| Kyle Trompeter. 8th October, 2005 - 3:52 am
 Prior to 2004, both of the Sox’, the Red ones from Boston and the White ones from Chicago, were going through the same very long streak: not winning the World Series. Decades upon decades had passed and neither team had been able to capture the title.
It kind of reminded you of the song “Agony”, from the play, Into the Woods. Boston and Chicago fans alike, different bands with the same song:
Agony, beyond power of speech,
When the one thing you want,
Is the only thing out of your reach!
Of course the one thing out of reach is the World Series trophy. Now, it is only out of the hands of the White Sox as they took on the reigning world champion Red Sox in the American League Division Series. And in case you didn’t know because you are living under a rock or stuck in between a set of doors in a hotel like Daniel Stern in Rookie of the Year, then you know the White Sox quickly buried the Red Sox in a three game sweep.
Who knew?
Ozzie Guillen did, for one. The manager of the team that in late September was the conductor of a team that was on the brink of completing possibly the greatest collapse in the history of sports now looks like he did a couple of months ago – manager of the year.
And oh how the tables they have turned.
Did anyone expect a sweep from the White Sox? Could any expect this? Guillen has to be ecstatic with the performance of his team as only positives can be taken out of this series for the most part.
- Bobby Jenks, the young closer, converted on his two save opportunities. The young fireballer was at Double – A Birmingham in July is now the most important part of the White Sox bullpen, and he looks like a veteran out on the bump.
- Orlando Hernandez, now a middle reliever, pitched brilliantly in the third and final game of the series. His experience alone makes him a valuable asset, but if he can continue to dominate on the mound then all the better.
- Paul Konerko, the White Sox slugging first baseman, came through in every big situation this series. A homer in game one, a hit in game two, and the game winning home run in game three. The one thing that has been lacking in the two previous White Sox playoff appearances has been clutch hitting from their top hitters like Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez. Konerko changed that this time.
- Guillen, the second year manager, pushed all the right buttons in his first playoff series as a manager. Electing to put Hernandez in the bullpen for the postseason instead of the rookie Brandon McCarthy has already paid its dividends.
Now it’s on to the ALCS where the White Sox will await either the New York Yankees or the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, or as former White Sox pitcher and current radio announcer Ed Farmer says, the Los Angeles of Anaheim of Orange County of California of the United States of North America.
At least for now, White Sox fans will not be singing Agony. Just remember, this is Chicago. Chicago and baseball go together about as well as a bathtub full of water and a plugged in toaster. Electricity to follow, hopefully in a good way for the White Sox. |
