How did the Chicago White Sox get here?
One of their best hitters, and a franchise mainstay, Frank Thomas, played in only 34 games this year, none after late July.
Chicago's closer, 32 year-old Dustin Hermanson, hadn't had an ERA in sniffing range of three since 1998.
They play in the same division as the Minnesota Twins, whom many penciled in as AL Central Champions before the season even began, and the Cleveland Indians, whom many predicted would snatch that title from the Sox as they sputtered to the finish line near season's end.
On top of that, the White Sox had to face the powerful Boston Red Sox in the ALDS and had to recover from a surprising loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Game One of the ALCS.
But the Sox survived without Thomas. Hermanson (34 saves, 2.04 ERA) was just fine. The Twins never brought it like they were supposed to and the Indians brought it a little too late. And the White Sox, much like their opponents in the other dugout, the Houston Astros, have thrived in the postseason thanks to stellar defense, strong pitching from both the starters and the bullpen, and some timely hits. (Also, they received a little help from the umpires.)
To be sure, the White Sox roll into the World Series with a starting rotation coming off one of the finest four-game runs in postseason history. In that span, hurlers Mark Buehrle, John Garland, Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras managed to string together four complete games, all for wins. In fact, in the final three games of the series, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen did not make a single substitution from his starting lineup, with all of his offensive starters and starting pitchers playing all 27 innings.
When they go to Houston, the White Sox's lineup will get weaker with the loss of DH Carl Everett's bat and his refusal to believe in dinosaurs. Although it's not exactly reminiscent of Toronto having to sit season batting champion John Olerud in the 1993 Series, Everett does provide protection for big gun Konerko.
Of course, the beauty of the White Sox lineup is that they don't need to rely on one big gun, thanks to a lineup that has been solid from one to nine. Chicago actually smashed more home runs this season than the Red Sox, thanks to nine players contributing at least 12.
Throw in clutch postseason hitting from the bottom of the order, and that should be enough for the Sox. After allowing an amazing average of less than three runs per game in eight postseason contests with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Boston Red Sox, the Astros' offense will be far and away the easiest lineup the Chicago pitching staff encounters this October. The bullpen, headlined by Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and rookie flame-thrower Bobby Jenks, hasn't allowed a run yet in the postseason.
It might take seven games, but in the end, the terms "1917" and the "Black Sox" should find their place alongside "1918", "the Babe", and all those other ghosts of the past that disappear in the shadow of a World Series trophy.
-Ben Hoffman and Andrew Spera
