This going to be harder than beating the Cards IMO..
They have the pitchers and time and time again I have seen great pitching beats great hitting. Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt match up favorably with any Big Three of the CWS and Brandon Backe is no slouch in the fourth spot. Jason Lane, Chris Burke and Houston's kids experienced their growing pains early in the season, when the Astros were limping along at 15-30. Now they're playing with the confidence of veterans.
There are a few keys to this series:
1. The Astros must be able to take 1 of the 1st two in Chicago. As we saw in their series w/ LAA they did not do well after a rest, while the Angels running on pure emotion beat them to take the 1st game.
2. Play Small Ball: The team that best executes this will win the series. The Astros have played this way all year and should do well here. The concern is for the White Sox when they play w/out the DH in MInute Maid park. This is where Garner is better than Guiilen, having to do the double switch. Garner is more experienced in this and the CWS bullpen could be called in earlier than expected forcing Guillan to pull a pitcher faster than usual.
3. What about the Bullpens??:
The Houston bullpen is solid w/ Wheeler, Qualls and Lidge. Chicago's relief corps comes in with a full two weeks worth of rest. That's just too much for this late in October. Brad Lidge converted 42 of 46 save chances during the regular season and was close to unhittable for extended stretches. Chicago closer Bobby Jenks has dominant stuff, but he never appeared in the ALCS and he's about to enter the kind of pressure cooker he has yet to experience. The Astros bounced back from Lidge's gopher ball to Pujols. How will the White Sox respond if Jenks blows one?
4. Will Houston be satisfied w/ just a WS appearance?? Thats the big question here and could de the down fall for my astros.
5. Where are the runs?? I have a feeling that the over will hit the 1st 2 -3 games and then the under should be a winner the rest of the series. The Astros are 5-7 vs the CWS but have not played each other since 2002. The White Sox, led by Paul Konerko, banged out 200 homers, while the Astros hit 161 during the regular season. Scott Podsednik (59 stolen bases) and Willy Taveras (34) are top-of-the-order troublemakers. The White Sox consider third baseman Joe Crede a Gold Glover, but Taveras will challenge him with the bunt.
6. Everbody and their mother is on the CWS and I know what that means...Take the Astros because it never fails...when everyone is on a team...fade them...you win more $$ that way..
JMO and Go Astros!!!!!!!!
My Pick: Astros in 6 or 7----Going to play both
They have the pitchers and time and time again I have seen great pitching beats great hitting. Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt match up favorably with any Big Three of the CWS and Brandon Backe is no slouch in the fourth spot. Jason Lane, Chris Burke and Houston's kids experienced their growing pains early in the season, when the Astros were limping along at 15-30. Now they're playing with the confidence of veterans.
There are a few keys to this series:
1. The Astros must be able to take 1 of the 1st two in Chicago. As we saw in their series w/ LAA they did not do well after a rest, while the Angels running on pure emotion beat them to take the 1st game.
2. Play Small Ball: The team that best executes this will win the series. The Astros have played this way all year and should do well here. The concern is for the White Sox when they play w/out the DH in MInute Maid park. This is where Garner is better than Guiilen, having to do the double switch. Garner is more experienced in this and the CWS bullpen could be called in earlier than expected forcing Guillan to pull a pitcher faster than usual.
3. What about the Bullpens??:
The Houston bullpen is solid w/ Wheeler, Qualls and Lidge. Chicago's relief corps comes in with a full two weeks worth of rest. That's just too much for this late in October. Brad Lidge converted 42 of 46 save chances during the regular season and was close to unhittable for extended stretches. Chicago closer Bobby Jenks has dominant stuff, but he never appeared in the ALCS and he's about to enter the kind of pressure cooker he has yet to experience. The Astros bounced back from Lidge's gopher ball to Pujols. How will the White Sox respond if Jenks blows one?
4. Will Houston be satisfied w/ just a WS appearance?? Thats the big question here and could de the down fall for my astros.
5. Where are the runs?? I have a feeling that the over will hit the 1st 2 -3 games and then the under should be a winner the rest of the series. The Astros are 5-7 vs the CWS but have not played each other since 2002. The White Sox, led by Paul Konerko, banged out 200 homers, while the Astros hit 161 during the regular season. Scott Podsednik (59 stolen bases) and Willy Taveras (34) are top-of-the-order troublemakers. The White Sox consider third baseman Joe Crede a Gold Glover, but Taveras will challenge him with the bunt.
6. Everbody and their mother is on the CWS and I know what that means...Take the Astros because it never fails...when everyone is on a team...fade them...you win more $$ that way..
JMO and Go Astros!!!!!!!!
My Pick: Astros in 6 or 7----Going to play both