World Series

[Reality]

What is you take on the Series?

Both teams have plenty of starting pitching:

Clemens vs Contreras
Pettitte vs Buehrle
Oswalt vs Garland

But in the end the Astros will prevail with their superior starters.  However the series will turn on some non starting pitching related play.

Umps, please do not ruin anything.  If you make a wrong call, grow a pair and ask for help from another ump.
 
 

[SPURSX3]

What is you take on the Series?

Both teams have plenty of starting pitching:

Clemens vs Contreras
Pettitte vs Buehrle
Oswalt vs Garland

But in the end the Astros will prevail with their superior starters.  However the series will turn on some non starting pitching related play.

Umps, please do not ruin anything.  If you make a wrong call, grow a pair and ask for help from another ump.

Go 'Stros!

[Wolverine]

It'll be interesting considering how similar these teams are in terms of talent, style and strenghts/weaknesses.  I like the 'Stros just a BIT more (considering their starting pitching and bullpen has been legitimately better than Chicago's), but you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be rooting for the Sox.

GO SOX!

[ziggy]

I believe the Astros will win.

The Sox starters will have lots of rest, but Clemens, Pettitte and Oswalt will be pitching on 5 days rest.  That is more than enough rest.

Clemens is better than Contreras.  Contreras has been brilliant in the postseason, and actually very good all year, but for some reason I don't trust him.  Actually it is a very good reason, the guy has sucked up until this year.

Pettitte is slightly better than Buehrle, but not by much.  This will be the key match up, and I have a lot of respect for Buehrle, and he will have to pitch well for the ChiSox to have a chance.  I think he will.

Oswalt is far better, far far better than John Garland.  If it goes to a game 7 this will be the matchup, and Houston has to love that match up.

Freddie Garcia is better than Backe.  Finally Freddie Garcia is becoming teh picther he should be.


I like the Astros bullpen, simply because they have Brad Lidge.  Lets face it, it took the best hitter in the world to beat Lidge, and he only did it once.  The Sox have no one as dominate as Lidge.

The Key opffensive players in this series for each team are
Morgan Ensberg for Houston
Paul Konerko for the Sox

Ensberg carried this offense for most of the season, and he has been marginal in the playoffs.  His OPS is off by almost .300 points.  Houston is not loaded with offense, and he needs to step it up.  If he has a big series, then the Astros win it easily.

Konerko is really the only consistant big bat in the lineup.  The reason the WS have gone 7-1 is because of Konerko, AJ Pierzynski.

In the 8 playoff games Konerko is hitting on a pace for 80 hr, and 225 RBI.  Pierzynski is on a pace for 60 HR and 120 RBI.  The Sox really have no other big boppers.

[Joe Vancil]

Excuse me, but does anyone else remember the 1988 Dodgers vs. A's series?

Chicago is a team of destiny.  They win because they have a hot pitching staff from top to bottom, and offensively, they can get runs one at a time.  When you're looking at great pitching vs. great pitching, go for the team that consistently does lots of little things to win close ballgames.  And that's Chicago.

 

[ziggy]

Excuse me, but does anyone else remember the 1988 Dodgers vs. A's series?

Chicago is a team of destiny.  They win because they have a hot pitching staff from top to bottom, and offensively, they can get runs one at a time.  When you're looking at great pitching vs. great pitching, go for the team that consistently does lots of little things to win close ballgames.  And that's Chicago.

There is a big difference between a "Hot" staff and a "Great" staff.  Hot staffs can and will go cold, great staffs seldom do.  Houston has a great staff, Chicago as a solid staff that has been hot.  I will go with Houstons staff over the Chi Sox.  All it takes is for just one of the 4 to go cold and the dominance is marginalized.  The Angels did not have a single pitcher as good as or even close to Oswalt, Clemens, or Pettitte.  That means the Chi Sox have to have the same kind of dominating performance to have a chance at winning (not a guarantee of winning, but a chance at winning)

Closers are also a huge key in the postseason.  The difference between Lidge and anybody the Sox have is enormous.  The Red Sox won last year because they finally had a great closer.  The Yankees won all those years because Rivera was awesome.  The Braves didn't close it out, because they always had marginal closers (Pena, Mercker, Bedrosian, Farnsworth).

[Guest_Randy]

When was the last time a team had THIS good a pitching staff in the World Series?  This team has THREE GREAT pitchers -- I'm trying to remember the last team to have this kind of pitching.  The Cards are one of the best hitting teams in the league and these guys just fanned them.  

Not only do they have three of the best pitchers in baseball (who go VERY late) -- they also have the best closer in baseball.  

I think it will be a great series but it is going to be defined more by pitching than by hitting, IMO.  

Pitching (both starting and closing) - Houston
Defense - edge Houston
Offense - edge Chicago.

That means that Houston wins, IMO.

[Reality]

4 pitchers were on the 2003 Yankee roster.
3 are starting for sure in this World Series.
Clemens  
Pettitte
Jose Contreras

and "El Duque" Orlando Hernandez may pitch after having a fantastic relief appearance vs Angles.

Wonder if Brian Cashmans time as Yankee GM is up.

[ziggy]

When was the last time a team had THIS good a pitching staff in the World Series?  This team has THREE GREAT pitchers -- I'm trying to remember the last team to have this kind of pitching.  The Cards are one of the best hitting teams in the league and these guys just fanned them.  

Not only do they have three of the best pitchers in baseball (who go VERY late) -- they also have the best closer in baseball.  

I think it will be a great series but it is going to be defined more by pitching than by hitting, IMO.  

Pitching (both starting and closing) - Houston
Defense - edge Houston
Offense - edge Chicago.

That means that Houston wins, IMO.

Atlanta had Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz for a lot of years.  The difference is they didn't have anybody close to Lidge to close.

[guest-koast]

I have no feeling or ill will towards either of the team so I am just going to tune in for some good baseball.  Sometimes it is nice to watch a championship game between two teams you dont really root or care for in that sense.  Hopefully the White Sox beat the Stros 3-2 (LOL) so that I can win Game 1's world series pool here at work.

The one thing I am looking forward to is the pitching between these two clubs.  Looks like its going to be quite the defensive series.

[Reality]

Would have liked to see Garner call a squeeze in either the 6th or for sure the 8th.  He didn't.  Oh well.  I thought Clemons looked very hittable and off.  Hamstrings don't heal quickly or without rest.  Props to Jermain Dye tho for going with the pitch.

Hou gets a road split they are still doing fine, cause I have Oz as a sure win in Gm 3.  But if Chi goes up 2-0, it's a problem Houston.

[Reality]

I sure am glad Houston has the better relievers. :rolleyes:

And keep that accurate instant replay OUT.

I love the human touch.  So does Jermaine Dye and the Sox.