Chapter 41.2: Who’s Next?

Ok, now that Harriet Miers has withdrawn from consideration for the Supreme Court of the United States, is there reason to presume that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is next to be nominated? It would be a significant nomination, as he'd be the first Hispanic on the court if confirmed by the Senate. But I seem to recall conservatives saying they were concerned about some of his decisions when he sat on the Texas Supreme Court. To me, what the Miers nomination has accomplished is to expose the dichotomy within the Republican party for all: conservatives are different than your random Republican.

Chapter 41.2: Who's Next?

Ok, now that Harriet Miers has withdrawn from consideration for the Supreme Court of the United States, is there reason to presume that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is next to be nominated? It would be a significant nomination, as he'd be the first Hispanic on the court if confirmed by the Senate. But I seem to recall conservatives saying they were concerned about some of his decisions when he sat on the Texas Supreme Court. To me, what the Miers nomination has accomplished is exposed the dichotomy within the Republican party for all: conservatives are different than your random Republican.

Chapter 41: It Is So, Joe! Cubs in 2006?

After 88 years, the city of Chicago can finally claim itself a city of baseball champions. The White Sox have won – convincingly. Though they had their share of breaks throughout the post-season, their eight straight wins in the ALCS and the World Series were impressive (A.J. Pierzynski’s third-strike scamper to first base aside, and that’s the umpires’ fault more than the player’s).

The Astros were an excellent club, and despite their age, I think they’re still worthy of consideration next year (provided that Clemens returns to form – a big if at his age and given his potential to retire).

I thought Joe Crede was going to be the MVP, but Jermaine Dye had a good series too, but I won’t argue against Jermaine Dye.

For next year, I can’t help but wonder if the baseball gods are helping the chronically underachieving. First the Red Sox (only 86 years), then the White Sox (88). Next year the Cubs (which would be 98 years)? Other than those teams that have never won, I believe the Cubs are the longest-suffering. And other than the Montreal Expos, who no longer exist per se, the Astros, Padres, Brewers, Washington Nationals (the former Expos) and Devil Rays still have many years of frustration to go before challenging the Cubs for futility.

Congratulations to the White Sox!

Chapter 40.8: A World Series for Baseball Fans

Wow, that was great baseball! I didn’t get a single one of my predictions correct in the championship series – correction, I predicted the NLCS would go six games, but I got the winner wrong, so it’s a moot point.

The Albert Pujols homer will fade into a pleasant memory for Cardinals fans, a step or two below what the Carlton Fisk homer in the ’75 Series means for Red Sox fans. The four complete games in the ALCS will be an interesting bit of trivia, but hardly important UNLESS it affects the Sox bullpen in the series. Are they well rested? Are they too rusty?

Bullpens will be interesting to watch in this series, because while both teams have decent pens, they also have excellent starters. I suspect we’re going to see a bunch of 2-0, 3-1 scores, maybe a 4-3 game. But I don’t expect either team to have an offensive explosion. It will come down to matchups and probably a bit of good fortune (or ill fortune, depending on who you root for).

I like the Sox starting four a hair more than the Astros’ staff, but you can’t overlook the experience level of Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens. These guys will not be shaken by the stepped-up level of play. With Clemens available twice to start and potentially an exciting relief appearance a la Randy Johnson in 2001, the Astros have a strong hand available to them. Pettitte is one of the all-time greats in pressure post-season games; he should have two starts. And in a game seven it’s all hands on deck.

The White Sox have El Duque. I’ve been impressed by his unflappable presence in the post-season over the years, but I don’t expect him to be a huge factor in the series. I could be wrong. Jose Contreras has pitched well of late, and I think he’s proven himself this season. Freddy Garcia could be the X-factor. A Garcia/Brendan Backe matchup favors the White Sox.

My prediction: White Sox in six.

Chapter 40.75: Championship Series

Astros vs. Cardinals: Well, some surprises, but it’s not as though the Padres won. As I (and probably every other baseball fan outside of San Diego) predicted, the Cardinals swept into the NLCS and will face the Astros. This should be quite a series, but after the 18 inning game, I wonder whether there’ll be any residual effect on the Houston pitching staff. The Cardinals were the better team throughout the season, so I believe they’ll come through again, but it should be an excellent series. My prediction: Cardinals in 6.

Angels vs. White Sox. The White Sox won their first post-season series since 1917. That’s nice. Enjoy it, Sox, because while I’m rooting for you, I don’t think you’ll be able to top the Angels. It’s not because they beat the Yankees, because I think the Bombers were ready to fall – didn’t have the horses this year, or rather too many of their horses are heading to the glue factory. (Yes, I predicted the Yankees would win, but I don’t think I minimized the abilities of the Angels) No, the Angels are a quality team. They have hitting and pitching. Their concern, now, however, is whether Bartolo Colon is able to return. I’ve not read anything yet, so I don’t know how serious the injury is. But that uncertainty is the reason I’m making this series as close as I think it’ll be. Angels in 6.

Just looking back at my predictions: I did better with the National League, where my outcomes were exactly accurate in terms of who and how many games it’d take. I think my prediction of the Astros/Braves series being exciting was fairly prescient too, though I certainly couldn’t have expected the thriller to close it out. I was not surprised the White Sox won – well, ok, I’m a little surprised – but I was amazed that they swept past the World Series champions. Who knows, perhaps we’ll wipe out another curse this year. And in 2006 it’s time to slay the billy goat.

Chapter 40.7: The Playoffs

I don’t have time to do a thorough analysis, so this is my best-guess, seat of the pants version. But I’ll make predictions, so when I fall flat on my face with them I’ll take the lumps.

ALDS:
Red Sox vs. White Sox: To me, this is the most interesting series. It’s got history without having much history. That is, the Red Sox have a long-standing history of frustration, which they finally shed through their championship last year. The White Sox are now in their 88th year since winning a World Series, so they’re an even more frustrated franchise. (We won’t even go into the Northsiders of Chicago.)

The White Sox have done well with their pitching, and their hitting is more potent than most fans seem to realize. But I didn’t like the way they faded and almost lost their place to the Indians. The Red Sox are not as good as they were last year. The pitching’s not as formidable, though they can hit with anyone. My prediction: Red Sox in five.

Yankees vs. Angels: Perhaps history can repeat itself as the team with the most annoying name in sports (the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – or whatever they call themselves) find themselves hosting the storied Yankees, whom they defeated in the ALDS in 2002 in route to their only World Series championship. The Yankees struggled to get into the playoffs this year and weren’t able to set their rotation the way they’d have liked. The Angels were the first AL team to clinch a playoff berth and have their rotation exactly where they want it.

But the Yankees always seem to come through. I hate them, but they can’t be trifled with. Their offense has incredible strike capabilities – both in the ability to strike out in the clutch and the ability to explode for multiple runs. The Angels, with Chone Figgins leading the way to Vlad the Impaler, have what I view as an 80s style offense – speed and enough power to make pitchers nervous. And it works. This should be a hard-fought series. Yankees in five.

NLDS:
Padres vs. Cardinals: The Phillies would have been a better bet against the Cardinals than the Padres. While as a Mets fan I appreciate the little guys getting into the playoffs with a record just a scratch above .500 (a la, the 1973 Mets, who should have won that World Series), but they just can’t compete with the Cardinals. I think Bruce Bochy has done a great job just to get this team to the playoffs, but that’s it for 2005. Cardinals in three.

Astros vs. Braves: Wow, this should be fun! The pitching-rich Astros don’t have the offense they had in 2004 and it’s not just because Carlos Beltran was walking around Shea Stadium this season. The Braves just keep finding ways to win the regular season.

But can they do it in the post-season? I think not. While I’m more impressed with Bobby Cox and pitching coach savant Leo Mazzone year after year, I think this year will end similarly for the belles of the NL East. Astros in four.