White Sox Sweep Houston Astros

The championship of American baseball is rather over-sold as the World Series. With the exception of Toronto, the entire operation is based in the USA. A better term, though far from official, is The Fall Classic; it’s elegant, spartanly poetic. Now, if the competition could measure up to the billing, things might be worthwhile. As it is, the Chicago White Sox swept an under-achieving Houston Astros team in four straight to win their first World Series in 88 years. It might be a different matter if the National League champs turned up to the event.

Like the St. Louis Cardinals last year, the Houston Astros this year played well below their capacity at the end. The White Sox, on the other hand, had their dry spell in September when they were so far ahead of the rest of the American League Central division that it didn’t matter. They recovered their form at just the right time, losing only one post season game over three series.

The White Sox did it with what might best be called Complete Baseball. They had solid talent, good management, and strategy that combined with execution to deliver the goods. A prime example of their season was the final game, their 1-0 win in Houston. Scoreless after seven, pinch-hitter Willie Harris singled, Scott Podsednik bunted him over to second. Carl Everett, another pinch-hitter, grounded to second moving Harris to third. With two out and Harris on third, Jermaine Dye singled up the middle to score the games only run. Little ball at its best, and a more elegant game than 400 foot shots to the bleachers.

The pitching staff for the White Sox bordered on awesome. Freddy Garcia’s seven scoreless innings on Wednesday night were typical of the entire season – few mistakes in pitch selection, and the ball movement drove the batters batty. Bobby Jenks, relief pitcher, wobbled a bit in game three, but managed to get the job done at the end.

As for Houston, what can one say? The National League was weak this year, with the entire Western Division injured. The strongest team, the St. Louis Cardinals, looked bad against the Astros in the pennant match up, and really didn’t deserve to go on to face the White Sox.

First the Red Sox broke their decades long World Series Drought last year. Now the White Sox have done it. Baseball history buffs will note that the Chicago Cubs (the other team in Chicago today) have gone without a World Series title for 97 years; the last time they won it all was 1908. Unless the National League gets itself together, though, this time next year, the Cubs will be saying “wait till next year” along with the Dodgers, Rockies, Astros, Braves and the rest.


© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.
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