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World Series Breakdown - Page One Astros and White Sox square off in Fall Classic Rick Gagliano | 10/21/05
The World Series begins Saturday night in Chicago, when Jose Contreras will take the mound for the White Sox to face Roger Clemens and his Houston Astros.
How They Got There
The Chisox, winners of the American League Central Division, got to the fall classic by knocking off the Boston Red Sox, last season's world champs, in three straight, and then mowing down the California Angels in five. After dropping the first game, the White Sox won the next four, mostly on exceptional starting pitching.
Houston got into the post season with an incredible surge in the standings from mid-May through the end of the regular season, holding off the charging Philadelphia Phillies by one game to capture the National League Wild Card.
The Astros battled the Atlanta Braves in the divisional playoff series, winning 3 games to 1, including the dramatic, 18-inning finale. In the League Championship, their pitching shut down the intense hitting of the St. Louis Cardinals, capturing the flag in six games, 4-2.
This edition of the World Series is likely to be one of the lowest scoring in recent memory. Both the White Sox and Astros have excellent starting pitching and play very similar close-to-the-vest National League styles. Both teams are more adept at bunting, moving players over and playing defense than they are at mounting huge rallies and clubbing long balls.
The Chicago pitching staff has compiled a 2.50 ERA in 72 playoff innings, allowing opponents a .202 batting average and just 20 earned runs. All four of their starters have a complete game to their credit, the workhorse being Contreras, who has logged 25 innings during the postseason.
The top regular hitter for the White Sox has been Jose Uribe, who usually bats in the 7, 8 or 9-hole. Uribe's .308 batting average is tops among the team's combined .263 mark. Paul Konerko leads in the power category with 11 RBI and 4 homers. Speedster Scott Podsednik swiped four bases during the playoffs but was gunned down three times.
The Astros had four regulars hit over .300 during the National League playoffs. Willy Taveras led the team at .357, followed by fellow rookie Chris Burke at .348, leadoff hitter Craig Biggio at .326 and Lance Berkman with a .314 average. Jeff Bagwell compiled a .333 average, getting one hit in three pinch-hitting appearances.
Power-wise, Morgan Ensberg led the way with 9 RBI, with Berkman close behind with 8, with two round trippers. As a team, the Astros batted .272 and scored a total of 47 runs in their 10 playoff games.
The Astros pitchers were not quite as stingy as the White Sox. Team ERA was an acceptable 3.43, but of the starters, only Roy Oswalt posted an ERA under 4.00, checking in at 2.11. Oswalt's numbers in the playoffs are world class, allowing only 14 hits and five runs in 21.1 innings of work. The relievers, especially Dan Qualls and Dan Wheeler were solid, but closer Brad Lidge was tagged a number of times, allowing 4 runs in his 9 innings of work, the most notable being the three-run monster shot Albert Pujols hit off him in game 5 of the NLCS. Without that, Lidge was exceptional, notching 3 saves.
The White Sox have home field advantage thanks to the American League win in the All=Star game. The first two games will be played in Chicago, the next three in Houston, and, if necessary, the final two back in the Windy City. The DH rule will be in effect in Chicago and in Houston, the pitchers will bat for themselves.
Page 1 - Overview
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