CHICAGO WHITE SOX: 2005 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS

The above sentence is the greatest thing I've ever typed. Since 1998, when the Chicago Bulls won their 6th NBA Championship, I said that I'd trade them all for 1 World Series, and now I've got it! Well, the White Sox have it. It needs to go on record that as I write this, I am not an aspiring sports journalist.

I am a proud fan of the Chicago White Sox organization, as I have been since I was old enough to understand baseball. I fell in love with the 1993 team that came close to the World Series but never got there. I was a fan through all the heartache and sorrow that typically comes with being a White Sox fan. I defended them until I could no longer talk to many Cubs fans who, for reasons I'll never understand, insist that the pathetic franchise up North is better. And, I'm not embarrassed to admit, I cried at some point from Wednesday thru Saturday, letting out 21 years of emotion as my team etched their names into baseball history.

Before I get into the real emotional part of this article, the historical aspect of the 2005 White Sox needs to be accurately displayed. ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons said immediately following game 4 that the 2005 Sox need to be talked about as one of the top 3 teams in the HISTORY of baseball. I didn't occur to me why this was until recently, but consider these stats:

* The 2005 White Sox set a record for leading at some point in 37 straight games to start a season. That means not a single team was capable of beating the Sox for an entire 9 innings until game number 38. Nearly a quarter of the season had elapsed.

* The 2005 White Sox went 99-63 and 52-29 on the road. Both dominating records. They might not have come close to the Mariners record-setting 116 wins, but 99 isn't too shabby. They were also 35-19 in one-run games, which paid big dividends later.

* The 2005 White Sox only had one month below the .500 mark (August). And really, when you look back at the schedule, this team only had one bad week ALL SEASON. It was a really bad one, when they lost seven straight. But it was never their poor play that was the reason that a 15-game lead shrunk faster than the children in the disney classic, "Honey, I shrunk the kids." It was the Indians amazing sprint to the finish that made things close.

* The 2005 White Sox, including the playoffs, went 16-1 in their last 17 games and 19-3 in their last 22 games. All 3 losses came by a combined 3 runs. When you stop to think about that, they were merely 3 runs shy of winning 22 straight games to end the season.

* The 2005 White Sox dominated their opposition in the playoffs, which is the place where the truly great teams make a name for themselves. They swept the defending World Series champion, Boston Red Sox. They beat the Angels 4-1 behind four straight complete games. They then swept the Houston Astros to win it all. Their 11-1 record in the playoffs is eqaled only by the 1998 Yankees.

* Finally, the 2005 White Sox are one of only 3 teams in MLB history to be in first place wire-to-wire during the regular season and then sweep a World Series. The other two being the 1970 Cincinnati Reds "Big Red Machine" and the immortal 1927 Yankees. Now, that's some nice company.

Baseball is America's Pastime. A game passed down from generation to generation. A game, where the best moments come with a good game of catch with your father as seen in "Field of Dreams." There's nothing sweeter than the feeling in your hands when the bat makes solid contact with the ball. There's nothing like standing on the mound, by yourself, and pumping strikes down the heart of the plate. There's nothing like sliding for a groundball, jumping to your feet and gunning the runner down at first. That's why there's nothing sweeter than becoming the World Series champions and that's why many in Chicago started to wonder if the city would ever get to see the accompishment take place.

When GM Ken Williams made it known that the makeup of the team would change, everyone had questions. But all Williams kept talking about was 1917 (the last year the Sox won a World Series). He never lost focus on what that number meant. He knew that turning games into homerun derby had to stop and real baseball had to take place.

For the last 10 years, whether it be due to steroids or not, baseball fans across America fell in love with watching the ball fly over the fence 325-400 feet away from home plate. They forgot that baseball wasn't meant to be a homerun hitters game.

Real baseball, true baseball was meant to be played with great pitching, great defense, great baserunning and timely hitting. That's why the 2005 White Sox are World Series champions. They played the game the right way. The pitchers would keep the team in the game and manufactured runs would keep it close until the offense could come through with the big hit.

But playing that type of baseball can't be done unless the team is as selfless as these Sox were. They had no superstars, no Alex Rodriguez or Barry Bonds, but that is okay. Their guys played as one, sacrificing themselves for the better good of the team. Why was Tadahito Iguchi team-MVP? Because he would stand at the plate and take strikes that he was capable of hitting hard, but waited for Scott Podsednik to steal second base and maybe even third. Then he'd drop down a bunt or hit a roller to the right side to advance the runner.

Doubted all season by local and national media, the Sox seemed to play with a chip on their shoulder. They were picked to finish third in their own division, their hot start was considered a fluke, they were called chokers in September, they were never given a chance to do any damage in the playoffs. Yet, when the dust settled and out No. 27 was recorded in game No. 174... it was the White Sox as the last team standing, mobbing one another in the middle of the field.

The Sox epitomized Chicago, especially the South Side. They were a group of hard working guys that other teams didn't want, didn't NEED. They came together to prove that they were capable of standing at the top of the world. The single element that defines this team is HEART. Like the Journey song, "Don't stop believin'" it was hard to not believe that something special as in the air during the summer of 2005. The Sox just never knew how to quit. No matter what the situation and how many runs they trailed by, no one would ever leave U.S. Cellular field early or turn off a road game before the final out. It was always a sense of belief that they could squeak out a win.

This team gave 110 percent every game because that's what manager Ozzie Guillen demanded of them. And they always followed one simple rule: It doesn't matter what happened yesterday, win or lose, go out there today and play to WIN that game.

I will never forget the summer and playoff run of 2005. I have never been happier as a sports fan or felt so fulfilled by a team. The season is over and I am still upset. Upset because I know I may never see this particular group doing such fantastic things again. But the memories I will forever have of this team can last me a lifetime.

No longer will the preseason question of "Dude, what if we win the World Series?" be answered with a laugh and a sarcastic comment such as "Yeah right, maybe sometime in during our lives but not this year."

As Sox fans rushed to the U.S. Cellular field parking lot hugging one another regardless of race or religion, and danced their emotion away, they waved White Sox banners high into the sky. The Chicago baseball Civil War had been won and all suffering Sox fans, ridiculed by Cubs fans for decades proclaimed Chicago to be their own. It's now a White Sox city, as they have found the Holy Grail.

No author, movie producer or sports journalist could have made the story of the 2005 White Sox any better than it was. It was a story for the youth of the country who want to learn how to play TEAM baseball. It was a story for our country and how the melting pot of Asians, Americans from all different backgrounds, Latinos and African-Americans can unite for a common goal.

Ozzie is now the King of Chicago and the White Sox are the toast of the town. So much more can be said, so much more will be said. White Sox fans young and old have seen the unbelievable, have seen their dream come true. The baseball part of their lives is now complete and all of those who couldn't live to see it can now rest peacefully.

For the first time in 88 long years, 2006 will have a simple goal in mind: to defend the WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

2005 WORLD SERIES

I was wrong for the first time all playoffs when the Cardinals lost to the Astros 4-2, but I did pick the Sox right on to beat the Angels 4-1. Here is a link to a story by Chicago Tribune baseball writer Phil Rogers, it is the official world series preview:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-051020soxastrosedge,1,1380109.story?coll=cs-whitesox-headlines

Now, for my take....

Overall, this series has the potential to be one of the best ever. It features some of the best pitching in all of baseball and great defense. Each game should come down to the wire, which greatly favors a White Sox team that went 35-19 in one-run games this season.

PITCHING: Astros' ace Roy Oswalt has been nearly unhittable in the playoffs and Andy Pettite (14 career postseason wins) is as clutch as they come. Roger Clemens might be the best pitcher in the history of baseball, he's already got the championships, he's second all-time in strikeouts, over 300 wins and the most Cy Young awards ever including one in each league. Brandon Backe is the other starter, and will battle Freddy Garcia in a critical game 4 matchup. That looks to be the one game where the pitching clearly favors the Sox.

But, it's hard not to give the edge to the White Sox here as their 4 horses ( Jose Contreras, Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia) each just threw complete games in a row to help the Sox knock off the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. With extra rest that doesn't normally happen this time of the year, each starter should be ready to go when they take the mound.

The bullpen for the Astros has been very good lately, despite the homerun that closer Brad Lidge allowed to Albert Pujols. Lidge has a great fastball and nasty slider but might be starting to get fatigued as he has logged more innings than any other time in his career. Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler have been getting the job done when called upon to bridge the gap from the starters to Lidge.

The White Sox bullpen is a mystery. Bobby Jenks, Cliff Politte, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and Neal Cotts combined to throw 2/3 of an inning for a total of 7 pitches in the ALCS, and it was all done by Cotts. Meaning, they've had nearly 2 weeks off and might show signs of rust. Or they could be throwing the ball harder than they have all season. If Jenks can reach 100 mph normally, he might get to 103 now.

DEFENSE: The White Sox have been flashing some leather since the playoffs began. The infielders (Joe Crede, Juan Uribe, Tadahito Iguchi and Paul Konerko) have been making the diving stops look routine. Not much gets down in the outfield with Scott Podsednik, Aaron Rowand and Jermaine Dye out there.

Meanwhile, the Astros defense is slightly above average. Brad Ausmus calls a good game behind the plate and Adam Everett is good at shortstop, but the rest of the guys in the field are nothing to write home about. Even former gold glove second basemen Craig Biggio has lost some of his range.

HITTING: The Astros offense has been downright awful for the majority of the season. Their biggest threat is Lance Berkman, who pales in comparison to David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez or Vladimir Guerrero, whom the Sox have already seen and conquered. If White Sox pitching can make powerful lineups like the Angels and Red Sox look like they don't belong in the batters box, they will make Houston hitters look downright foolish. The short porch in left field at Minute Maid might not make a difference when groundball pitchers Garland and Garcia take the mound for games 3 and 4.

This is where the White Sox have a major advantage. Their lineup is balancd 1-9 and Konerko, Podsednik, Crede and Uribe are all seeing the ball really well right now. Having the latter two hitting in the 8 and 9 spots in the lineup speaks volumes for what the Sox offense is capable of.

The X-factor is playing in the NL park, where the White Sox will lose designated hitter Carl Everett. Luckily, Everett's contributions have been few and far between in the playoffs. But, he does strengthen the bench in that case. The short porch in left field means Sox hitters could have an easy time hitting homers. Sox manager Ozzie Guillen played his bench guys plenty all season in order to prepare them for this exact possibility and it should pay great dividends when they hit the road.

Ozzie Guillen said earlier in the season that the greatest moment of his career was when he coached for the Florida Marlins when they won the 2003 World Series. In particular, it was before the start of game 1, when the jets to the flyover after the National Anthem. Well, for the first time inn 46 years, that will happen on the south side of Chicago.

The Astros haven't been to a World Series in their 44-year existence, but Sox fans are looking for the World Series trophy that has eluded them since 1917. The Sox had four 8-game winning streaks this season but could never get over that mark. After losing game 1 of the ALCS, I proclaimed that it would be fitting if they went on another 8-gamer to close out the season by winning the World Series, thus never having the chance to go for 9 straight. Well, they're half way there and Houston-- you've got a problem!

OFFICIAL PREDICTION: Each game will be close but I like the Sox in a clean sweep 4-0...

"THE DROP THIRD STRIKE"

I felt the need to update now, as game 2 of this series was marked by a controversial call. With the Angels leading the series 1-0, here is a link to catch up on the situation and what occurred:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-051012soxgamer,1,5316774.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

Now, here is my point of view:

Think back to playing little league baseball and what coaches said about a drop third strike situation.

Ok, now let's assume that the ball hit the dirt or that it was trapped because that was the call on the field and there is no evidence to rule otherwise.

The umpire used the closed fist as a symbol for a swinging strike 3 all night, but not necessarily an out.

Josh Paul and AJ Pierzynski both admit they never heard him say "OUT" and the ump (Eddings) admits to not having said it. As a little leaguer, catchers are instructed to listen for the out call in that situation and if it isn't said react.

Pierzynski, who had been catching for the Sox all game didn't hear it then and didn't hear it earlier in the game when he tagged one of the "dancing" Molina brothers out in a similar situation. So, he did what any smart/fundamental baseball player would do and take a chance on running to first. Batters do this frequently and 99% of the time it doesn't work, but this 1% time, it did.

Eddings knew he never said out and clearly made up his mind on the situation as he followed the ball and the Angels to see what they were doing and quickly called Pierzynski safe on the play.

In the meantime, the entire controversy could have been avoided if Paul tags Pierzynski or simply throws down to first base. But don't just blame Paul, what about the other 8 Angels fielders who could have had the baseball smarts of say, Pierzynski, to ventrue more towards being safe than sorry.

Credit is still due to Pablo Ozuna for stealing second base and to Joe Crede for coming through on a clutch double. After all, a pop-up to the second baseman would have sent the game to extras and made the call irrelevant.

A couple of closing notes:

1) Lost in the controversy of the call is the fact that Mark Buehrle pitches a magnificent game when the Sox needed it most. With their bats down, they rode Buehrle the entire game and would have into extras. He was lights out and made a statement as a big game pitcher.

2) Mike Scioscia is a great manager and a class act. In his post-game interview, he gives the White Sox full credit for winning the game and playing good baseball. He also credits Buehrle. Some managers would have blamed the play entirely.

3) Finally, AJ Pierzynski has a lot of heart and guts. His baseball IQ us overlooked, he is a real smart ballplayer out there. As I've had the plesure of watching him all 162 games this year, I have no doubt that he knew what he was doing that entire time and took 2 steps back towards the dugout before turning around. Then, the second Paul's arm came forward to throw the ball back to the mound he took off knowing it couldn't hurt to try and he'd catch the Angels off guard. As the Guiness beer guys would say, "BRILLIANT!"

"THE DROP THIRD STRIKE"

I felt the need to update now, as game 2 of this series was marked by a controversial call. With the Angels leading the series 1-0, here is a link to catch up on the situation and what occurred:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-051012soxgamer,1,5316774.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

Now, here is my point of view:

Think back to playing little league baseball and what coaches said about a drop third strike situation.

Ok, now let's assume that the ball hit the dirt or that it was trapped because that was the call on the field and there is no evidence to rule otherwise.

The umpire used the closed fist as a symbol for a swinging strike 3 all night, but not necessarily an out.

Josh Paul and AJ Pierzynski both admit they never heard him say "OUT" and the ump (Eddings) admits to not having said it. As a little leaguer, catchers are instructed to listen for the out call in that situation and if it isn't said react.

Pierzynski, who had been catching for the Sox all game didn't hear it then and didn't hear it earlier in the game when he tagged one of the "dancing" Molina brothers out in a similar situation. So, he did what any smart/fundamental baseball player would do and take a chance on running to first. Batters do this frequently and 99% of the time it doesn't work, but this 1% time, it did.

Eddings knew he never said out and clearly made up his mind on the situation as he followed the ball and the Angels to see what they were doing and quickly called Pierzynski safe on the play.

In the meantime, the entire controversy could have been avoided if Paul tags Pierzynski or simply throws down to first base. But don't just blame Paul, what about the other 8 Angels fielders who could have had the baseball smarts of say, Pierzynski, to ventrue more towards being safe than sorry.

Credit is still due to Pablo Ozuna for stealing second base and to Joe Crede for coming through on a clutch double. After all, a pop-up to the second baseman would have sent the game to extras and made the call irrelevant.

A couple of closing notes:

1) Lost in the controversy of the call is the fact that Mark Buehrle pitches a magnificent game when the Sox needed it most. With their bats down, they rode Buehrle the entire game and would have into extras. He was lights out and made a statement as a big game pitcher.

2) Mike Scioscia is a great manager and a class act. In his post-game interview, he gives the White Sox full credit for winning the game and playing good baseball. He also credits Buehrle. Some managers would have blamed the play entirely.

3) Finally, AJ Pierzynski has a lot of heart and guts. His baseball IQ us overlooked, he is a real smart ballplayer out there. As I've had the plesure of watching him all 162 games this year, I have no doubt that he knew what he was doing that entire time and took 2 steps back towards the dugout before turning around. Then, the second Paul's arm came forward to throw the ball back to the mound he took off knowing it couldn't hurt to try and he'd catch the Angels off guard. As the Guiness beer guys would say, "BRILLIANT!"

League Championship Series

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2005/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=2186974

I didn't want to post a link to any kind of "expert" analysis. After all, in my first update I successfully predicted all 4 teams to make it to the next round. Granted, I was off on the number of games each series would go. While I don't think the professional media people at ESPN or any other publication know more than I, the above link still gives you, the reader, a chance to check out what somebody else has to say.

Without further wait, here are my predicitons for the 2005 League Championship Series:

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Chicago White Sox

After sweeping the defending world champion Boston Red Sox, the White Sox had a great 3-day rest period to heal their bumps and bruises and set up their starting pitching rotation. All signs from the layoff are that the Sox are extremely well-rested, confident and relaxed.

The Angels might be the complete opposite. They made a crosscountry flight after game 4 on Sunday night and then made a long flight into Chicago following their game 5 win. They are tired, jet-lagged and emotionally drained.

The pitching clearly favors the Sox in this match. They set up their rotation exactly how they chose as the Angels will run into a well-rested Jose Contreras and Mark Buehrle in games 1 and 2, respectively. In game 3, Jon Garland on 12 days of rest will pitch and be followed by Freddy Garcia before the rotation turns over. The Sox' bullpen didn't allow a single run in the Boston series. Cliff Politte and Neal Cotts were terrific, as usual, and new closer Bobby Jenks looked untouchable. The biggest key might be Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez. His postseason experience gave him the confidence to come in with the bases loaded and nobody out in game 3 and get the White Sox out of the jam, without a run crossing the plate.

In the meantime, the Angels rotation is tired and hurt. Their ace, 21-game-winner Bartolo Colon, was supposed to pitch game 5 on Monday night but had to leave after a short time in the second inning with pain in his shoulder. His status remains uncertain, but he most likely won't be able to pitch until at least game 4. Jarrod Washburn is sick and John Lackey just pitched on three days rest Sunday night. With Colon going down, rookie Ervin Santana had to pick up the slack and pitch five strong innings. Needless to say, their rotation is in shambles right now. However, the Angels bullpen might be better than the Sox. Scott Shields, Brendan Donnelly, Kelvim Escobar and Francisco Rodriguez each have electrifying stuff. However, they were overworked in the last series.

The offenses are mirror images of one another. Each post a big power bat in the middle of the order (Paul Konerko and Vladimir Guerrero) and a speedster at the top (Scott Podsednik and Chone Figgins). While the Angels have the name power of Orlando Cabrera, Garret Anderson, Steve Finley and Darin Erstad they weren't too much better than the White Sox offense in terms of total runs scored. The White Sox hold the edge in home runs and have been clicking on all cylinders over the past week.

The biggest problem for the White Sox might be the managerial moves. While Ozzie Guillen has been terrific all year and managed a near-perfect division series, he admits that Angels manager Mike Scioscia gives him fits. Scioscia is a very good in-game manager and isn't afraid to do all the little things to win a game.

The Angels and White Sox are carbon copies of one another. They can each beat you a lot of different ways, and when healthy, can beat you with good pitching as well. The problem is that the Angels aren't healthy. If ever a game 1 meant so much it does in this series. If the White Sox allow the Angels to steal tonight's contest while they are so tired, the momentum can turn real fast. I just don't see it happening and I don't see the Angels knocking off the Sox. I smell the first trip to the World Series on the south side since 1959.

OFFICIAL PREDICTION: White Sox 4-1

Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals

In a rematch of last year's NLCS, the Astros have revenge on their minds. But this is a much different Astros team then last year's without Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran who played huge roles in last year's postseason run. However, the Astros do have a healthy Andy Pettite and he has been lights out since the All-Star break. Anytime a team can throw Pettite, Roy Oswalt and Roger Clemens at you, you've got to like their chances.

But the Cardinals have been the best team in baseball this year and have the pitching and the defense to combat Houston's outstanding pitching. This series should be extremely competitive and come right down to the wire. But an "I-55" White Sox/Cardinals World Series has seemed inevitable since mid-summer.

OFFICIAL PREDICTION: Cardinals 4-3

2005 MLB Playoff Preview

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051002&content_id=1235591&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2005/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=2179555

Above are the links to 2 different stories regarding the first round playoff matchup between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox. The first is a story from the White Sox web site that breaks down the series position-by-position. The second one is from ESPN.com and is one of their columnists opinion on what might take place in the series.

Now, for the real "expert" opinion on this exciting first round series:

Over the past 7 years, one constant element has remained true: good pitching beats good hitting. If that remains true again, then the White Sox should come away victorious. This series is trule a battle between the best offense in the league and the best pitching in the league.

Boston's David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez might be the best hitting duo of all-time. Their numbers are simply mind-boggling and both are MVP candidates. Johnny Damon does a terrific job of setting the table at the top of the order and Edgar Renteria's bat has been coming around as of late. Jason Varitek, Trot Nixon and Tony Graffanino are all solid hitters as well.

White Sox first basemen Paul Konerko may not be Ortiz or Ramirez, but his 40 HR's and 100 RBI's aren't too shabby, either. The Sox have proven all season that they can play fundamental, station-to-station baseball or pound the ball when it calls for it. After the speedy Scott Podsednik at the top of the order, the other 8 guys each reached double-figures in homeruns. There is some cause for concern due to the fact that the Sox have had trouble bringing in baserunners in the past month and have no true No. 3 hitter. As their play-by-play man Ken "Hawk" Harrelson would say, "They're leaving too many ducks on the pond."

In the meantime, the White Sox should hold all the cards because their pitching is much better than the Red Sox. Game 1 starter Jose Contreras won AL pitcher of the month in September after going 6-0 with a 1.99 ERA. He completely carried the pitching staff down the stretch. Mark Buehrle (game 2 starter) and Jon Garland (game 4 starter) each won the award in earlier in the season. Freddy Garcia (game 3 starter) has the most playoff experience of the group and would be a No. 2 starter on most teams. The White Sox bullpen was also stingy this year as Neal Cotts, Dustin Hermanson, Cliff Politte and Bobby Jenks have done a fantastic job of limiting runs and getting out of jams.

This is where the Red Sox are at a disadvantage. Their starting pitching is nowhere near as deep as they will send Matt Clement to the hill in game 1. He's struggle the entire second half. Following Clement will be David Wells, who isn't getting any younger and the still injured Curt Schilling. The Red Sox bullpen is also a joke right now as closer Keith Foulke went down with an injury. That forced manager Terry Francona to move setup man Mike Timlin back into the closer roll and put rookie John Papelbon as the setup man.

The White Sox will have to overcome the fact that they haven't won a playoff series since 1917, while trying to knock the reigning champions off their throne. Manager Ozzie Guillen seems to thrive in pressure situations by maintaining a loose clubhouse attitude. He'll have his team ready to go.

PREDICTION: White Sox win series 3-2

NEW YORK YANKEES vs. ANAHEIM ANGELS

The Angels may be the most complete team in baseball with good pitching and good hitting. They are a veteran group who won the World Series in 2002 and have Vladimir Guerrero and Bartolo Colon to fall back on. The Yankees coasted the majority of the year and despite the fact that they can put up 15 runs on any given day, lack the pitching and defense to win this series.

PREDICTION: Angels win series 3-1

NL

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS vs. SAN DIEGO PADRES

The Padres only stand a chance in this series if Jake Peavy can dominate the tough Cardinals lineup. The Padres are a mediocre team, at best, and wouldn't be in the playoffs if they played in any other division in baseball. It just so happens that they were lucky enough to play in the worst division in MLB history. The Cardinals are poised to make another run to the World Series with a terrific offense and better starting pitching than last year. It's Peavy or bust for the Padres.

PREDICTION: Cardinals win series 3-1

HOUSTON ASTROS vs. ATLANTA BRAVES

This is the toughest series to call by far. The Braves just continue to get the job done by winning their 14th straight division championships. Andruw Jones should win NL MVP, but their lineup doesn't have much punch beyond him. Tim Hudson and John Smoltz have the talent and the playoff experience every team would love to have but they will have to meet Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite, who aren't that far off. The wild card here is that the Astros also have Roy Oswalt, although that might not matter if their anemic offense can't find a way to score some runs.

PREDICTION: Astros win series 3-2