Sully Baseball Salutes... Willie Harris

The Cincinnati Reds signed utility infielder Willie Harris today. It is hardly an earth shattering move. His job is to provide the Reds with some depth in their infield to allow them to develop Paul Janish and Zack Cozart.

Harris was a utility player for the Mets last year and has the kind of career that fascinates me.

He was a 24th round pick by the Orioles in 1999.
Very few of the players drafted after him that year played a single game in the majors. Most of those who did had brief cameos (the Sean Henns and Darren Clarkes of the world.) Jason Frasor and Mike Jacobs were drafted after Harris, but no other big leaguer of note.

Instead of being a career minor leaguer with perhaps one cameo in the show, Harris has now played in 11 different seasons in the majors, starting games in left field, center field, second base, third base, shortstop and right field.

He hit for a good average in the minors and stole a lot of bases and made his big league debut on September 2, 2001 where he was in the same lineup as Cal Ripken Jr.

A survivor in baseball, he went from the Orioles, to the White Sox to the Red Sox to the Braves to the Nationals to the Mets.

He played with Ramirez and Ortiz and the Big Hurt. He played under Frank Robinson and Bobby Cox.

(His time in Atlanta must have been sweet for Harris, a Georgia native, as evidently his family roots for the Braves no matter team he plays on!)

Future Hall of Famers Ivan Rodriguez and John Smoltz were his teammates. And when Stephen Strasburg made his electrifying debut on June 8, 2010, he was lifted for a pinch hitter. Guess who the hitter was? Willie Harris.

But of the many highlights, game saving catches and stolen bases in his career, he was front and center in a historic franchise's greatest moment.

For whatever reason, the White Sox are always short changed in the National attention department and the "beloved" status.

But in 2005, a year after the Red Sox lifted their curse and 2 years after the Cubs blew a chance to erase theirs, the White Sox stormed through the playoffs.

In the Division Series against the defending champion Red Sox, Harris smacked a pinch hit RBI single in the 14-2 blow out victory. He didn't appear in the ALCS but stole a base as a pinch runner in the White Sox extra innings victory in Game 3 of the World Series.

Then came Game 4. With the White Sox on the verge of winning their first World Series title since 1917 (and erasing memories of the 1919 World Series scandal), Chicago and Houston were in a scoreless stalemate in the 8th.

Freddy Garcia was masterful but manager Ozzie Guillen lifted him for pinch hitter Willie Harris. He led off the inning with a single to left off of Brad Lidge and moved to second base on a sacrifice by Scott Podsednik. With 2 outs in a game where both teams squandered scoring opportunities, eventual World Series MVP Jermaine Dye hit a 1-1 pitch up the middle scoring Harris. (Picture above).

It was the only run of the game.
The White Sox won 1-0.
They won the World Series.
Willie Harris forever can be called a World Champion.

And it should be noted that three times in that post season he was called off the bench. All three times he delivered. When a runner was in scoring position, he drove him in. When he was asked to pinch run, he stole a base. When asked to lead off, he started a World Series winning rally.

And do you wonder how a 24th round pick always manages to find work in the big leagues? Because he plays every position and delivers when asked.

Is he a star? Nope. Never will be. But he's played more than a decade of major league baseball, was a regular for several of those seasons, has a World Series ring and earned a few million dollars along the way.

Not bad.

I have a feeling the Reds will be happy with this signing.

10 Reasons why the Chicago White Sox winning the 2011 World Series would be good for baseball

With about a month and a half left to the season, the number of legit playoff contenders are winding down. And the staff here at Sully Baseball decided to look at each contender and see what would be positive about their potential World Championships.



Which players or managers would benefit the most from a title. Which fan bases would savor it. And how the perception of each franchise would change slightly. Remember, this isn't a numbers crunching site... this is all about emotion and things that strike my fancy.



The first potential World Series contender will be the Chicago White Sox. Why the White Sox? Because they are so unpredictable that they could either be in first place by next week or fall totally out of contention. So if I want to include them, I had better do it NOW!

10 Reasons why the

Chicago White Sox

winning the 2011 World Series

would be good for baseball

1. Another World Series title moves Ozzie Guillen closer to Cooperstown



Ozzie Guillen's Hall of Fame resume is a long shot at this point. 2 post season appearances, even with a World Series title, isn't going to cut it. (Ask Cito Gaston who won back to back World Series titles and two other Division Titles. Forget the Hall of Fame, he couldn't get hired.)



But another World Series title, and this one with almost a brand new cast of characters would add to his luster that the team plays Ozzie's brand of baseball. And when (not if) he takes over the Marlins and wins with them, he'll get even closer.



The idea of Ozzie giving a Hall of Fame speech is a wonderful concept, if for no other reason than for the need of a 7 second delay.

2. It would justify Kenny Williams' wild GM style



In an era of calculators, bizarre new stats and hoarding prospects, it would be nice to see Kenny Williams methods be rewarded again.



He's always willing to bring in a free agent, even an ill fitting one. He's willing to say "prospects be damned, we're winning NOW!" And he has taken some chances in Cuba and by bringing up prospects super fast and throwing them into the fire.



Is it sometimes irresponsible? Sure. Does it blow up in his face sometimes? Ask Adam Dunn.



Is it cool to see a GM always trying? You bet.

And to see that GM win a SECOND World Series spitting in the face of convention... that would be too cool.





3. A Championship could justify the Adam Dunn signing

Speaking of Kenny Williams' style, let's talk about Dunn. Right now Adam Dunn looks like one of the biggest busts in Free Agency history.



I mean he is so terrible right now that you have to wonder if he had a twin brother that he suited up in his place. And they've got 3 more years of this.



But imagine if he got a big hit in the post season. Or clubbed a big homer off the bench in the World Series. Then it would be kind of like J. D. Drew... an injury filled disappointment overall, but contributed big to a ring.



Besides, he seems like a likable accountable guy. I'd like to see him happy. (As if $56 million wouldn't buy happiness.)





4. Multiple Rings will help people remember how to spell Konerko and Buehrle



I wrote a blog post that was basically a love letter to Paul Konerko and Mark Buehrle.



Guess what? I spelled in Kornerko every single time.

And I had to double check Buehrle whenever I typed it. I double checked it when I typed the previous sentence. Is it B-E-H? B-U-E? B-E-U?

None of it is instinctual.



Maybe another title will seal that.





5. Everyone loves seeing A. J. Pierzynski happy!



Speaking of members of the 2005 White Sox with difficult names to spell...



Sure you might not like A. J. Pierzynski. Sure he seems like he might be a jerk. But look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn't want an obnoxious pest like him on YOUR team.







6. If the White Sox win, maybe Juan Pierre will do another unbelievably awful rap



There are few subjects I know less about than rap. But even as a total NON authority, I can tell you that the rap Juan Pierre did at the 2003 Florida Marlins World Series celebration was awful.



He called it rap. For me? The C at the beginning was silent.



Maybe he will improve in Chicago. Or maybe it will be just as bad.



Take a listen. Tell me how it is good.









7. A ring for Omar Vizquel



Vizquel is making one of the least likely runs at 3,000 hits and may have already have punched a ticket for the Hall of Fame.



The greatest defensive shortstop of his generation has played over 4 decades, won 11 Gold Gloves and played on 6 Division Champs and in the 1995 and 1997 World Series.



A ring would be nice.







8. The President needs a Pick Me Up!



There have been lots of ups and downs for the President this past year and no doubt 2012 will be one tense year for him.



Up for reelection, the markets are going nuts, lots of people still out of work and maybe he needs a little reminder of how good "Hope" feels.



Maybe his team winning the World Series can kick start his campaign!

Do it for AMERICA, White Sox!





9. Another World Series title could help the White Sox enter the "Big Bad Bully Club".



The White Sox are consistently among the top payrolls, they bid for free agents and they act like one of the "Haves" instead of the "Have nots."



AND they play in a big media market! But they never get mentioned as one of the big bad franchises.



Another title will tie them with the Yankees and Red Sox in the 21st Century. That sounds big and bad for me.





10. It would make the White Sox and Cubs fan dynamic more interesting



Would the White Sox finally the choice of the casual sports fan in Chicago? Would the winning of the South Side out weigh the cute and cuddliness of Wrigleyville?



Two things are for sure.



- White Sox fans hold ALL the bragging cards. Another World Series title would mean the White Sox would have won as World Series in the 21st Century as the Cubs did in the 20th Century.



- If what doesn't destroy you only makes you stronger, then Cubs fans must be damn near invincible!







So there you have it for the White Sox... Hall of Fame credentials, inter city rivalries, spell check and a Presidential race could all be improved.



They are all good reasons.

But there are other teams in contention too.



And I will get to them all!





If you liked this then go ahead and read the entries for the other teams.



NEW YORK YANKEES

Sully Baseball Salutes... Mark Buehrle and Paul Konerko

Tomorrow, the White Sox will continue to try and turn their season around and limp back into contention.



And the starting pitcher will be Mark Buehrle. Chances are Paul Konerko will be in the lineup, either at first base or as the designated hitter.



They have been a tandem for so long that it is truly worth a long salute here.

People talk about the great combination of teammates that Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera made for all of those seasons in New York.



And Buehrle and Konerko have not been together for as long as they have been nor have the success. But for a franchise best remembered over the decades for throwing a World Series instead of winning them, Buehrle and Konerko have seen a lot of winning. They contributed big time to the only World Series appearance in Chicago in more than half a century and the only Chicago title in 94 years.



Konerko was a product of the Dodgers organization and was later dealt to Cincinnati. He came over to the White Sox in a deal for Mike Cameron before the 1999 season. That was his third year in the big leagues and his third big league team. It is safe to say he found stability on the South Side of Chicago.



He cracked 24 homers his first year with the White Sox and posted an .862 OPS.



In 2000 he remained a solid hitter (.298 AVG, .844 OPS) was worth 21 homers, 97 RBI and a 111 OPS+. And the White Sox were back in the post season.



And in no small point for this post, he was joined that year by Buehrle. While Konerko was a first round pick and coveted prospect, Buehrle was picked 38th.



Not 38th overall. In the 38th round. He was the 1,139th pick overall. Right before him, the Pirates picked Shaun Skrehot. The infielder played 9 seasons and made it to AA Nashville and Indianapolis.



The pick after him has thrown 12 seasons in the majors.



The 2000 White Sox had the best record in the American League but were swept out of the playoffs by Alex Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners.



It has been a while since A-Rod has been a Mariner. But that whole time, these two players have represented the White Sox with clutch play and class.



While Konerko played behind the massive shadow of Frank Thomas, he put up solid if not spectacular numbers. In many ways, his career resembled his one time teammate and current coach Harold Baines. His stats may not have been elite but they were good enough to make 5 All Star teams and twice be a top ten finisher in the MVP vote. And play nearly every season injury free. He is on pace to play 150+ games again this year, which would be the 8th time he would pass that mark in 13 seasons.



And of course he came up big time for the 2005 White Sox, unquestionably the greatest Chicago baseball team since the First World War.



His home run off of Tim Wakefield helped sink the Red Sox hopes to repeat as World Series champions. His 2 homers, 7 RBI and .937 OPS crushed the Angels in the ALCS and earned him MVP honors as the White Sox won the pennant.



And finally his mammoth grand slam in Game 2 of the World Series turned the game around and helped set up the White Sox win.



The starter of that game? That would be Mark Buehrle.

Since 2000, Buehrly became one of the most reliable and durable starting pitchers in all of baseball. He recorded 200+ innings every year from 2001 to 2010 (and is on pace to do so again this year.) He had made 2 All Star teams by 2005 and finished 5th in the Cy Young vote that year.



In the 2005 playoffs, he won Game 2 of the Division Series against Boston and threw a complete game to win Game 2 of the ALCS.



He started Game 3 of the World Series and got a no decision. But when Game 3 went to the 14th and manager Ozzie Guillen had burned through his bullpen, he turned to Buehrle to protect a 7-5 lead. He earned the save, to date his only one in the majors. He joined Grover Cleveland Alexander as the only person to start and then save consecutive World Series games.



The next day the White Sox won the World Series for the first time since 1917.



After the title, Konerko was offered more money to go to the Angels or the Orioles but stayed in Chicago. He responded with three more All Star selections, a fifth place finish in the 2010 MVP vote and 2 homers in the 2008 Division Series against Tampa Bay.



He represented the White Sox in the 2010 and 2011 All Star Game.



Buehrle continued to be a steady and sometimes dominant starter. He was named to two more All Star teams and won the last two Golden Glove awards.



In 2007, he threw a no hitter against the Rangers. In 2009 he did that one better by throwing a perfect game against the Rays. He would retire a record 49 consecutive batters that year, breaking the record held by his teammate Bobby Jenks.



And there was something kind of bad ass about Buehrle, an avid animal lover, wishing ill to Michael Vick.



Not saying I condone wishing harm on others, but it is cool how he never gave a damn what anyone thought.



The two are still solid players and performers after 12 seasons as teammates. They won't be going to the Hall of Fame. Yet if anyone deserves to have a lifetime of standing ovations and love from White Sox fans, it would this duo of classy solid and champion players.



They don't get the press that players on the Yankees, Red Sox or even the Cubs would get. But when you put more than a decade into the same team, bring a championship, multiple playoff berths and class to a franchise that needed turning around, then you have earned our salute.



Now take it easy on the Red Sox.

Agony of the Astros

The past 10 seasons or so have put an end to a lot of World Series misery for suffering franchises. The Red Sox, White Sox, Angels and Giants all won historic titles for their teams. The Cardinals and Phillies gave a new generation a title of their own. And of course those poor suffering Yankee fans got their first title in 9 seasons.

But one team that continues to torment their fans will begin their 49th season with little hope for their first World Series title.

The Astros finally won a pennant in 2005, but their team is still ringless.

Usually the Astros aren’t mentioned as one of the long suffering teams. Perhaps because they don’t have the long history dating to black and white film the way the Red Sox and Cubs and Indians droughts did.

Maybe it is because Houston isn’t considered to be a baseball town. (I have never stepped foot in Houston, but I have interacted with a lot of passionate Astros fans on line… I bet it is a bigger baseball town than people give them credit for.)

Or maybe it is because the Astros have oddly tried to shake their cool identity as the team of the future with some faux old fashioned nostalgia. But I already wrote about that.

But either way, a close look at Houston Astros post season history shows a staggering number of close games, walk off losses and games ending with the winning run either at the plate or on base.

They participated in 3 of the greatest League Championship Series in history (2 of which were overshadowed by a Boston and New York classic but have stood the test of time as heart stopping.)

A bounce here or a catch there, the Astros could have several more pennants or a World Series title. Instead they have a litany of post season losses that makes even this hardened Red Sox fan say “Wow… these games are rough.”

Yes they have had a few victories that should always be remembered. (Jeff Kent’s walk off shot in the 2004 NLCS or the 18 inning marathon capped off by Chris Burke’s home run in 2005 come to mind.) But those are outweighed by the heart break.

Even the greatest moment in the team’s history (the 2005 NLCS) is best remembered for a 9th inning collapse.

So look away Astros fans… these are the post season games the Astros lost where either the other team won in their last at bat or Houston had the winning run at the plate.


GAME 4 - 1980 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAPIONSHIP SERIES
October 11, 1980.
PHILLIES 5, ASTROS 3 - 10 innings.
The Astros were one game from winning the National League pennant. They built a 2-0 lead and loaded the bases in the 6th inning, knocking out Phillies ace Steve Carlton. Luis Pujols hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0, but the umpire ruled that Gary Woods left third too early and was called out on the appeal.

Pete Rose led a go ahead rally with some clutch hitting and alert base running in the 8th. Terry Puhl tied the game for the Astros in the 9th and was on first base representing the 1980 pennant. Instead Enos Cabel hit a drive to right field and Phillies outfielder Bake McBride picked off Puhl going back to first.

In the 10th, the Phillies got a pair of 2 out RBI doubles to take the lead for good.


GAME 5 - 1980 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
October 12, 1980
PHILLIES 8, ASTROS 7 - 10 innings

The Astros tied the game in the 6th and took a 5-2 lead with a wild 7th inning rally and were only 6 outs from the World Series with Nolan Ryan on the mound.

The Phillies got a run and Joe Sambito came in with the bases loaded and nobody out. He got an out but let up a run. Ken Forsch got Mike Schmidt to strike out looking... 4 outs from the Series.

But Del Unser tied the game with a single and Manny Trillo gave the Phillies the lead on a triple. But in the bottom of the 8th, the Astros rallied off of Tug McGraw and had the go ahead run on third when Denny Walling grounded out.

In the bottom of the 9th, Dave Bergman, Alan Ashby and Craig Reynolds all came to the plate representing the pennant. They went down 1-2-3. Garry Maddox hit a 2 out double to give the Phillies the lead for good in the 10th and for good measure caught the pennant clinching out.

The Astros lost an NLCS where in two different innings they could have won with a single 9th inning run. The Phillies would go on to win the World Series


GAME 4 - 1981 NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
October 10, 1981
DODGERS 2, ASTROS 1

With the player's strike forcing a Divisional Playoff in 1981, the Astros won the first two games in extra innings and needed just one win in Chavez Ravine to get back to the NLCS.

The Dodgers won Game 3 and sent ace Fernando Valenzuela to the mound for Game 4. Vern Ruhle pitched well for the Astros but let up a home run to Pedro Guerrero and an RBI hit to Bill Russell.

Valenzuela didn't let a runner get into scoring position until the 8th, but in the 9th, the Astros got on the board and had the go ahead run at the plate in the form of Jose Cruz. He popped up to catcher Mike Scioscia. The Astros would lose Game 5 and complete the collapse blowing a 2-0 series lead.

The Dodgers would go on to win the World Series.

GAME 3 - 1986 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
October 11, 1986
METS 6, ASTROS 5

The Astros had a very simple strategy for winning the 1986 pennant against the favored Mets: Have Mike Scott win his three games and steal another game somewhere else.

When Houston took a 4-0 second inning lead in Game 3, it looked like they were well on their way to a win. Darryl Strawberry tied the game with a 6th inning homer but Ray Knight's error in the 7th opened up a go ahead rally for the Astros in the 7th.

In the bottom of the 9th, just 2 outs away from taking a 2-1 series lead and handing the ball to Scott for game 4, Lenny Dykstra hit a 2 run, come from behind walk off home run to give the Mets the win.


GAME 5 - 1986 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
October 14, 1986
METS 2, ASTROS 1 - 12 innings

Mike Scott did indeed give the Astros a series tying win in Game 4. Not to be outdone, Nolan Ryan threw a masterpiece in Game 5. 9 innings, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts and only 2 hits. It is a line to win 9 out of 10 times.

But one of the hits was a home run by Darryl Strawberry and the Astros could only get one run off of Dwight Gooden over 10 innings.

Houston left runners in scoring position in the 2nd, 5th, 8th and 10th. In the 12th, Wally Backman singled, moved to second on a botched pickoff play and came home on Gary Carter's walk off single.


GAME 6 - 1986 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
October 15, 1986
METS 7, ASTROS 6 - 16 innings

Without question, one of the greatest playoff games in baseball history. The Astros ran up a 3-0 lead in the first inning and with the specter of Mike Scott looming for a Game 7, looked like they were in control. Bob Knepper was nothing short of brilliant, much like Ryan was the day before.

But the Mets bullpen shut down the Astros after the first and the Mets rallied in the 9th with 3 runs. Dave Smith let up two 3-2 walks before Ray Knight tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

In the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th a single run would have won the game for the Astros. 16 batters came to the plate, each with the ability to win the game. 15 of them were retired.

The Mets scored in the 14th but Billy Hatcher tied the game with a home run with the Astros 2 outs from elimination. Then 5 more batters came to the plate with the ability to end the game between the 14th and 15th. All were retired.

The Houston bats didn't come to life until the Mets took a 3 run 16th inning lead. The Astros scored twice and had the tying run on second and the winning run on first. Jesse Orosco struck out Kevin Bass to end the marathon.

Mike Scott never did get that third start despite two games where the Astros had a 9th inning lead and another game where an ace threw a masterpiece.

The Mets went on to win the World Series.


GAME 1 - 1998 NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
September 29, 1998
PADRES 2, ASTROS 1

The 1998 Astros won 102 games and with newly acquired ace Randy Johnson were not just happy to win the Division. They had a pennant on their mind.

Johnson pitched well, going 8 innings with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk. But the Padres were also renting an ace. Kevin Brown went 8 strong with 2 hits and an amazing 16 strikeouts.

Down 2-0 in the 9th, the Astros faced relief ace Trevor Hoffman and rallied. Moises Alou tied the game with a hit and an error by Ken Caminiti. Carl Everett represented the winning run at the plate but flew out to center field to end the threat.

The Padres would win the series and go on to win the National League pennant.



GAME 3 - 1999 NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
October 8, 1999
BRAVES 5, ASTROS 3 - 12 innings.

The Astros had a chance to take a 2-1 series lead with a game 3 win. And with Tom Glavine looking wild in the first inning, Houston's chances looked good. But Glavine settled down and eventually the Braves took a 3-2 lead.

In the 7th, the Astros tied the game but left the bases loaded. In the 9th inning, where a single run could have won the game, the Astros went 1-2-3.

Then came the 10th... one of the most underrated innings in terms of team agony. The Astros loaded the bases with nobody out. John Rocker got one out with a force at home. Then Tony Eusebio hit a grounder up the middle that looked destined to go into centerfield for a walk off hit.

Veteran Walt Weiss dove for the ball but still had to make a play. He threw a strike home getting Ken Caminiti at the plate for out number two. Rocker got out of the inning.

In the 11th, the Astros left another runner stranded before the Braves put up a pair of 2 out runs in the 12th. Kevin Millwood, on 1 days rest after throwing a complete game in Game 2 got the save for Atlanta.

The Braves would close out the series the next day and eventually go on to win the National League Pennant.


GAME 2 - 2001 NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
October 10, 2001
BRAVES 1, ASTROS 0

The Astros had homefield advantage throughout the postseason for the first time since 1980 and looked to overturn the Braves in the Division Series.

After blowing a 3-2 8th inning lead to lose Game 1, they looked to even the series in Game 2. Dave Mlicki went up against Tom Glavine and held his own with 5 innings and no earned runs.

Unfortunately for the Astros there was an unearned run thanks to Julio Lugo's error on a Julio Franco grounder.

Nothing went right for the Astros as Brad Ausmus missed a home run by less than a foot in the 5th inning and in the 8th, Marcus Giles made a diving play to stop an Astros rally. In the 9th with a runner on base, Lance Berkman faced John Smoltz as the winning run. He hit a line drive that Julio Franco turned into a back breaking double play.

The Braves would go on to win the game and sweep the series.

GAME 2 - 2004 NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
October 7, 2004
BRAVES 4, ASTROS 2 - 11 innings


It was Braves vs. Astros for the fourth time in the Division Series in 2004. The Braves won the previous three match ups. The Astros took game 1 of the 2004 series and looked to bring a 2-0 advantage back to Texas.

Jeff Bagwell and Raul Chavez homered to put Houston up 2-0 with Roy Oswalt on the mound.

But Braves infielder Rafael Furcal had ulterior motives for a Braves comeback. He was arrested for DUI and was sentenced to a short stint in prison. The one catch was his time would start when the Braves were eliminated. So facing the clink, Furcal singled home the first Braves run in the 7th. The Braves tied it off of Brad Lidge (and after there was some controversy over whether or not the bullpen phones at Turner Field worked.)

The Astros blew a scoring chance in the 10th and in the bottom of the 11th, Furcal hit a walk off homer against Dan Miceli to give the Braves life and prolong his own freedom.


GAME 4 - 2004 NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
October 10, 2004
BRAVES 6, ASTROS 5

After a Game 3 win, the Astros seemed poised to win their first ever playoff series and finally beat their tormentors, the Braves. With a 5-2 lead in the 3rd and Roger Clemens on the mound, the clinching seemed inevitable.

But manager Phil Garner inexplicably lifted Clemens after only 5 innings. Reliever Chad Qualls coughed up a game tying homer to Adam LaRoche in the 6th inning and suddenly it turned into a battle of the bullpens.

In the 8th inning, Garner did not double switch when he brought in relief ace Brad Lidge into the game. As a result in the bottom of the 8th in a crucial situation with the go ahead run on third, Garner had to replace Lidge after only 2/3 of an inning with pinch hitter Orlando Palmeiro. He grounded out on a close play at first base that prevented the go ahead runner to score.

Reliever Russ Springer was scored upon giving the Braves the lead. In the bottom of the 9th, the Astros rallied and the tying run on third and the run that could clinch the series at first with only one out and Jeff Kent on the mound. But Smoltz got him to hit into a game ending double play and send the series back to Atlanta.

There the Astros won Game 5 handily for their first ever post season series win. The next year the Astros beat the Braves again, highlighted by the 18 inning marathon and Chris Burke's homer. Houston had finally gotten past Atlanta. But there would be other dragons to slay.


GAME 6 - 2004 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
October 20, 2004
CARDINALS 6, ASTROS 4, 12 innings

For the third time in their history, the Astros were in the NLCS. And, as was the 1980 and 1986 series, it was a classic series for the ages.

The home team won each of the first 5 games, including a 3-0 thriller in Game 5 when Jeff Kent ended a scoreless tie with a walk off 3 run jack.

The Astros were one win from the World Series when starter Pete Munro was knocked out of the game in the third inning. Phil Garner had to go to his bullpen much earlier than he wanted and that would come back to haunt the Astros.

The Cardinals took a 4-3 lead into the 9th inning and closer Jason Isringhausen was one out away from sending the series to a 7th game. But Astros slugger Jeff Bagwell got a 2 out RBI single to tie the game at 4.

A double steal by Carlos Beltran and Bagwell put two runners in scoring position for Lance Berkman and a chance to put the Astros ahead going into the bottom of the 9th was 90 feet away. But Lance Berkman struck out.

Now Garner had to bring in his closer Brad Lidge to keep the Cardinals at bay. He responded with a perfect 9th, 10th and 11th. But the Astros, looking to win the pennant with a run and a scoreless bottom of the inning, couldn't get on base. Finally an exhausted Lidge was liften and Dan Miceli came in to pitch the 10th. Pujols walked and with 1 out, Jim Edmonds launched a walk off shot to tie the series up.

The Cardinals would come from behind the next game and clinch the National League Pennant.


GAME 5 - 2005 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
October 17, 2005
CARDINALS 5, ASTROS 4

The Cardinals were heavily favored in the rematch LCS in 2005. The Astros were coming off another hard fought Division Series against Atlanta highlighted by the 18 inning marathon. St. Louis was barely challenged by the Padres.

But Houston surprised all the experts by taking a 3-1 lead including a pair of thrillers in Games 3 and 4.

Houston was ready for a clinching party in Game 5. Andy Pettitte and Chris Carpenter both pitched well as St. Louis took a slim 2-1 lead into the 7th. Lance Berkman hit a three run homer in the 7th inning to give the Astros a 4-2 lead.

In the 9th, Brad Lidge got the first two batters out and Minute Maid Park was going nuts as the pennant clincher was now inevitable. But a single by Eckstein and a walk to Edmonds brought Albert Pujols to the plate.

On an 0-1 count Pujols hit one of the biggest, no doubt about it homers ever seen. Minute Maid Park became a morgue. The Cardinals were now ahead and Lidge was shellshocked as the Cardinals went on to win.

Two days later, the Astros managed to clinch the pennant in St. Louis with Roy Oswalt earning playoff MVP honors. Dan Wheeler, not Brad Lidge, closed out the series.

In many ways, Pujols' home run was like Carlton Fisk's homer in the 1975 World Series. His team wound up losing but the dramatic blast became the single most iconic moment of the 2005 post season.


GAME 2 - 2005 WORLD SERIES
October 23, 2005
WHITE SOX 7, ASTROS 6

Finally in the World Series, the Astros lost the opener in Chicago. In Game 2, Lance Berkman doubled home a pair of runs in the 5th to give the Astros a 4-2 lead over the White Sox.

The score remained the same until the 7th when Dan Wheeler got two quick outs but then got into trouble. A full count to Jermaine Dye led to a hit by pitch that looked like it missed him to just about everyone who saw the play.

With the bases loaded, Chad Qualls came into the game in relief. His first pitch to Paul Konerko was deposited into the seats for a go ahead grand slam.

In the 9th inning with 2 outs, the Astros rallied highlighted by Jose Vizcaino's pinch hit 2 run single that tied the game with Division Series hero Chris Burke sliding under A. J. Pierzynski's tag.

Brad Lidge made his first appearance since the Albert Pujols homer in the 9th, getting Juan Uribe to fly out in the rain. Then he faced Scott Podsednik, who hit a grand total of 1 home run in 2005. (His lone homer was in the Division Series against the Red Sox. He had no regular season homers.)

It's one thing to let up a homer to a Hall of Fame slugger like Pujols. But Podsednik, whose regular season home run total I matched, is a different story. He launched one into center field and everyone on the planet Earth thought "Maybe it is a triple." Somehow he made it over the wall.

Lidge's woes continued and the White Sox were up 2-0.


GAME 3 - 2005 WORLD SERIES
October 25, 2005
WHITE SOX 7, ASTROS 5 - 14 innings

For a team with a single pennant in their history, the Astros sure have had their share of extra inning post season games. And Game 3 of the 2005 World Series was as heart breaking as any game in their history.

For the first time ever, Houston hosted a World Series game and it looked like it was going to be a momentum shifter when they gave NLCS MVP Roy Oswalt a 4-0 lead. But the White Sox erupted for 5 runs in the 5th, highlighted by A. J. Pierzynski's 2 out 2 run double.

But the Astros responded with 2 outs and nobody on in the 8th and Jason Lane doubled off of Dustin Hermanson to tie the game. The go ahead run was on third when Brad Ausmus struck out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the 9th against ancient Orlando Hernandez, the Astros had the winning run on third base with one out. Eventually they loaded the bases and Morgan Ensberg came up with a chance to win it. He struck out, sending it to extra innings.

Two Houston runners were left on base in the 10th and 11th. A lead off walk was squandered in the 13th. 23 batters came to the plate, all with the ability to end the game with one swing of the bat.

With 2 outs in the 14th, Ezequiel Astacio let up a solo homer to White Sox reserve infielder Geoff Blum. The homer rattled Astacio who lost all control, loading the bases and walking seldom used reserve catcher Chris Widger to force in an insurance run.

In the bottom of the 14th, a walk and an error brought the winning run to the plate for the Astros. But Mark Buehrle came out of the bullpen for a rare save and the White Sox were up 3-0.


GAME 4 - 2005 WORLD SERIES
October 26, 2005
WHITE SOX 1, ASTROS 0
A day after the 14 inning marathon, the Astros hoped to do what the Red Sox did just a year before and come back from an 0-3 hole. And it would be Brandon Backe being the unlikely leader of a come back (e).

He pitched 7 brilliant shutout innings, letting up 5 hits, striking out 7 and walking none. Freddy Garcia of the White Sox matched him inning for inning. The Astros had runners in scoring position in the 1st and 2nd and loaded the bases in the 6th.

They couldn't score.

Brad Lidge came into the scoreless game in the 8th and allowed reserve infielder Willie Harris to single. With two outs, Series MVP Jermaine Dye singled home Harris.

The Astros got two runners on against Cliff Politte in the 8th, but Neal Cotts got out of the jam. In the 9th inning, Bobby Jenks let up a lead off hit to Jason Lane. With one out and Lane on second Chris Burke hit a foul ball that Juan Uribe leaped into the stands to catch. Orlando Palmeiro came up representing the winning run but grounded out on a bang bang play at first.

The White Sox won the World Series, holding the Astros to 1 run in their final 19 innings.




Wow... that's a lot of heart break. Walk off homers from unlikely sources. Great pitching chances squandered. The winning run stranded on base. Runners being picked off. Odd bullpen decisions. 8 extra inning losses.

A bounce here in 1980, a carom there in 1986, an extra hop in 1999, a pop up in 2004 or a run driven in in 2005 and who knows? The Astros might have a few World Series banners flying.

A team like the Marlins have two World Series titles where they seemed to get every single break.

But the Astros?
They have the most underrated angst in all of baseball.

It might not be as LONG as Cubs or Indians suffering... but there is a lot of pain in those orange unis!

A Historic Fluke? My latest for The Hardball Times

In my latest article for The Hardball Times, I take a look at a historic oddity regarding Jim Leyland, Mike Scioscia and Ozzie Guillen.

Each of them managed a World Series winner without a clear Hall of Famer on their playoff roster. And the only other teams to have won the World Series without a future Hall of Famer (the '81 and '88 Dodgers and the '84 Tigers) had Hall of Fame managers.

So is this a fluke? Or are Leyland, Scioscia and Guillen putting together Cooperstown resumes?

You can read the article here.

The Yankees are obsessed with 2005!

A few days ago, I wrote about how the Yankees seemed to be obsessed with signing players who were good in 2005. I mistakenly wrote that they had picked up ’05 All Star Justin Duchscherer. It turns out he was courted by the Yankees but signed with the Orioles.

No worries. The Yankees got Freddy Garcia today. Guess when he had one of his best seasons, logging in 228 innings to an ERA of 3.87, going 3-0 in the post season including a complete game in the ALCS and winning the World Series clincher?

That would be 2005.

Since then? He’s been battling injuries, missing most of 2007, 2008 and 2009 before winning 12 games last year for the White Sox.

It is an improvement. Unlike Colon and Prior, Garcia hasn’t missed an entire season!

But the 2005 fascination continues with the Yankees.

Hey! Kevin Millwood is still out there. In 2005 he threw 192 innings for a 2.86 ERA as a member of the Cleveland Indians.

Granted last year he posted a 5.10 ERA and opponents his .292 off of him. It doesn’t matter. All that matters to the Yankees these days is “How did he do in 2005?”

Bobby jenks and his bond with Josh Beckett and Jonathan Papelbon

Today the Red Sox took a flier on former White Sox pitcher Bobby Jenks for some bullpen depth. How could it hurt?

But as Jenks changes the color of his Sox, he has a unique bond with current Boston pitchers Josh Beckett and Jonathan Papelbon:

All three were the pitchers on the mound when their team won the World Series.

Beckett tagged out Jorge Posada on a little dribbler to end the 2003 World Series for the Marlins.

Jenks got Orlando Palmeiro to ground out to end the 2005 World Series for the White Sox.

And Papelbon struck out Seth Smith to end the 2007 World Seris for the Red Sox.

Personally, I can't think of anything cooler in all of sports than being the pitcher to end the World Series. More than a game winning home run. I used to reenact clinching a World Series as a pitcher on our front lawn... jumping up and being mobbed on the mound.

And I've written a few posts like this one and this one about my fascination with the pitcher who got the final out.

I can't help but wonder if they will talk about it amongst each other in spring training.

They MUST talk about it. Heck, that's how I would preface every sentence. "As a man who clinched the World Series... I will order the chicken salad."

Maybe that's just me.

Saluting Bobby Jenks

Today the White Sox parted ways with Bobby Jenks.
It hardly comes as a shock.

He had injury issues last year and his production was dipping. He is arbitration eligible and would be paid more than seven million tomatoes.

But before he goes and before someone else will come in and pile up saves on the South Side, let's salute a truly odd tale of baseball redemption.

Jenks was a product of the Angels farm system, and while he was highly rated by Baseball America he was blowing his big chance. Jenks was overweight, drinking too much and hung over while bringing beer on the team bus.

By 2004, 4 years after he was drafted, the Angels gave up on him.

The White Sox gave him a chance the next year on their AA squad.

On July 6, 2005 he made his big league debut, wrapping up a 7-2 win against Tampa Bay.

He walked Fernando Cortez, the first batter he ever faced.

There were 24,773 fans there. And I am sure NONE of them thought that chubby minor league washout was going to give them the greatest highlight White Sox fans could ever imagine.

The White Sox were never supposed to be World Series winners.

But I know White Sox fans envisioned a World Series title for GENERATIONS.

88 years of waiting and virtually NO respect and romance for the drought (other than the Iowa cornfield.)

And it didn't have to be a fantasy anymore when Ozzie Guillen made the big guy the interim closer when Dustin Hermanson got hurt.

And that wonderful (for White Sox fans) night in Houston ended with him jumping up as high as he could. (Which wasn't that high.)

His career with the White Sox ended on September 4th of 2010 when he got the save against my Red Sox.

His last game in Chicago was on August 29th when he pitched the last inning and two thirds in a 2-1 loss to the Yankees.

The 39,433 in the stands didn't know that was his last game in US Cellular Field.

If they did, I am sure they would give him a standing ovation for the moment that gave White Sox fans their greatest moment (and have the ULTIMATE bragging rights against the Cubs.)

So White Sox fans... salute the big guy. And if he shows up on the South Side in 2011, give him a prolonged ovation.

And for good measure, watch the clip again.

Why am I rooting for the White Sox?

Anyone who reads this blog (and I know I do) you know that I am a Red Sox fan, but I also follow each race and inevitably I root for a team in each race.

The Giants are my second favorite team, so I always root for them.

And there are teams like the Cardinals, the Braves and the Angels that I don’t really like, so I’ll root for someone to beat them.

And of course I always root AGAINST the Yankees.

I have no reason to dislike any team in the A. L. Central, so logic dictates that I would be rooting for the team that has the most compelling narrative for their fans.

With the crushed city of Cleveland getting no relief from the Indians and the Royals clipping coupons, the race is down to the Twins, the Tigers and the White Sox.

You’d think I’d be rooting for the Twins. After all, I rooted for them big time in 1987 and 1991. The Twins winning would contiue to be a gigantic middle finger to the threat of contraction 9 years ago.

The Twins have won 5 Division Titles in the past 8 seasons and missed another Division Title in 2008 when they lost a one game playoff 1-0 to Chicago.

Plus with stars like Mauer and Morneau and the team playing outdoors, it makes the Twins the obvious choice for me to root for. (Not to mention that my current boss, Craig Kilborn, is from Minnesota and is a life long fan.)

Or maybe you'd think I'd be rooting for the Tigers...

The city could use a pick me up, the team was potentially cheatedout of a playoff spot last year. Plus they are a traditional team with great old unis... and play for a city that let's face it has seen better days.

Plus Jim Leyland is a borderline Hall of Famer as of now. Maybe another trip to October would clinch a ticket to Cooperstown.

And as I said before, I would have no problem seeing either of those teams going far in the post season.

Yet strangely when either one of those teams play the White Sox head to head... I find myself rooting for the White Sox.

And when I see the White Sox gain a game in the standings, I give a little fist pump.

Of the three contenders, I want to see the White Sox win the American League Central.

It isn't because I picked them at the beginning of the year.

I picked the Yankees to win the Division as well and you don't see me cheering them on!

And it clearly isn't because of a Post Season drought as they won it all just 5 years ago.

I guess I like how Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen do business. I like that come trade deadline, Kenny is not afraid to trade off young players.

Maybe it is because Kenny knows that there is no time like the present to have the White Sox contend and steal as many casual Chicago fans as possible.

Or maybe it is because he himself was a heralded prospect who never turned into a star player and he knows that sometimes a big league definite is more valuable than younger potential.

And I have not been shy in saying what an Ozzie Guillen fan I am.

I like that he is a little crazy, is the face of the team and guess what? If he wins a few more divisions and another pennant, he might be putting together a Cooperstown resume.

Wouldn't that be an amazing day in Upstate New York seeing Ozzie enshrined?
He's not there now (although he HAS matched Hall of Fame managers Earl Weaver, Leo Durocher and Whitey Herzog in World Series titles) but I want to see him pad his resume.

Maybe I am rooting for the White Sox because I have a soft spot in my heart for their fans.

As I wrote in my "Why Doesn't Anyone Love The White Sox?" post a few years ago, the South Siders get such little love that it is kind of startling.

If you meet someone from Chicago, it is almost assumed they are a Cubs fan. It's more pronounced than even the Yankees and Mets disparity in New York.

There is nothing cute and cuddly about the White Sox and if you have rooted for them over the years, you are clearly not a front runner nor doing the fashionable thing.

And I am guessing a lot of them are enjoying the possibility of making the post season AGAIN while the Cubs are imploding.

Or maybe I am rooting for the White Sox because I want SOME kind of Sox in the playoffs!

Whatever the reason is, I am hoping the playoffs go through Chicago in the American League. Baseball is emotional and logic sometimes is thrown out the window.

All I know is the White Sox were playing the A's last night... and I am hoping the A's win the West... yet when I saw it was a Sox win, I gave a little fist pump.

Let's go Sox (Red and White)