ALCS
Boy was I wrong about this one. I nailed the 2 NL series right down to the number of games in each one, so I guess it was only fitting that I completely blew the AL. I had both the Red Sox and Yankees in 4, the Sox got swept and the Yankees lost in five.
If that was in fact Bernie William’s last game in pinstripes (and maybe ever), my hat's off to him. There is no one out there who has conducted themselves with more class and professionalism over their career, AND he was a helluva player.
ALCS
At the beginning of the playoffs I was going over the different scenarios and when I came to the White Sox/Angels possibility I thought it would be a very even match-up. Circumstances have severely affected the way this thing will shake out.
The Angels have a good ball club. They have good starting pitching, a great bullpen, solid defense, and an offense that can do a lot of things to put enough runs on the board to win most games.
The White Sox could be described very similarly. Their starting pitching might be slightly better, their bullpen might not be quite as good, and their offense can also score a lot of different ways but plays a little less small ball and has a little more thunder.
The biggest difference between these 2 teams right now lies in what happened to each one in their ALDS series.
The White Sox ripped through the Red Sox in 3 games, got on a flight back to Chicago on Friday night, and have been sitting at home since then, working out to stay sharp and hanging around waiting to see who they would get to play. They are completely healthy, rested and refreshed, riding an 8 game winning streak, and ready to go.
The Angels on the other hand have everything going against them. They had to play a tough 5 game series against the Yankees. Because of the rainout on Saturday they had to play game 4 in NY on Sunday, then get on a late flight back to Anaheim to play game 5 last night. They then had to get back on a plane last night to head to Chicago.
If this were the only problem I might be tempted to say it could work to their advantage. After all, they’ve been playing baseball for the last 2 days while the White Sox have been sitting around for the last three. They might be tired, but they’re sharp, and the White Sox may not be. But unfortunately for them, it’s not their only problem; in fact, it’s the least of their problems.
Their rotation is in shambles. Tonight they throw Paul Byrd (who was ripped by the Yankees and is now starting on 3 days rest) against a well-rested, red-hot Jose Contreras. After that, who knows? Jarod Washburn was supposed to start game 4 for them but he had to be scratched because of a throat infection. John Lackey, their best pitcher in the playoffs and down the stretch, had to start in his place on 3 days rest, so he’s not an option. Bartolo Colon, in addition to battling a stiff back, left last nights game in the second inning because of inflammation in his throwing shoulder and might not be available at all for this series. Their number 5 starter, Ervin Santana, had to pitch 5 1/3 innings last night in relief of Colon. If Washburn’s not well enough to start that game, they’ll have to go to the bullpen for all of it. Kelvim Escobar, who was a starter, but hasn’t started since before he went on the DL with elbow problems back in June, isn’t an option because he pitched in both games four and five.
Even if Washburn can go, he’s not going to be strong and he’s also not going to be sharp. He hasn’t started a game since September 24th and hasn’t pitched at all since his 2 innings on October 1rst. In fact, they were actually considering leaving him off the ALDS roster.
With Byrd starting on 3 days rest, and not very effective in his last start, they’re probably going to have to go to the bullpen early tonight, and they will definitely be using a lot of the bullpen tomorrow, it may be all bullpen. They’re probably going to have to take a position player off the roster and put another arm in there, but even that won’t be enough to help.
Their offense hasn’t exactly been lighting it up either. They scored quite a few runs on Yankee misplays and then got to a not very good Yankee bullpen in game three. Now they are going to be going up against much better arms in both the rotation and the bullpen.
But that really doesn’t even matter that much. This game always comes down to pitching; which the White Sox have plenty off, and the Angels don’t right now.
Anything can happen in this game, especially in the playoffs, but I really don’t see this thing getting back to Chicago and I wouldn’t be surprised if the White Sox sweep. I’ll give the Angels one game and say White Sox in five.
If that was in fact Bernie William’s last game in pinstripes (and maybe ever), my hat's off to him. There is no one out there who has conducted themselves with more class and professionalism over their career, AND he was a helluva player.
ALCS
At the beginning of the playoffs I was going over the different scenarios and when I came to the White Sox/Angels possibility I thought it would be a very even match-up. Circumstances have severely affected the way this thing will shake out.
The Angels have a good ball club. They have good starting pitching, a great bullpen, solid defense, and an offense that can do a lot of things to put enough runs on the board to win most games.
The White Sox could be described very similarly. Their starting pitching might be slightly better, their bullpen might not be quite as good, and their offense can also score a lot of different ways but plays a little less small ball and has a little more thunder.
The biggest difference between these 2 teams right now lies in what happened to each one in their ALDS series.
The White Sox ripped through the Red Sox in 3 games, got on a flight back to Chicago on Friday night, and have been sitting at home since then, working out to stay sharp and hanging around waiting to see who they would get to play. They are completely healthy, rested and refreshed, riding an 8 game winning streak, and ready to go.
The Angels on the other hand have everything going against them. They had to play a tough 5 game series against the Yankees. Because of the rainout on Saturday they had to play game 4 in NY on Sunday, then get on a late flight back to Anaheim to play game 5 last night. They then had to get back on a plane last night to head to Chicago.
If this were the only problem I might be tempted to say it could work to their advantage. After all, they’ve been playing baseball for the last 2 days while the White Sox have been sitting around for the last three. They might be tired, but they’re sharp, and the White Sox may not be. But unfortunately for them, it’s not their only problem; in fact, it’s the least of their problems.
Their rotation is in shambles. Tonight they throw Paul Byrd (who was ripped by the Yankees and is now starting on 3 days rest) against a well-rested, red-hot Jose Contreras. After that, who knows? Jarod Washburn was supposed to start game 4 for them but he had to be scratched because of a throat infection. John Lackey, their best pitcher in the playoffs and down the stretch, had to start in his place on 3 days rest, so he’s not an option. Bartolo Colon, in addition to battling a stiff back, left last nights game in the second inning because of inflammation in his throwing shoulder and might not be available at all for this series. Their number 5 starter, Ervin Santana, had to pitch 5 1/3 innings last night in relief of Colon. If Washburn’s not well enough to start that game, they’ll have to go to the bullpen for all of it. Kelvim Escobar, who was a starter, but hasn’t started since before he went on the DL with elbow problems back in June, isn’t an option because he pitched in both games four and five.
Even if Washburn can go, he’s not going to be strong and he’s also not going to be sharp. He hasn’t started a game since September 24th and hasn’t pitched at all since his 2 innings on October 1rst. In fact, they were actually considering leaving him off the ALDS roster.
With Byrd starting on 3 days rest, and not very effective in his last start, they’re probably going to have to go to the bullpen early tonight, and they will definitely be using a lot of the bullpen tomorrow, it may be all bullpen. They’re probably going to have to take a position player off the roster and put another arm in there, but even that won’t be enough to help.
Their offense hasn’t exactly been lighting it up either. They scored quite a few runs on Yankee misplays and then got to a not very good Yankee bullpen in game three. Now they are going to be going up against much better arms in both the rotation and the bullpen.
But that really doesn’t even matter that much. This game always comes down to pitching; which the White Sox have plenty off, and the Angels don’t right now.
Anything can happen in this game, especially in the playoffs, but I really don’t see this thing getting back to Chicago and I wouldn’t be surprised if the White Sox sweep. I’ll give the Angels one game and say White Sox in five.
posted by Bob at 10/11/2005 10:07:00 AM
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