| Perry Perspective: MLB Feature Oct 19
White Sox wait for the Series
“When you’re playing for money, winningis the only thing that counts.” -Hall of Fame manager LeoDurocher
A fair amount of hullabaloo has been made aboutthe Chicago White Sox and how they’ve made it to the WorldSeries for the first time in nearly a half-century.
Sure it’s a nice feat and all, but really,it means nothing. If Chicago fails to be crowned World Champions,their season was essentially a failure.
After all, the team that gets to the World Seriesbut doesn’t win, is in the end the first loser. And it’salmost impossible to put a positive spin on being a loser.
As Chicago Cubs broadcaster Chip Caray was quotedas saying, "There's no nobility in losing.”
I’d argue that most baseball players, coachesand fans would rather see their team finish out of the playoffsthan get to the Series and lose. It’s not nearly as painful.
Don’t agree with me? Talk to Bill Buckneror Mitch Williams or Bobby Cox. I’m sure they’ll tellyou how much fun it is losing in the World Series.
The last time the ChiSox experienced the fun oflosing in the World Series was in 1959 against the Los AngelesDodgers. Prior to that, they lost in 1919 to the Cincinnati Reds.
The last time they won the World Series was in1917 against the New York Giants. That was their second worldchampionship. Their first came against their cross-town rivals,the Chicago Cubs, in 1906.
The Cubbies won the following two years, but havenot won since. Because they’ve not won in 97 years, thelongest streak in the majors, the Cubs have been deemed by somediehard fans as the “Lovable Losers”.
Of course, the reality is, they don’t reallylove seeing the Cubs lose, to which Steve Bartman could attest.
Fortunately for White Sox fans, the sufferingcould soon be over. Despite a late-season slump, the ChiSox hadlittle trouble sweeping the defending World Series Champion BostonRed Sox in three games in the AL Divisional Series.
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They then knocked off the Angels in five gameswith relative ease. Undoubtedly, that series will be rememberedmost for umpire Doug Eddings’ botched call in the ninthinning of Game 2, a call which directly resulted in a White Soxvictory.
While replays show that Eddings clearly made amistake, A.J. Pierzynski has to be given full props for confusingthe umpire - and everyone else in the stadium - when he ran tofirst base after he appeared to have struck out to end the inning.
With that play Pierzynski showed incredible passionto win, and it’s this sort of intangible asset that helpsexplains why we currently have the White Sox listed as -150 favoritesto win the World Series.
Of course, having a pitching staff with a postseason-leading2.50 ERA as well as three straight complete-game victories alsohelps.
Meanwhile, the Houston Astros are +250 to winit all and the St. Louis Cardinals are +450. The Astros currentlylead the NLCS 3-2 heading into tonight’s game in St. Louis.
Houston sends Roy Oswalt to the mound, and theCards counter with lefty Mark Mulder. Oswalt (22-12, 2.92 ERAincluding playoffs) is coming off a 4-1 victory in Game 2 duringwhich he pitched seven innings, giving up only one run on fivehits.
Mulder (17-9, 3.50 ERA) took the loss in thatgame allowing two runs on eight hits over seven innings.
Following the Cards’ dramatic victory inGame 5 courtesy of a ninth-inning home run by Albert Pujols, St.Louis is favored in Game 6 at -153; Houston is listed at +143.The total has been pegged at 7.
An interesting little prop bet in this game ison whether Pujols will follow up with more dramatics and hit eithera home run or a double. The odds are currently listed at -200in favor of him not being able to do so.
The odds on Pujols, who was third overall in homeruns (41) and 15th in doubles (38) this season, being able topull off the feat are +160.
Although they’re favored to win Game 6,the Cards are dogs to win the series. St. Louis is currently +160to advance to the World Series to face the Sox; the Astros arefavorites at -180.
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