“2005 World Series Preview.” Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
Well, the 2005 edition of the Fall Classic is shaping up be an interesting one. The Stros and the White Sox are two good, but certainly not great, clubs that are built around solid pitching staffs. The Stros (89-73) struggled to get into the playoffs, while the Sox (99-63) pretty much cruised for most of the season, only to falter during the final month before turning it on in the last two weeks to win their division. The Stros have run up a 7-3 playoff record while engaging in two pressure-packed series with the Braves and then the Cardinals, while the Sox are 7-1 in the playoffs after polishing off the defending World Series champion Red Sox and then the Yankee-killing Angels in surprisingly easy fashion. The Sox won 10 more games than the Stros during the regular season, but the Stros have the better record over the past four months and the hitting-challenged Stros actually hit better than the White Sox. Nevertheless, both clubs rely primarily on stellar pitching that is based upon some of the best starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. Consequently, expect a low-scoring series involving tight, well-pitched games in which runs are precious and home runs decisive.

Continue reading →