Astros v White Sox

[ISUMatt]

Predictions anyone....Congrats to Houston, and Chicago for that matter!!!

[TexasTerror]

HOUSTON, WE HAVE AN NL PENNANT!
World Series
http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/mlb/teams/1/80x60/hou.gif vs. http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/mlb/teams/1/80x60/cha.gif
Game 1: Houston @ Chicago (AL), Saturday, October 22nd, 7 PM, FOX
Game 2: Houston @ Chicago (AL), Sunday, October 23rd, 7:10 PM, FOX
Game 3: Chicago (AL) @ Houston, Tuesday, October 25th, 7:30 PM, FOX
Game 4: Chicago (AL) @ Houston, Wednesday, October 26th, 7:25 PM, FOX
Game 5: Chicago (AL) @ Houston, Thursday , October 27th, 7:25 PM, FOX (if necessary)
Game 6: Houston @ Chicago (AL), Saturday, October 29th, 6:55 PM, FOX (if necessary)
Game 7: Houston @ Chicago (AL), Sunday, October 30th, 6:55 PM, FOX (if necessary)

[blackfordpu]

Predictions anyone....Congrats to Houston, and Chicago for that matter!!!

ASTROS in 6!
:nod:

[Reed Rothchild]

Sox in 4

[ISUMatt]

I will base my prediction on the fact the White SOx are THE best road team in baseball including 4-0 in the playoffs...

White Sox in 5!!! (Im from CHicago what else did u expect?)

Whatever the case its nice to see new blood in the World Series!!!

[blackfordpu]

Whatever the case its nice to see new blood in the World Series!!!

Agreed! :nod: :nod: :nod:

[blackfordpu]

Sox in 4

Sorry RR, you are crazy! ;) :p :cool:

[FargoBison]

Astros in 7.

[blackfordpu]

SportsCenter guys pick the Sox to win the Series.
BBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[ISUMatt]

SportsCenter guys pick the Sox to win the Series.
BBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Kruk hasnt picked Houston yet, that should be encouraging to you!!!

[ngineer]

Good to see some new teams. While I'm an NL guy, every now and then Imake an exception and this year is one. White Sox haven't won since 1917--Chicago could use a championship. Plus, I'm still sore at the Astros for nipping my Phils in the azz. ;)

[JoltinJoe]

Agreed! :nod: :nod: :nod:

Not agreed. ;)

But anyway, I hope the winner of the "Yankees Cup" this year will be the White Sox.

Nothing personal against the 'Stros, but I'd like a genuine champion this year -- not some second place team - to win the World Series this year. Three straight years of an also ran walking off with October honors is enough. Baseball's last genuine champion was the 2001 Diamondbacks.

Obviously I like Pettitte and Clemens, but principles are principles.

[Gil Dobie]

Sox in six.

Same here, American League all the way! :D :D

[LacesOut]

Rooting for the Sox.

Some outstanding pitching in this series.

[TexasTerror]

What makes the White Sox better than the Astros? All these game predictions, but no one is stating why the Astros can't beat the White Sox?

These are identical teams. In my eyes, Astros have a more veteran pitching staff with big-game experience (i.e Pettite, Clemens) compared to Buerhle, Garland and Contreras.

The bullpen, Astros again. Especially with Dan Wheeler (sensational in the playoffs) and Brad Lidge.

Defensively, it leans Astros. Brad Ausmus behind the plate is known as one of the best in the business. Adam Everett is a defensive stud as is Morgan Ensberg.

Offensively, I'd say it's more White Sox as I see a more run-conducive offense...

Intangibles, Astros are the hottest team in baseball since June. Astros are rough at home, White Sox undefeated on the road in the playoffs. Garner is a more experienced manager than Guillen.

What's everyone else think?

[ISUMatt]

Go position by position and I think there is your Sox advantage...SOx are the best road team in baseball, Sox starters have been unhittable plain and simple, Sox win a ton of close games, Top to bottom , IMO the Sox have a better lineup...Dont knock the Sox bullpen, they are outstanding, we just havent seen them in the playoffs...
These are just some of my observations, Im not being mean, just my opinion...

Ensberg/Crede- Even but Crede is Mr Clutch
Everett/Uribe- AD CWS
Biggio/Iguchi- AS HOU
Berkman/Konerko- AD CWS
Ausmus/Pierzynski- EVEN
Burke/Podsednik- AD CWS
Taveras/Rowand- AD CWS
Lane/Dye- AD CWS

These are just my opinions but maybe this will tell you why I as least think the White Sox are stronger.

As for pitching I know HOUs starters are great, but Id be hard pressed to say they are better than the CWS right now. Bullpens IMO are just as good as each other and Lidge has given up at least a run in each of his last 2 outings after 21 in a row in the postseason w/o a run...he has to straighten that out but I will still give him the advantage over Jenks. GUillen has playoff experience as a 3rd base coach with Florida, he won a ring there. He doesnt play it by the book and I think thats what we love about him!!!

Like I said earlier, its great to see new blood in the World Series!!! Two teams hard to root against!!!

[ISUMatt]

As for defense, AJ made 1 error, Crede may be the best 3B in the AL this yr, Podsednik and Rowand run down everything, Dye has a cannon in RF, and Uribe, well he works and also has a cannon. Iguchi has done a great job, as long as we dont play in arlington, he will be fine and Konerko is well above average at 1B. The thing that bites us in the ass, wild pitches, Contreras and Garcia love to throw them

[Ivytalk]

Sox in six.

Ditto.

[LacesOut]

Dang, doesn't Lance Berkman look exactly like NASCAR driver Tony "Smoke" Stewart?? I noticed that last week.

*Too lazy to post pics*

[TexasTerror]

Berkman/Konerko- AD CWS

How could you give the advantage to CWS? If anything, it should be even. Berkman has been Mr. Clutch with the grand slam against the Braves, the big blast against the Cards. He's our power hitter and while Ensberg has been slumping, Berkman has been huge this post-season. I don't see how they aren't even, especially with Berkman over the years being a better hitter than Konerko...

[89Hen]

Whatever the case its nice to see new blood in the World Series!!!
Says the man from Illinois and agreed with by the man from Texas. :p

I guess it's better than San Diego vs. Los Angeles. :(

[ISUMatt]

How could you give the advantage to CWS? If anything, it should be even. Berkman has been Mr. Clutch with the grand slam against the Braves, the big blast against the Cards. He's our power hitter and while Ensberg has been slumping, Berkman has been huge this post-season. I don't see how they aren't even, especially with Berkman over the years being a better hitter than Konerko...

Did u watch the ALCS and ALDS, Konerko is white hot and buried the Angels in LAA. He is the best 1B in the AL and IMO is better defensively than Berkman. Back to back 40 HR seasons help too. Im not ripping Berkman, hes a great hitter, jst give a slight AD to Konerko

[ngineer]

Sox in Seven, film at eleven. :D

[GeauxLions94]

Here's the series breakdown.

Game 1 - Astros win with Clemens on the bump

Game 2 - Sox tie it up at 1-1

Game 3 - Houston goes up 2-1

Game 4 - Sox; series tied at 2-2

Game 5 - Sox rally, go back to ChiTown with 3-2 lead

Game 6 - Sox on verge of winning; foul ball, which is playable, hit into stands only to have Steve Bartman in the way; Sox implode, Astros win forcing Game 7

Game 7 - Astros win series; Bartman, who has now screwed up two potential Windy City championships, moves to Cleveland where he's only allowed to get tickets to Cleveland State games.

[ISUMatt]

Houston 35-46 on the road, I dont seethem winning 3 of 4 at USCF!!! Just a hunch!

[bobcatfan06]

I much as I love the 'stros I have to be a realist and say the Sox will win it. The Astros are horrible on the road (see above post) but great at home. I think the home team wins every game and the Sox win in 7. Just my opinion though.

[Ivytalk]

I much as I love the 'stros I have to be a realist and say the Sox will win it. The Astros are horrible on the road (see above post) but great at home. I think the home team wins every game and the Sox win in 7. Just my opinion though.

I see your point, but Houston won 2 out of 3 in St. Loo in the LCS. Playoffs are a different animal!

[blur2005]

If the White Sox pitch like they did against the Angels, then every game in this series could be of the 2-1, 1-0 variety. With that in mind, I think the White Sox slight edge in offense will garner them the status of favorites. Therefore, I'm saying Sox in 6, but don't be surprised if it goes 7.

[blackfordpu]

Not agreed. ;)

But anyway, I hope the winner of the "Yankees Cup" this year will be the White Sox.

Nothing personal against the 'Stros, but I'd like a genuine champion this year -- not some second place team - to win the World Series this year. Three straight years of an also ran walking off with October honors is enough. Baseball's last genuine champion was the 2001 Diamondbacks.

Obviously I like Pettitte and Clemens, but principles are principles.

How can you say that the Astros would not be a genuine champion? Especially with guys like Biggio, Bagwell, Clemens, Pettite... I could go on and on. This is an extremly classy ball club with some of the best people in baseball. I don't think you get more genuine than that.

And how are they a second place team? If they were they would not be in the Series.

[buckp]

Gotta go with the 'stros.......in seven! :p

http://home.houston.rr.com/riggkneale/astros.jpg

[JoltinJoe]

How can you say that the Astros would not be a genuine champion? Especially with guys like Biggio, Bagwell, Clemens, Pettite... I could go on and on. This is an extremly classy ball club with some of the best people in baseball. I don't think you get more genuine than that.

And how are they a second place team? If they were they would not be in the Series.

This is how they are a second-place team:

CENTRAL W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK L10
*-St. Louis 100 62 .617 - 50-31 50-31 805 634 Won 3 5-5
y-Houston 89 73 .549 11 53-28 36-45 693 609 Won 2 6-4
Milwaukee 81 81 .500 19 46-35 35-46 726 697 Lost 2 6-4
Chicago Cubs 79 83 .488 21 38-43 41-40 703 714 Lost 2 5-5
Cincinnati 73 89 .451 27 42-39 31-50 820 889 Lost 4 2-8
Pittsburgh 67 95 .414 33 34-47 33-48 680 769 Won 2 5-5


Call me a purist, but a second-place team that wins the World Series didn't "win it all." How can they be "world champions" when they weren't even champions of their division?

A wild card team that wins the World Series is nothing but a "Playoff Titleist."

[TheValleyRaider]

White Sox in 6

It's always nicer to win it in front of the home crowd :nod:

[Tod]

Earlier I said Sox in five, but I think I had a lack of respect for the strength of Houston. I still say Sox, but it will take six, maybe even seven. OK, off the fence, Sox in six. But good luck to both teams. :nod: :nod: :nod:

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Dang, doesn't Lance Berkman look exactly like NASCAR driver Tony "Smoke" Stewart?? I noticed that last week.

*Too lazy to post pics*

I noticed that too. People were talking about that on the one NASCAR board i post on. It's an almost identical match, weird....

[blackfordpu]

This is how they are a second-place team:

CENTRAL W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK L10
*-St. Louis 100 62 .617 - 50-31 50-31 805 634 Won 3 5-5
y-Houston 89 73 .549 11 53-28 36-45 693 609 Won 2 6-4
Milwaukee 81 81 .500 19 46-35 35-46 726 697 Lost 2 6-4
Chicago Cubs 79 83 .488 21 38-43 41-40 703 714 Lost 2 5-5
Cincinnati 73 89 .451 27 42-39 31-50 820 889 Lost 4 2-8
Pittsburgh 67 95 .414 33 34-47 33-48 680 769 Won 2 5-5


Call me a purist, but a second-place team that wins the World Series didn't "win it all." How can they be "world champions" when they weren't even champions of their division?

A wild card team that wins the World Series is nothing but a "Playoff Titleist."

If they were not better than St. Louis they would not have beaten them. Come on man, give credit where it is due.

[JoltinJoe]

If they were not better than St. Louis they would not have beaten them. Come on man, give credit where it is due.

The Astros finished 11 games behind the Cardinals. They then won 4 out of 6 from the Cardinals.

So they're now 9 games behind. ;)

[blackfordpu]

The Astros finished 11 games behind the Cardinals. They then won 4 out of 6 from the Cardinals.

So they're now 9 games behind. ;)

Wait, wait.... WHO's going to the world series?

End of discussion. :)

[ISUMatt]

Wait, wait.... WHO's going to the world series?

End of discussion. :)

THE WHITE SOX!!! :D

[JoltinJoe]

Wait, wait.... WHO's going to the world series?

End of discussion. :)

I guess if you've never won a World Series, you'll take it any way you can.

But you can't say you "won it all" because you didn't.

[blackfordpu]

I guess if you've never won a World Series, you'll take it any way you can.

But you can't say you "won it all" because you didn't.

You have a horrible outlook but I guess you are allowed to have one.

[bulldog10jw]

I guess if you've never won a World Series, you'll take it any way you can.

But you can't say you "won it all" because you didn't.

so since the Yankees won the World Series in 1996 as a wild card team, are you going to throw that one back.

[JoltinJoe]

so since the Yankees won the World Series in 1996 as a wild card team, are you going to throw that one back.

No. Yanks were the AL East champs in 1996. Check the record books.

[JoltinJoe]

You have a horrible outlook but I guess you are allowed to have one.

Why is that a horrible outlook? Forever, baseball was pure because you had to actually be a regular-season champion in order to advance to the playoffs.

But now baseball has sold out, just like the other professional sports. Let's throw in an also ran, so we can make more money. I think that's what is horrible.

[bulldog10jw]

No. Yanks were the AL East champs in 1996. Check the record books.

You're right. I was thinking about '97, but they lost to Cleveland that year.

[blackfordpu]

The world is picking the Astros to win the Series but no analyst can seem to get it right. :)

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?pollId=32899