Extensive World Series Preview
I've been patently wrong with my ALCS/NLCS predictions, and so now I'd like a do-over for the World Series. We've got the Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox, teams that are, well, rather symmetric.
Let's go over the specifications:
Accomplished Switch-Hitting DH
Well, the White Sox have Carl Everett, who is probably most famous at this point for believing that dinosaurs don't exist, which, quite frankly, blows me and the rest of the planet away. Carl Everett is also responsible for ruining what would have been one of the greatest feats in recent baseball history: a Mike Mussina no-no at Fenway taken into the ninth. He's also one of the Reggie Sanders-types, players that are worth having around in the postseason because they can hit for power and have been around long enough to see about everything. Did I mention that Everett is a former Astro? Weird.
The Astros have a guy named Lance Berkman who does sort of the same thing, except better. And he's far more stable. And he also won a Home Run Derby, something Everett almost did, once upon a time. And he had a monster September and looks bulletproof in the playoffs. So, I give the edge to: Houston.
Speedy, no-hit center fielder.
The Astros have likely NL Rookie of the Year Willy Taveras, who might be the one of the average rookies of the year ever. You know the Astros have a bead on this, because they've benched this guy for a postseason game here and there. Still, he managed to hold the job down the whole year with a good batting average, and he'll probably be there next year. And he can get on base, which is what leadoff hitters supposedly do. So, give him a flyer, but he's no...
Scott Podsednik! You have to love a guy who never hit in the minors, but is hitting now in the bigs. He almost makes the Carlos Lee trade worth it. He also hit his first home run of the year against the Red Sox. That's nice. Edge: the ChiSox.
Suspect Right-Handed Power Hitter
The White Sox have Paul Konerko, who I really shouldn't put into this category, except for the fact that he had the whole 2003 season where he didn't really show up. But he's been big in the postseason and he is a legitimate power hitter. In fact, he's far and away the best hitter in their lineup, which is why I always find it odd that teams don't pitch around him more. Maybe they do and I just don't notice.
The Astros have Morgan Ensberg, a powerful third baseman whose power mysteriously disappeared last year. Very inexplicable. He also went on a major tear this year and there was talk of him being the MVP before his tear ended. He's been alright in the playoffs as well. Give him the benefit of the doubt, but give Chicago the edge.
The "Not Yet" Outfielder.
The Astros have Jason Lane, who was an awesome minor league hitter and has sort of become that power hitting type in the bigs after two verrry mediocre seasons. The White Sox have Aaron Rowand, who basically switched years with Jason Lane, having his power surge last year before reverting back to servicable this year. Lane has been clutch this postseason. Edge: Astros.
The stud lefty.
The Astros have Andy Pettitte, one of the best pitchers in baseball; who I will readily admit doesn't get enough respect. After all, with a few more good years, you have to think of Pettitte as a borderline Hall-of-Famer, with all of his postseason accomplishments. The White Sox have Mark Buehrle, who has a good chance at the AL Cy Young. Buehrle is slightly better, in my view. Thus, I give the edge to the ChiSox.
The young guns (right handed, that is.)
The Astros have Roy Oswalt and Brandon Backe. The White Sox have Freddy Garcia and Jon Garland. Oswalt is clearly the best of the bunch, with Garcia in a solid second. Garland and Backe are more unproven, as this is the first year that Garland's been really good. Still, Roy Oswalt is the second coming of Kevin Brown, but is probably more durable. Both guys are mean with nasty stuff. And you sort of know that he's gonna win whichever start he gets to pitch... or at least you have a good chance. So, I'll take the Astros here.
Finally, we get to the obvious comparison:
Thomas vs. Bagwell.
Both are probable Hall-of-Famers; both won MVPs. And both Bags and the Big Hurt will be playing a very minor role in the series. It always stinks to see players you grew up with get old. That's never any fun.
What, I have to pick???
Ok, Astros in 7.
Rationale:
Clemens, Oswalt and Pettitte can't lose four games, can they? Is Bobby Jenks going to be able to handle the closer games?
On the other hand, A.J. Pierzynski might engage in some form of cheating like he did last series. I wouldn't try that stuff when Clemens is pitching though. Or, if I was feeling lucky...
Never mind.
Final Thoughts:
Jermaine Dye might be a key to this series. I think his year has been rather underappreciated, although you can't really feel too bad for someone who took the A's for so much money and gave them so little. His presence, along with the emergence of Joe Crede (frankly, it's about time) gives the White Sox lineup a clear edge.
The White Sox staff, from top to bottom, is probably better than the Astros. Unfortunately, it rarely matters past starters 1-4, and the Astros have them beat there. Jose Contreras has been unbelievable this year, but he's not quite Roger Clemens.
And you can't really fault Brad Lidge for giving up that home run to Albert Pujols. Pujols is the best hitter of our generation, after all.
Let's go over the specifications:
Accomplished Switch-Hitting DH
Well, the White Sox have Carl Everett, who is probably most famous at this point for believing that dinosaurs don't exist, which, quite frankly, blows me and the rest of the planet away. Carl Everett is also responsible for ruining what would have been one of the greatest feats in recent baseball history: a Mike Mussina no-no at Fenway taken into the ninth. He's also one of the Reggie Sanders-types, players that are worth having around in the postseason because they can hit for power and have been around long enough to see about everything. Did I mention that Everett is a former Astro? Weird.
The Astros have a guy named Lance Berkman who does sort of the same thing, except better. And he's far more stable. And he also won a Home Run Derby, something Everett almost did, once upon a time. And he had a monster September and looks bulletproof in the playoffs. So, I give the edge to: Houston.
Speedy, no-hit center fielder.
The Astros have likely NL Rookie of the Year Willy Taveras, who might be the one of the average rookies of the year ever. You know the Astros have a bead on this, because they've benched this guy for a postseason game here and there. Still, he managed to hold the job down the whole year with a good batting average, and he'll probably be there next year. And he can get on base, which is what leadoff hitters supposedly do. So, give him a flyer, but he's no...
Scott Podsednik! You have to love a guy who never hit in the minors, but is hitting now in the bigs. He almost makes the Carlos Lee trade worth it. He also hit his first home run of the year against the Red Sox. That's nice. Edge: the ChiSox.
Suspect Right-Handed Power Hitter
The White Sox have Paul Konerko, who I really shouldn't put into this category, except for the fact that he had the whole 2003 season where he didn't really show up. But he's been big in the postseason and he is a legitimate power hitter. In fact, he's far and away the best hitter in their lineup, which is why I always find it odd that teams don't pitch around him more. Maybe they do and I just don't notice.
The Astros have Morgan Ensberg, a powerful third baseman whose power mysteriously disappeared last year. Very inexplicable. He also went on a major tear this year and there was talk of him being the MVP before his tear ended. He's been alright in the playoffs as well. Give him the benefit of the doubt, but give Chicago the edge.
The "Not Yet" Outfielder.
The Astros have Jason Lane, who was an awesome minor league hitter and has sort of become that power hitting type in the bigs after two verrry mediocre seasons. The White Sox have Aaron Rowand, who basically switched years with Jason Lane, having his power surge last year before reverting back to servicable this year. Lane has been clutch this postseason. Edge: Astros.
The stud lefty.
The Astros have Andy Pettitte, one of the best pitchers in baseball; who I will readily admit doesn't get enough respect. After all, with a few more good years, you have to think of Pettitte as a borderline Hall-of-Famer, with all of his postseason accomplishments. The White Sox have Mark Buehrle, who has a good chance at the AL Cy Young. Buehrle is slightly better, in my view. Thus, I give the edge to the ChiSox.
The young guns (right handed, that is.)
The Astros have Roy Oswalt and Brandon Backe. The White Sox have Freddy Garcia and Jon Garland. Oswalt is clearly the best of the bunch, with Garcia in a solid second. Garland and Backe are more unproven, as this is the first year that Garland's been really good. Still, Roy Oswalt is the second coming of Kevin Brown, but is probably more durable. Both guys are mean with nasty stuff. And you sort of know that he's gonna win whichever start he gets to pitch... or at least you have a good chance. So, I'll take the Astros here.
Finally, we get to the obvious comparison:
Thomas vs. Bagwell.
Both are probable Hall-of-Famers; both won MVPs. And both Bags and the Big Hurt will be playing a very minor role in the series. It always stinks to see players you grew up with get old. That's never any fun.
What, I have to pick???
Ok, Astros in 7.
Rationale:
Clemens, Oswalt and Pettitte can't lose four games, can they? Is Bobby Jenks going to be able to handle the closer games?
On the other hand, A.J. Pierzynski might engage in some form of cheating like he did last series. I wouldn't try that stuff when Clemens is pitching though. Or, if I was feeling lucky...
Never mind.
Final Thoughts:
Jermaine Dye might be a key to this series. I think his year has been rather underappreciated, although you can't really feel too bad for someone who took the A's for so much money and gave them so little. His presence, along with the emergence of Joe Crede (frankly, it's about time) gives the White Sox lineup a clear edge.
The White Sox staff, from top to bottom, is probably better than the Astros. Unfortunately, it rarely matters past starters 1-4, and the Astros have them beat there. Jose Contreras has been unbelievable this year, but he's not quite Roger Clemens.
And you can't really fault Brad Lidge for giving up that home run to Albert Pujols. Pujols is the best hitter of our generation, after all.
posted by mike at 5:42 PM
2 Comments:
Correction, Berkman got second in that Derby.
Yeah, I realized Podsednik played left after the fact, but it would've taken away from my no-hit center field gig, which is nice. I thought that was clever.
Anyway, if we want to get technical on this, I think Taveras is a pretty good defensive center fielder, and that Iguchi, not Taguchi is playing second base.
The main reason that defensive skills aren't analyzed in baseball articles is because errors are, well, random, and unless somebody is terrible in the field they are generally considered to be decent. Plus, it's really boring. And, I really haven't watched much of this postseason, so I don't really know. All I gots is my stats...
I swear I'm gonna put my best foot forward here at OSU... at least I'm decidedly stubborn. I won't leave till they kick me out.
And we can't hate Samaki too much since he's from the 'Ville... holla.
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