O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>I really feel that the Houston and Chicago pitchers are firing on all cylinders right now and we are going to see a close, tight pitchers' duel type of series that will go 6 or 7 games. I'm sure looking forward to it.

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>I think it will be a great series too....Adam- you as much as anyone knows that O/T is permitted for everyday board participants.....AND I am a native Houstonian......so go STRO's

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Josh A.</b><p>This indeed will be a great Series. <br /><br />White Sox should take it in 5 or 6!! (sorry Leon!)<br><br>Go Go White Sox<br />2005 American League Champs!

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Scott Forrest</b><p>Leon, I posted my "Go Stros" post on the other web-site, just because of the recent posts by you about "off-topic". Nothing wrong with your board philosophy, but I think you and your committee are tossing out parts of the baby with the bathwater.

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>that I don't care that it is off the topic of vintage cards, not that I don't care that it isn't proper to post it. <br /><br />As a fan with no skin in the game, all I can say is that I am looking forward to the pure spectacle of Clemens-Pettite-Oswalt going back to back. Think they'll go with a 3-man rotation with their other starters in the pen to cover short second starts by the big guys?<br /><br />Oh, and prediction: Houston in six. Sorry Josh.

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Scott Forrest</b><p>Garner has done this four straight series with success - why change? Also, they have strong middle relief so they are covered.<br /><br />Steinbrenner is probably feeling all warm and fuzzy since even though his Yankees didn't make it to the WS, at least two of his former starting pitchers did. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Chris Bland</b><p>Cards' injuries finally caught up with them (Larry Walker looked like he was about 60 years old this series) and Houston's pitching is phenomenal. How did Oswalt lose 12 games in the regular season???<br /><br />Also, Tony LaRussa is the most overrated manager in the game - his teams consistently tighten up in the playoffs (this is coming from a cards fan!) - I have never seen a more uptight, joyless bunch of guys in a playoff series than the Cards, and I think it starts at the top. Pujols hits one of the most dramatic homeruns in playoff history, and LaRussa looked like he just found out he was going to be audited.<br /><br />Astros in 6 - the pale hose dont have the offense to do any damage against that staff.

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Daniel McCarthy</b><p>If the White Sox pitching can shut down the Red Sox and Angels, they can certainly do it to the Astros.<br /><br />I think the White Sox have a stronger offense and will allow them to win enough of what should be close games.<br /><br />White Sox in 6. I am admittedly biased as I am a lifelong White Sox fan. I will be rooting them on in Game 1.<br /><br />Dan

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Josh A.</b><p>Daniel,<br />Great to see another Sox fan on here!<br />The Sox lead the AL with 200 HRs this year. That left field porch is looking mighty nice for some of our hitters. They have enough offense.<br />I would like another World Champions team photo to keep my 1917 photo company!<br /><br />Go Go White Sox<br />2005 American League Champs!

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>The recent threads I have deleted were about hockey,from a non-regular participant, a new card question from a non-regular participant, and one other I forget...again from a non-regular participant. Every day board members are permitted O/T stuff per the board rules.....Every decision we make, or I make, pisses someone off.....oh well...can't please everyone...

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Rich Klein</b><p>Going to games 3 and 4<br /><br />Will figure out tomorrow how to get there

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Julie Vognar</b><p>that's what they said in '59, and everyone knows what happened then. Who's superstitious? ME, that's who.<br /><br />La Russa has ALWAYS been expressionless. When he and Eck (at the top of his game) were with the As, at one point Eck was so phenominal that in an away ballpark, the patrons started MURMURING, in awe. La Russa just looked around the crowd, without changing his expression. I suppose that counts as an expression: "You were expecting maybe a walk?"

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Bill Stone</b><p>I agree this should be a great series. White Sox in 6 and look for Paul Konerko to be MVP.

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>J Levine</b><p>Saw Mike Tyson and Jose Canseco talking today...something about "getting Garcia." Then overheard Konerko saying, "if Garcia is in then I am in." Carl Everett was overheard saying "Jerry Reinsdorf just owes me the money."<br /><br />1919 all over again...<br /><br />Astros in 5 games <br /><br />Joshua

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Julie Vognar</b><p>because he spoke of Buck and Joe in "a little corner of heaven." But "1919 all over again"--is a little too UNsentimental, even for me...<img src="/images/sad.gif" height=14 width=14>

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>dennis</b><p>as a life long sox fan i am a little bias towards the sox,so i'll go with the sox in 6! after all these years,they really made it look easy. but, i have a feeling this will be a tight series.

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>I love the fact that either way, a monkey is off one of the franchise's backs. I also love that neither team is the Cubs <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> My vote is the 'Stros just due to their incredible pitching. However, Albert's HR the other night really screwed up the Astros' rotation for the series. It would have been great to have Oswalt starting game 1.....followed by Clemens and Pettite....

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>scott</b><p>As a native of the western suburbs of Chicago, a collector of vintage Chicago White Sox cards, and a very patient fan of the Sox, I finally get to make a long-awaited World Series prediction for the good guys: White Sox in 6--thanks, in part, to the wizardry of Oz(zie Guillen)!

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>Last year the Red Sox finally broke the McGraw/NY Giants<br />"hex" of 1904. So, it follows that the White Sox will final-<br />ly overcome the "hex" of the Black Sox scandal.<br /><br />And, the "Icing-on-the-Cake" to this exciting 7-game Series<br />would be Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, & "El Duque" Hernandez<br />pitching their best games. Then just imagine Steinbrenner's<br />state of mind, HA !<br /><br />I am a 50+ years Yankees fan that just detests George. He<br />reminds me of some of worst case bosses. Egotistic, hyper,<br />and "rush-to-judgement" types.<br />

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>didn't the Yankees throw him away too?

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>Adam W.<br /><br />I believe you are right; however, I don't think he<br />actually pitched while wearing pin-stripes.<br />I was mainly referring to established former Yankee<br />pitchers.<br /><br />But, if you want to add "cherries" to that icing-on-the<br />cake; then we'll add Contreras to the mix....HA, HA !

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Chris Mc</b><p> I am pulling for my Sox. On paper they are a more rounded team, but hey it is the world series and anything can happen. I really look foreward to the pitching matchups. Should be great. GO Sox GO!!!!!

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>cmoking</b><p>crappy 36 games he pitched for the Yankees. by the time he was done, no one in the league wanted him...even the White Sox wouldn't take him unless they were able to get rid of Loaiza and his contract. <br /><br />Kenny Williams (CHW GM) did a great job in picking him up...or got lucky...or a combination of the two. But no doubt, he's a stud pitcher now.<br /><br /><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=5373" target="_blank">Contreras stats</a>

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Scott Forrest</b><p>Hey Leon, <br />1) I didn't say I was pissed off<br />2) I didn't complain about you deleting the posts - I simply referenced your "comments" ABOUT off-topic posts.<br />3) No, you can't please everyone, but I'm not the only one who is extremely hesitant to post off-topic ideas.<br /><br />Don't do the "straw man" thing on me man - if you don't like my input (or that of others who might disagree with you) then fine, but don't put words in my mouth.

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Cat</b><p>I'm in SoCal. I have no care in the world as to who wins. I really believe the Angels made the White Sox pitching look good. The Angels wouldn't take pitches and get deep into counts (something the Angels would do in 2002). Houston was far more patient in their series with the Cards. With two strikes, the Angels were always at the mercy of swinging at that Contreras splitter down and out of the strike zone. Vlad was swinging at everything that wasn't thrown behind him. Figgons doesn't act like a lead off hitter. When Erstad is your guy that's "hot" you know you are in trouble. It was not about the White Sox's pitching as much as the Angles being pathetic (some slack to Molina and Anderson who were far less than 100%). On the other hand, in Houston, Oswalt is truly dominant. He's good for two wins...chalk em up. Thus, the White Sox have to win 4 of 5 (games that Oswalt doesn't pitch) while the Astros have to win 2 of 5. I think Guillen is going to regret not getting some innings for his relievers. Heck, it's going to be like Spring Training again for the bullpen. Hmmmm.... off to the sportsbook.

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Scott Forrest</b><p>Back in '86' we thought we could chalk up 2 wins for Mike Scott and 2 for Nolan Ryan. Scott got his, but Ryan couldn't even pick up 1. C'mon Ryan-bashers - here's the opening you've been looking for, and from an Astros fan!

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Glenn</b><p>I have Game 5 tickets, so as long as there's not a sweep I'll be pretty happy. But as long as everyone is making predictions, I'll pick Houston in 6.

O/T but I don't care: this is going to be a very good series
 

Posted By: <b>Scott Forrest</b><p>I am incredibly jealous! But have fun. I just got back from picking up my Astros jacket at UPS - Josh at Leland's made sure I had it in time for the series.