Chisox73
10-22-2005, 04:50 PM
2005 World Series Position-by-Position Breakdown
By Eric Gold, MLB Editor -- 2005 World Series position-by-position breakdown
Powerful pitching will be the story line of the 2005 World Series, but whichever team wins, the Houston Astros or Chicago White Sox, a long-standing championship drought will end.
The Astros, who started playing as the Colt .45's in 1962, moved into the Fall Classic for the first time in franchise history after beating the St. Louis Cardinals in six games in the NLCS. The White Sox, in the World Series for the first time since 1959, finished off the LA Angels of Anaheim in five games in the ALCS with Chicago pitchers throwing four straight complete games. The White Sox haven't won the World Series since 1917 when Shoeless Joe Jackson led the club over the New York Giants.
The White Sox have lost in their last two trips to the World Series, falling in six games to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959 and in 1919 to the Cincinnati Reds in the infamous Black Sox scandal, when Chicago deliberately threw games.
However, now the White Sox are back and the South side of Chicago is celebrating in a huge way. The team is loaded with the tandem of Jose Contreras, Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia. They combined to throw four consecutive complete games in the ALCS.
The Astros are also armed with a solid rotation and figure to go with an order of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt and Brandon Backe.
The Astros (3.51) and White Sox (3.61) had the second and third-best ERA's in the majors this season, and that could make for a low-scoring series and quick games.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the matchups at each position.
CATCHER
Both Houston's Brad Ausmus and Chicago's A.J. Pierzynski are known more for calling a good game behind the plate than their offense. Ausmus is hitting .275 during the postseason, but the two-time Gold Glove winner is more known for his outstanding defense. Pierzynski is batting .259 and has been involved in several controversial plays. The downfall for Pierzynski could be his arm. He threw out 22.5 percent of potential base stealers during the regular season, which was only 18th best in the majors. However, Pierzynski has a lot more power and is a bigger threat to drive in runs.
EDGE: Even
FIRST BASE
This could be one of the best positional matchups. Houston will likely platoon both Lance Berkman and Mike Lamb at first base, but Paul Konerko has been awesome at the plate for the White Sox. Konerko already has four homers and 11 RBI in the playoffs, while Berkman has eight RBI and is hitting .314. Defensively, Konerko is an underrated fielder. Lamb will probably start when the White Sox pitch Contreras, Garland and Garcia.
EDGE: White Sox
SECOND BASE
Finally in the World Series in his 18th season with the Astros, Craig Biggio still has decent speed as a lead-off hitter, but Houston manager Phil Garner may move to Eric Bruntlett in the latter innings for defense. Tadahito Iguchi, a rookie from Japan, was struggling (.207) offensively, and that doesn't bode well for the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.
EDGE: Astros
SHORTSTOP
Houston's Adam Everett has great range and has even contributed offensively (.270) during the postseason, but Juan Uribe has been steady (.308) at the plate as the No. 9 hitter in Chicago's lineup. Everett would be the better choice for his defense.
EDGE: Astros
THIRD BASE
Morgan Ensberg has come up with some big plays for the Astros in the playoffs, throwing out Albert Pujols at home plate in Game 4 of the NLCS and also driving in the winning run on Sunday. Ensberg and Joe Crede of the White Sox both have ample power, but Ensberg is in a bigger spot here hitting clean-up. Crede surprised many with his RBI in the postseason.
EDGE: Astros
LEFT FIELD
Berkman doesn't have the defensive skills or the speed to match up with Chicago's Scott Podsednik, who had 59 steals and has set the tone for the White Sox in these playoffs with a .286 average and four steals, but he's been caught three times. However, Berkman has superior offensive skills and his threat as a home run hitter brings a different dimension to the game than Podsednik.
EDGE: Astros
CENTER FIELD
Willy Taveras is one of the leading candidates for NL Rookie of the Year and incredibly has led the Astros in hitting .(357) this postseason and he had 34 steals during the regular season. Taveras has great range in center field and is a perfect No. 2 hitter behind Biggio, considering Taveras can bunt well and is a good contact hitter. Aaron Rowand also has decent speed for the White Sox and is a solid fielder, as he had just three errors all season.
EDGE: Astros
RIGHT FIELD
Jermaine Dye has a strong arm in right field, but has struggled so far this postseason with a .241 average, not good for the No. 3 hitter in Ozzie Guillen's lineup. However, Dye was a major long ball threat during the regular season. Jason Lane has to cut down on his strikeouts, although he did hit homers in big spots during the NLCS.
EDGE: White Sox
DESIGNATED HITTER
If the Astros are going to use Jeff Bagwell as their DH, it could be a mistake. Bagwell, who is ending his 15th season with the Astros, hasn't started a game since May due to shoulder surgery. Carl Everett is a switch- hitter who has power, as he had 23 homers and 87 RBI this season.
EDGE: White Sox
STARTING PITCHING
The fearsome foursome of Contreras, Buehrle, Garland and Garcia won't throw four straight complete games in this series, but to just get into the seventh or eighth inning with be huge. It marked the first time a team has thrown four consecutive complete games in the same postseason series since the group of Whitey Ford, Tom Sturdivant, Don Larsen and Bob Turley did it for the New York Yankees in the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Larsen's was a perfect game. Contreras has been awesome since the All-Star break. The World Series experience of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte will be a boost to the Astros, but for Roy Oswalt that doesn't matter. If he can ride the momentum into Game 3 of the series following wins by Clemens and Pettitte, the Astros could be tough to top. Brandon Backe can also provide a lift in Game 4.
EDGE: Even
RELIEF PITCHING
Chicago used its bullpen for just two-thirds of an inning in the ALCS after Contreras was lifted with one out in the ninth inning of a 3-2 loss in the opener of the set at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox have the ability to use southpaws Damaso Marte and Neal Cotts to match up with the lefty bats of Houston. Chicago's bullpen allowed just 25 percent of inherited runners to score, third in the AL, during the regular season. Relievers also threw 401 2/3 innings, the fewest in the AL. Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez will be ready for long relief. Houston has the fresher bullpen because they've had more work. Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler were also used quite a bit in the NLCS. Qualls participated in four contests and tossed 4 2/3 perfect innings, while Wheeler saw action in three games and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless frames. The Astros have perhaps the best closer in baseball in Brad Lidge, who recorded 42 saves to go along with a 4-4 record and a 2.29 ERA in 70 games during the regular season.
EDGE: Astros
BENCH
Chicago will use Timo Perez as a pinch-runner and situational left-handed bat, while Willie Harris and Geoff Blum can also see limited time. Orlando Palmeiro, Jose Vizcaino, Bruntlett and Raul Chavez are the primary pinch- hitters and defensive replacements for Houston.
EDGE: Astros
MANAGER
The first foreign-born manager of a World Series team, Guillen isn't afraid to hit-and-run or squeeze bunt. He's changed the homer-happy White Sox from two years ago into a small-ball winner. Garner is a similar manager in that he also looks for an edge with bunting, stealing bases and employing the hit- and-run.
EDGE: Even
Copyright 2005 Courtesy of SportsNetwork
http://www.nbc5.com/mlb030/5140812/detail.html
By Eric Gold, MLB Editor -- 2005 World Series position-by-position breakdown
Powerful pitching will be the story line of the 2005 World Series, but whichever team wins, the Houston Astros or Chicago White Sox, a long-standing championship drought will end.
The Astros, who started playing as the Colt .45's in 1962, moved into the Fall Classic for the first time in franchise history after beating the St. Louis Cardinals in six games in the NLCS. The White Sox, in the World Series for the first time since 1959, finished off the LA Angels of Anaheim in five games in the ALCS with Chicago pitchers throwing four straight complete games. The White Sox haven't won the World Series since 1917 when Shoeless Joe Jackson led the club over the New York Giants.
The White Sox have lost in their last two trips to the World Series, falling in six games to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959 and in 1919 to the Cincinnati Reds in the infamous Black Sox scandal, when Chicago deliberately threw games.
However, now the White Sox are back and the South side of Chicago is celebrating in a huge way. The team is loaded with the tandem of Jose Contreras, Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia. They combined to throw four consecutive complete games in the ALCS.
The Astros are also armed with a solid rotation and figure to go with an order of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt and Brandon Backe.
The Astros (3.51) and White Sox (3.61) had the second and third-best ERA's in the majors this season, and that could make for a low-scoring series and quick games.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the matchups at each position.
CATCHER
Both Houston's Brad Ausmus and Chicago's A.J. Pierzynski are known more for calling a good game behind the plate than their offense. Ausmus is hitting .275 during the postseason, but the two-time Gold Glove winner is more known for his outstanding defense. Pierzynski is batting .259 and has been involved in several controversial plays. The downfall for Pierzynski could be his arm. He threw out 22.5 percent of potential base stealers during the regular season, which was only 18th best in the majors. However, Pierzynski has a lot more power and is a bigger threat to drive in runs.
EDGE: Even
FIRST BASE
This could be one of the best positional matchups. Houston will likely platoon both Lance Berkman and Mike Lamb at first base, but Paul Konerko has been awesome at the plate for the White Sox. Konerko already has four homers and 11 RBI in the playoffs, while Berkman has eight RBI and is hitting .314. Defensively, Konerko is an underrated fielder. Lamb will probably start when the White Sox pitch Contreras, Garland and Garcia.
EDGE: White Sox
SECOND BASE
Finally in the World Series in his 18th season with the Astros, Craig Biggio still has decent speed as a lead-off hitter, but Houston manager Phil Garner may move to Eric Bruntlett in the latter innings for defense. Tadahito Iguchi, a rookie from Japan, was struggling (.207) offensively, and that doesn't bode well for the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.
EDGE: Astros
SHORTSTOP
Houston's Adam Everett has great range and has even contributed offensively (.270) during the postseason, but Juan Uribe has been steady (.308) at the plate as the No. 9 hitter in Chicago's lineup. Everett would be the better choice for his defense.
EDGE: Astros
THIRD BASE
Morgan Ensberg has come up with some big plays for the Astros in the playoffs, throwing out Albert Pujols at home plate in Game 4 of the NLCS and also driving in the winning run on Sunday. Ensberg and Joe Crede of the White Sox both have ample power, but Ensberg is in a bigger spot here hitting clean-up. Crede surprised many with his RBI in the postseason.
EDGE: Astros
LEFT FIELD
Berkman doesn't have the defensive skills or the speed to match up with Chicago's Scott Podsednik, who had 59 steals and has set the tone for the White Sox in these playoffs with a .286 average and four steals, but he's been caught three times. However, Berkman has superior offensive skills and his threat as a home run hitter brings a different dimension to the game than Podsednik.
EDGE: Astros
CENTER FIELD
Willy Taveras is one of the leading candidates for NL Rookie of the Year and incredibly has led the Astros in hitting .(357) this postseason and he had 34 steals during the regular season. Taveras has great range in center field and is a perfect No. 2 hitter behind Biggio, considering Taveras can bunt well and is a good contact hitter. Aaron Rowand also has decent speed for the White Sox and is a solid fielder, as he had just three errors all season.
EDGE: Astros
RIGHT FIELD
Jermaine Dye has a strong arm in right field, but has struggled so far this postseason with a .241 average, not good for the No. 3 hitter in Ozzie Guillen's lineup. However, Dye was a major long ball threat during the regular season. Jason Lane has to cut down on his strikeouts, although he did hit homers in big spots during the NLCS.
EDGE: White Sox
DESIGNATED HITTER
If the Astros are going to use Jeff Bagwell as their DH, it could be a mistake. Bagwell, who is ending his 15th season with the Astros, hasn't started a game since May due to shoulder surgery. Carl Everett is a switch- hitter who has power, as he had 23 homers and 87 RBI this season.
EDGE: White Sox
STARTING PITCHING
The fearsome foursome of Contreras, Buehrle, Garland and Garcia won't throw four straight complete games in this series, but to just get into the seventh or eighth inning with be huge. It marked the first time a team has thrown four consecutive complete games in the same postseason series since the group of Whitey Ford, Tom Sturdivant, Don Larsen and Bob Turley did it for the New York Yankees in the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Larsen's was a perfect game. Contreras has been awesome since the All-Star break. The World Series experience of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte will be a boost to the Astros, but for Roy Oswalt that doesn't matter. If he can ride the momentum into Game 3 of the series following wins by Clemens and Pettitte, the Astros could be tough to top. Brandon Backe can also provide a lift in Game 4.
EDGE: Even
RELIEF PITCHING
Chicago used its bullpen for just two-thirds of an inning in the ALCS after Contreras was lifted with one out in the ninth inning of a 3-2 loss in the opener of the set at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox have the ability to use southpaws Damaso Marte and Neal Cotts to match up with the lefty bats of Houston. Chicago's bullpen allowed just 25 percent of inherited runners to score, third in the AL, during the regular season. Relievers also threw 401 2/3 innings, the fewest in the AL. Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez will be ready for long relief. Houston has the fresher bullpen because they've had more work. Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler were also used quite a bit in the NLCS. Qualls participated in four contests and tossed 4 2/3 perfect innings, while Wheeler saw action in three games and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless frames. The Astros have perhaps the best closer in baseball in Brad Lidge, who recorded 42 saves to go along with a 4-4 record and a 2.29 ERA in 70 games during the regular season.
EDGE: Astros
BENCH
Chicago will use Timo Perez as a pinch-runner and situational left-handed bat, while Willie Harris and Geoff Blum can also see limited time. Orlando Palmeiro, Jose Vizcaino, Bruntlett and Raul Chavez are the primary pinch- hitters and defensive replacements for Houston.
EDGE: Astros
MANAGER
The first foreign-born manager of a World Series team, Guillen isn't afraid to hit-and-run or squeeze bunt. He's changed the homer-happy White Sox from two years ago into a small-ball winner. Garner is a similar manager in that he also looks for an edge with bunting, stealing bases and employing the hit- and-run.
EDGE: Even
Copyright 2005 Courtesy of SportsNetwork
http://www.nbc5.com/mlb030/5140812/detail.html