Curse

Aracos79 · Oct 20, 2005, 03:58 AM // 03:58

Well the World Series is set. We have a Texas team for the first time ever, going up against the Southsiders. After what happened to the Red Sox last year, is another long title drought going to be ended, or is it going to be a Lone Star sized party in Houston?

In my opinion, this series is going to be about pitching, pitching, and more pitching. The White Sox starters pitched FOUR consecutive complete games in the ALCS against the Angels. That's absolutely unheard of. It hasn't been done in nearly 80 years. No one would've expected that kind of performence out of guys like Jose Contreras and Orlando Hernandez (both NYY castoffs) or Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia. Are the Sox starters that good? Were the Angles that bad? Or is it better to be lucky than good?

The Astros counter with the three best pitchers in the entire National League (IMO). Roger Clemens needs no explanation. Perhaps the greatest right-handed pitcher ever... but at least the best of this generation. Andy Pettitte has been there/done that. He went to SIX World Series as a member of the New York Yankees, and is one of the winningest pitchers in post-season history. Roy Oswalt isn't flashy, but he's an anchor in that rotation. All he did in the NLCS was shut down the best offensive team in the National League, not once but twice. Then there's Brad Lidge. Was the homer to Pujols in Game 5 a blip, or a taste of what's to come for him? Will he be the Mariano Rivera for the Astros, or will the World Series pressure turn him into the second coming of B. Kim for the Diamondbacks in 2001?

Both teams know how to score runs. They steal, they hit-and-run, and they squeeze. So it's going to come down to who can eek out more runs against the other's impressive pitching staff.

Home field is nice... but I can't pick against the Houston rotation. Clemens and Pettitte are post-season proven BIG game pitchers, and I don't see Lidge as the next B. Kim. Classic pitchers series... I'll take the Astros in 6 games.

Thoughts, predictions, comments.

Guillaume De Sonoma · Oct 20, 2005, 05:09 AM // 05:09

I don't care for either but I would like the astros to win only because the games I saw of them they had very good pitching and they have never even been to the world series before. Where were the giants, or the A's, or the dogers come someone otehr than the angels from california

TheEPIC · Oct 20, 2005, 05:18 AM // 05:18

Chicago FTW!!

Only reason I say that is because from what I've seen, the Sox have been better at hitting and on defense (IMO). That, and their pitching does not get quite the appreciation it should. Looking at the stuff they've served up has looked really nasty. Really, even if Chicago doesn't have as good of pitching, their hitting and defense I believe should be able to make up for it. Whatever, these should all be rather close games, both teams are on fire, but I think that we are going to see another long drought ended.

Edge Martinez · Oct 20, 2005, 05:34 AM // 05:34

My Yanks choked AGAIN. I can't believe Torre is coming back. I wish George could channel his earlier controversial self and fire people...

... anyhow, the World Series goes 7 games. On paper the ChiSox should take it, but I'd have to say the Astro's pitching staff will maintain focus and the Astro's hitters will find chinks in the armor of the ChiSox starting rotation. I'm sorry... if Contreras, Garland and Garcia want to be on the same level as Pettite and Clemens, all they have to do to convince me is take the rings from Pettite and Clemens. If the ChiSox win the series, it's because they outpowered the Astro's hitters with the longball and long drives... as in pitching has gone out the window and they win 14-11 or something in every game.

Link Ironhammer · Oct 20, 2005, 01:01 PM // 13:01

Go astros!!! i can't rely on the Rangers which are closer to home for me.

John Waffletord · Oct 20, 2005, 01:07 PM // 13:07

I'm pulling for the Sox, I like to see long droughts end.

Aracos79 · Oct 21, 2005, 01:46 AM // 01:46

Not too many baseball fans here eh?

Platinum Agent · Oct 21, 2005, 01:47 AM // 01:47

White Sox yo!

JeremyC1234 · Oct 21, 2005, 01:54 AM // 01:54

Red sox won last year all that matters