in baseball, while the Astros reached an unprecedented peak around that time. But soon that reversed; the Texas Rangers improved as the Houston players I liked that they got rid of-- Morgan, Wynn, Menke, Mayberry, et al-- played much better for their new teams than they did for Houston, and the Astros sunk. So for about 30 years, I have been a 'fan' of whichever Texas team was the best for a given year.

Anyway, if Houston wins Tuesday night, I think they have a chance to win the series; if not, almost no way. I hope playing at home under National League rules makes the difference. Bagwell, sorry to say, may be good for a clutch pinch hitter, but he's not a fulltime DH who has to run the bases. Chicago will not have Carl Everett, except as a pinch hitter.

I just read that MLB is demanding that games in Houston be played with the roof of Minute Maid Park open unless there is rain (there is none forecasted TU - THUR). Houston thinks their greater home advantage is when the roof is closed; that place is noisy, I tell you.

 

I have always thought that sports presidents were biased and wanted the team to win that would promote the sport in a greater way ... like the Redsox did last year.

We have seen some pretty horrible calls that have gone the way of the White Sox this year. Two of the calls have cost the opposite team the game. Two nights ago the Astro's had to play in freezing rain and now the roof of the loudest stadium in the league is ordered to be closed and the reason the MLB office gave was, "we determine the rules of the postseason." HA! No doubt that they want the Sox to win and errase the "curse" upon themselves. HA!

I know some of you are reading this and thinking he is just full of hot air ... am I?

 

Go SOX

 

You're full of hot air.

You're thiiissssss close from saying that the games are fixed.

Didn't the Sox play in the freezing rain too?

Wasn't the roof closed when Albert Pujols jacked the game-winner in the NLCS? It didn't seem to have an effect on him just like a closed roof wouldn't have affected the Sox last night because those guys are professional athletes.

The Astros lost last night/this morning because they couldn't hold a 4 run lead. They lost because El Duque showed his toughness when there was a man on 3rd with 1 out in the 9th and they couldn't get him home.

There is no such thing as a curse on a team. It's 100% media nonsense.

I feel your pain, but the Astros are down 3-0 because the White Sox have been a better team so far.

 

Yes you are full of Hot Air!

And actually Bud Selig ordered the roof OPEN not closed. If you are going to complain about something get the facts straight. In the end your point is correct that the league interfered with the roof, but it doesnt mean they have fixed the series. If the league wanted to have an effect on the outcome of the series then every playoff series would go to the maximum of 5 or 7 games. More games means more money from TV, Ticket Sales, and Concessions.

Bill

 

No doubt the sox have been the better team and have come up big when they needed to. The Astro's biggest problem all year was leaving men on base just like they did last night.

Bible Believing Bill, Bud Selig did order the roof open and that is my point. not sure why you are telling me to get my facts straight. He has ZERO business getting in to those affairs. Say it is better for baseball, will give it some october feel ... blah blah. The point is this with the roof closed the Astros are a better team because it is louder and it is a home field advantage. Just like playing in freezing rain is a home field advantage for the whitesox because in Houston we have winter 2 months out of the year and it does not drop below 35 barely ever.

My point to posting above was to point out that the White Sox have gotten a lot of calls go their way that were terrible calls(look at the ALCS.) Some of the pitching calls have been some what maddening. The calls add up, not to fix, but favoritism. The only call I can even think of that went the Astro's way that was a bad call was the homer by Lane last night.

 

Do you realize that Illinois isn't an arctic tundra? From April to September, the temp ranges between the mid 50s to over 100 sometimes in July and August. They don't play in under 35 weather all year. So, no, the weather wasn't an advantage for the Sox. You keep saying that closing the roof last night would have created a bigger advantage for the Astros. See my earlier post about Albert Pujols and Game 5 of the NLCS.

There is an interesting article at si.com about Phil Garner. Last night, Garner threw a fit in the 10th when Ausmus popped out. In the 14th, he threw a chair after the homerun. After the game, he threw his team under the bus. What's up with that? How do you expect guys to play well when they risk their manager showing them up for making a mistake? Last night was a tough loss for the Astros, no doubt, but those were bush league antics, not the kind of stuff you expect to see in the World Series.

When the bad calls help the White Sox, it's favoritism. When the bad calls help the Astros, it isn't favoritism. Right?

 

Convicted by the Spirit take a look at your post. In it you state

notice your use of the word closed. From your response I think I can safely assume you did have your facts straight and simply mistyped closed for open.

Bill

 

bill, you are correct ... that was a typo. My mistake. Sorry about that.

 

I did not know that about Phil. he seems like an emotional guy but not that bad. Yes, I realize Chicago is not part of the Artic.

 

Chicago up 3 games to 0. I'd like to see Houston win at least one game. I hate to see any team swept.

 

Likewise. Last year I wanted Boston to win it, but you don't want to see a sweep. Makes for less games and a boring game 4.

 

White Sox Win!

Play of the game: Uribe diving into the stands to catch the foul ball.

Joseph Botwinick

 

20 Astros fans right there, and not one of them got up to block him from making the play...

 

A sweep two years in a row by a team called the Sox? Hummmmmmmmmmm! Perhaps it's the Roswell aliens controling the Series? I think maybe that is it. All you Chicago fans lets not start talking about the cubbies breaking their streak next year. (Next Year is ALWAYS the cubbies year) It's just not gonna happen OK!!!

Bill