seconded ... go sox

Indeed.

These two pitchers actually matched up earlier this season, on June 1, and the results weren't that great for either pitcher.

Contreras did better, but the White Sox blew a 5-4 lead when Ozzie Guillen inexplicably brought in Kevin Walker to start the seventh, who promptly coughed up four runs and only recorded one out.

Contreras faced the Angels in his start before that (May 26), and pitched well, but lost 3-2 to John Lackey.

Contreras matches up extremely well against the Angels. Even before he started dominating down the stretch, he was able to pitch effectively against the impatient, free-swinging Anaheim team.

But, like I said, the White Sox lost both of Contreras' starts against the Angels. They always seem to find a way to beat the White Sox. I'm not taking this one for granted.

By sheer chance, I stayed in Boston for one night with my wife and son last week before heading to the cape for a wedding. The hotel was almost in the shadow of the Green Monster, and when we went back to pick up our bags, game 3 was in the fourth inning. I carried my son over to feel some of the buzz descending from the stadium, but sadly we didn't have time to sneak into the park and see our first playoff game. An inning later, Konerko knocked one out on Lansdowne somewhere near we had stood, and the Sox made it hold up. We caught the final innings on WEEI as we drove toward the cape. It may be the closest I ever get to seeing a White Sox playoff game, and it was a good one.

I'm going tonight, and I can't wait.

Umpires:

Jerry Crawford (CC)
Ron Kulpa (the ump that Everett headbutted)
Doug Eddings
Ted Barrett
Ed Rapuano
Randy Marsh

Umpires:

Jerry Crawford (CC)
Ron Kulpa (the ump that Everett headbutted)
Doug Eddings
Ted Barrett
Ed Rapuano
Randy Marsh

Damn. I was hoping that Angel Hernandez and CC Bucknor would be on this crew. They would then be assured of being very far away from the NLCS.

Especially Bucknor. He seems to have some kind of grudge against the Cardinals.

AO

Byrd typically gives the White Sox fits, but hopefully his abbreviated rest will make him not as sharp.

Bucknor's just a bad ump. He was always considered the worst ump in the International League during his time there. I don't know how he got the full promotion.

As you know Al on the Sox we all have our rolls and Ozzie Guillen says my roll is Super scout so I have watcht these Angels of Anywho on the TV set and here is my report Al.

The Angels have some pitchers well who doesn't but these are the ones I saw. For starters they have Colon who has a rag arm and Washboard who has a Sore Throat. Otherwise there is John Lackheat who is approved for everyday use and Paul Byrd I don't remember him Al. After these guys get knocked around a bit their bull pen is like a team of clydesdales you want to avoid them Al they mostly wear these wrap around glasses that make them look like spooky robots.

Now we come to Angels in the outfield that is a movie referents Al. They have Garret Anderson who can only hit in All Star games and World Serious and such. Next Flabby Guerrero I think I have found his weakness Al you must take a sack full of ball bearings to the back of his skull. And CF Steve Finley I saw him in my mom's AARP Magazine.

The thing I have never figured about the Angels Al is that they have two catchers named Molina I suspect they switch out a different Molina each inning who is to know the difference Al it would be like Mary Kay and Actually. Lets dress up in each others clothes says one Molina to the other it must be a barrel of monkeys being around them. Then the rest of the Angels is Ochone Figment Darin Ersatz John F. Kennedy and the OC who is their short stop he is named after that TV program where young people go into different rooms and all have sex with each other I am not sure why these adolescents today watch what they watch I suppose they must turn on any program they can find as the ball game does not start till half past ten in most arrears.

go chisox!!!

And CF Steve Finley I saw him in my mom's AARP Magazine.


To me, Jack Keefe reads like he's not too far from being an AARP member. No offense to him, of course.

Jack Keefe reads like he's not too far from being an AARP member.

Well, considering that the "real" Jack Keefe took time off from baseball to fight in the First World War, yeah.

Colon was pulled off the ALCS roster. His replacement, Esteban Yan.

Colon was pulled off the ALCS roster. His replacement, Esteban Yan.

The Angels are done, done, done.

So what the hell's the Angel rotation now? Lackey just started Sunday, Colon and possibly Washburn are out, and Santana just threw over 5 innings yesterday. Byrd's starting tonight on short rest, so Lackey probably starts tomorrow on ultra-short rest, then what? Man, they're fuct.

Mary Kay and Actually

That has to be the first Michelle Tanner reference in BTF history.

I think the rotation is Byrd, Washburn, Lackey, Santana

That has to be the first Michelle Tanner reference in BTF history.

How rude! I complain about that show all the time.

Any news on Bartolo's shoulder?

I wonder if he will be available to pitch at all in this series, or even make the ALCS roster.

They were talking about Christiansen possibly being added too, perhaps in place of DaVanon.

Game 2 will be Washburn, or a staff game.

I feel like the Sox need to win the first two, because otherwise the Angels get the upper hand with Lackey and Santana well rested for the next two and Byrd back on regular rest for Game 5.

I was torn between rooting against seeing Ronan Tynan and rooting against seeing the Rally Monkey and ThunderStix.

I think the rotation is Byrd, Washburn, Lackey, Santana

If Washburn is anything close to 100%, that's more than enough to beat the White Sox. They don't need Colon.

Actually, Game 1 is a must-win for the White Sox - if they lose to the bedraggled frequentt flyers, it will be an uphill battle for Ozzfest all series.

The Angels are done, done, done.

You've been saying this for months.

Since there is no NLCS chatter yet, I must vent here. What the fuque! Why can't I ever watch the Cardinals games.

I paid my $100 for MLB TV on internet. I live in northern Minnesota, 150 miles from Twin Cities and about 6 hours from Milwaukee. Yet both teams games are blacked out for me on internet, so I missed the 18 Cards-Brewers games.

Then in the playoffs, the schedulers do everything in their powers to make it so I can't watch the games. The first 2 games are weekday day games, so I am working. The 3rd game is on in the middle of the night, and on ESPN instead of FOX.

Now the NLSC starts, and I find out today that the first game is going to be shifted over to FX in favor of the ALCS. FX is not available to me, so I am screwed again.

If a huge Cardinals fan is trying his best to watch the games, paying whatever I am asked for the right to do so, and I still can't watch, isn't someone royally screwing up???!?

It almost is enough to wish the Yankees had advanced to the World Series -- maybe then (assuming they advance that far) the Cardinals would not be bumped so that FOX could show screen test patterns or something like that.

Anyway for this series, I think the Sox have a good chance. The Angels frankly looked awful in that last series, running into outs, swinging at the first pitch half the time, etc. Erstad looks like #### at the plate. Figgins looks like he is scared to death at all times. Seems like the White Sox should be able to take them.

National League is still a betting underdog in the World Series -- I recommend betting the house on National League, whether my beloved Cardinals win or those Astros. Maybe I will even get to see a game or two.

Then in the playoffs, the schedulers do everything in their powers to make it so I can't watch the games. The first 2 games are weekday day games, so I am working. The 3rd game is on in the middle of the night, and on ESPN instead of FOX.

Now the NLSC starts, and I find out today that the first game is going to be shifted over to FX in favor of the ALCS. FX is not available to me, so I am screwed again.

My recommendation -

Go DirecTV/Dish Network w/ the Extra Innings package. Best investment I ever made.

I'd like to thank the Palehose and Halos for keeping the ALCS free of the evil empire and the annoying empire. ALCS 2004 was amazing and unforgettable but I'm glad to see these 2 teams meeting up in '05. good luck to both.

All right, it's off to the game. Have a good Game Chatter and I'll check in later.

Bring us a winner, Red.

Anyway for this series, I think the Sox Angels have a good chance. The Angels Sox frankly looked awful in that last series, running into outs, swinging at the first pitch half the time, etc...Seems like the White Sox Angels should be able to take them.

I'm going to enjoy this non-sabermetric matchup of smallball and great pitching vs. smallball and great pitching.

You've been saying this for months.

You'll note that I never said that agaimst the Yankees, because they suck, too. The A's just plain let me down. Sooner or later, they'll run into a team that isn't just as mediocre as they are. I think the White Sox are that team.

Umpires:

...
Doug Eddings

Doug Eddings made the worst non-call I have ever seen, on a catcher's interference earlier this season. Darin Erstad's bat knocked John Buck's glove off his hand and a foot-and-a-half up the baseline, and Eddings declined to make the CI call. I guess he figures Buck routinely tries to catch a pitched ball by throwing his glove off his hand and toward third base.

At least Mike Everitt or Larry Young isn't involved ...

I'm going to enjoy this non-sabermetric matchup of smallball and great pitching vs. smallball and great pitching.

Me too.

It's not that these teams are way better than the Red Sox or Yankees - they are better, but not by that much - but they play just a far more aesthetically appealing style.

Particularly the Angels, who don't rely exclusively on the home run on offense.

Also, go White Sox!

Great...so Cowboy, Angel and Bucknor are all on the NL crew? Disaster.

Particularly the Angels, who don't rely exclusively on the home run on offense.

Judging from games 2 and 5, the Angels rely on terrible Yankee defense for offense.

This is the NLCS crew:

Big Tim McClelland (cc)
Greg Gibson
Wally Bell
Phil Cuzzi
Larry Poncino
Gerry Davis

Did the Angels have a champagne party last night in the clubhouse? I turned off the TV in disgust, but I was curious when I thought about it. Seems like it would be irrepsonsible.

ALCS 2004 was amazing What, ALCS 2003 was chopped liver?

Did the Angels have a champagne party last night in the clubhouse?

They did indeed.

I don't know how much they drank, but they were spraying it around.

Okay...so maybe West, Hernandez and Bucknor aren't even on a crew.

Go MLB!

Yeah, the Yankees and Angels both pretty much hit like #### in that series, except for Game 3.

Vlad's the DH tonight. Rivera will play RF.

Is there a reason why Vlad isn't playing RF tonight?

So about what time will the game start? 7:30ish?

Also, does the mIRC room usually get crowded or is this the place to be?

It will be nice seeing 2 teams that don't work long counts. There's a good chance that when 11:00 (ET) rolls around, we won't be just starting the 6th inning.

I like the IRC, personally, though it can and does go off-topic. But there's a nice immediacy to it.

But Chatter is good for me for the beginning of the game as I can't access IRC from work.

Vlad might be a bit nicked up, who knows ... Rivera's a superb defensive corner outfielder, so I'm okay with that, though I'd prefer him in left with Garret DHing ...

Just to even things up...

GO ANGELS!

What, ALCS 2003 was chopped liver?

Yes. Yes it was.

My prediction:

The winner of this series gets swept by the winner of the NLCS.

Quit saying "White Sox Nation" you fucking bimbo.

And quit talking about a fucking "curse." And "small ball."

Quit saying "White Sox Nation" you ####### bimbo.

And quit talking about a ####### "curse." And "small ball."

I'm not watching now, is she saying those things? That's frikkin hilarious. They really wanted the Red Sox in the CS, didn't they?

Lou F'n Piniella?

Hm. Sweet Lou is the third man in the booth. That could be interesting.

Uh...

Go National League!

Although I do feel obligated to point out how much I enjoyed the Indians-Angels and Indians-White Sox chatters this year, even if my team got waxed more often than not.

Lineups:

LA Angels
C. Figgins 3b
O. Cabrera ss
V. Guerrero dh
G. Anderson lf
B. Molina c
D. Erstad 1b
J. Rivera rf
S. Finley cf
A. Kennedy 2b

Chi White Sox
S. Podsednik lf
T. Iguchi 2b
J. Dye rf
P. Konerko 1b
C. Everett dh
A. Rowand cf
A.J. Pierzynski c
J. Crede 3b
J. Uribe ss

I'm almost too nervous to watch this game. I may just watch watch the Hawks game...

... except they're playing like crap, against arguably the worst team in the league.

I thought Patrick Lalime was supposed to be bad.

Boy, I can tell who Joe Morgan thinks is going to win this series, or at least who he wants to win, and they ain't wearin' anything black.

I thought Patrick Lalime was supposed to be bad.

As a Sens fan, I can assure you - he's not.

Scooter: Still unnecessary.

lou has the perfect broadcaster's voice

Well, currently he's playing like another Canadian goalie whose last name begins with an 'L' and also has six letters.

Juan Uribe's defense makes my shoes warm.

Why is Vlad DHing? Because he runs like that.

Uribe is lovely and perfection.

I'm beyond words about Juan Uribe.

currently he's playing like another Canadian goalie whose last name begins with an 'L' and also has six letters.

I give up.

Getting paid $4 million less than Orlando Cabrera as well.

Juan Uribe:

December 2, 2003: Traded by the Colorado Rockies to the Chicago White Sox for Aaron Miles.

Point, Kenny Williams.

Contreras looks really good through 1 inning.

One of the Angels fan here said Rivera's arm is better than Guerrero's. Not sure who, though. David of Peng, maybe.

Roberto Luongo.

At the time, I thought the Sox got the better part of the deal (mostly because Miles sucked). Didn't know Uribe would turn out like this.

I really don't care about either of these teams. So who should I root for?

Uneventful first inning...

Rivera's arm IS better.

Mariano's, that is.

WTG, Wyrd.

I'm encouraged by the fact that they used the opposite field. Though perhaps not all three hitters. He's only throwing mid-80s.

8 whole pitches for Byrd in the 1st. That's our White Sox.

AJM:

Last Angel World Series Win: 2002
Last White Sox WS Win: 1917

Like the sign says: "I'ts Our Time"

Last White Sox WS Win: 1917

I guess that's as good a point as any. Go Sox!

Ah, ####.

Shake it off, Jose.

#### me.

Uh oh. Maybe I should get off the Sox bandwagon...

GARRET!!!

Stop throwing the damn ball back Sox fans!

Lou Pinella sounds somewhat like Mel Allen.

Who's the third guy with Buck and McCarver?

Piniella.

I did get how Garret only had 17 homers in a full season.

or I don't get

Lou Piniella.

I was very worried about Anderson. He owned US Cellular Field during AS weekend a couple years ago.

Piniella.

Ah.

He should stick to managing.

OK, did anyone else notice that Joe Buck completed the sentence "Anderson rips one to right field" before the picture showed him completing the swing?

Hopefully that's the last we'll see of BiTC.

At least Contreras didn't let it get to him. He's gotten much better at shaking stuff like that off.

Apparently Mike North had a good line this morning on his show....

"The White Sox should call up Dusty Baker, ask him how he would play the Angels, then do the exact opposite."

OK, did anyone else notice that Joe Buck completed the sentence "Anderson rips one to right field" before the picture showed him completing the swing?

I'm sorry, I wasn't listening.

Actually, I'm not very sorry at all.

I'm not watching now, is she saying those things? That's frikkin hilarious. They really wanted the Red Sox in the CS, didn't they?

She's been calling Guillen "the leader of White Sox Nation" at every opportunity the past couple weeks. And they had a canned piece about the "curse" of Shoeless Joe -- having never heard of Chick Gandil, obviously -- and, inexplicably, Disco Demolition.

Still just a 7 pitch inning for Contreras.

One of the Angels fan here said Rivera's arm is better than Guerrero's. Not sure who, though. David of Peng, maybe.

It was likely me ... I think Vlad's arm is stronger, but Rivera's more accurate, and nearly as strong.

I'm sorry, I wasn't listening.

It was wierd. Buck started saying "Anderson" as he started his swing.

Miserlou: yes, I heard that too.