Congratulations, I Guess

by Al on Oct 17, 2005 8:06 AM CDT in Recaps Comment 27 comments

The White Sox beat the Angels last night 6-3, and so are in the World Series for the first time since 1959.

I'd be a lot happier about this if:

I knew for a fact that we'd be next;
I knew I wouldn't hear "Cubs suck" from Sox fans.

Seriously, White Sox fans: be happy. We Cub fans DO know how you feel -- we've been in a pennant drought ourselves, maybe you've heard about it. Revel in what your team has accomplished. Just leave the "Cubs suck" out of it -- at least till the next time our two teams play each other next May 19.

The White Sox absolutely annihilated the Angels -- I don't think I've seen any postseason series in which the losing team seemed so absolutely out of it, not even any four-game sweeps in recent memory. The four consecutive complete games thrown is the first time that's been done in any postseason series since 1956.

As usual, the MSM was confused. From the above-linked Yahoo article:

Not since the 1956 New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers behind five straight complete games from Whitey Ford, Tom Sturdivant, Don Larsen (his perfect game), Bob Turley and Johnny Kucks had a staff thrown as many as four in a row in a postseason series.

That implies that the Yankees won five straight games in the World Series, an impossibility. What you find if you actually look at the 1956 WS game results is that while the Yankees did indeed throw five straight CG's, one of them was a ten-inning CG loss in game six by Turley.

You're welcome.

Yes, I'm going to go. Why not? It's the WORLD SERIES, for heaven's sake, and it's only eight miles from my house.

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You'll go...

And it's likely I will too.

But who in the !#%!^#!%#%^! do we root for????

by SuperContext on Oct 17, 2005 8:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll have a lot easier time...

... rooting for the Astros, actually.

I know a lot of you have said you can't stand the Astros, but I don't have the longtime dislike of them that has apparently been engendered in some of you because of the recent rivalry.

The Cardinals, on the other hand -- that's a rivalry steeped in decades of battle. If it's them, I'd have a real problem with rooting interest.

Houston will give the White Sox a tougher time, too. Their pitching staff matches up well with the White Sox'. I fully expect Houston to complete their NLCS victory tonight.

by Al on Oct 17, 2005 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the Sox will have a tough time with either

Of course I thought this about their matchup with the Angels too.

For one thing, even with everyone celebrating all the complete games, I'm not sure they can continue with that. And then the question becomes, how does their bullpen pitch in a World Series after basically seeing no action most of the season? Does the rest do them good, or are they rusty and possibly not prepared for the pressure. It'll be interesting to see.

by SuperContext on Oct 17, 2005 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta root for the Sox

Maybe it will take a little edge off some of the fans, especially if they win the Series. They will stop worrying about being second fiddle for awhile. Maybe they won't care so much about being the second favorite baseball team in the city, as long as they are the best TEAM in Chicago and maybe even the country.

I gotta say I didn't expect them to do it, but they have done it they way the did it all season, their pitchers have balls of steel that was just simply amazing.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 on Oct 17, 2005 8:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ahmen brother!

I was talking to a co-worker today about the WS. I'm pretty much in the same boat. I'm happy (well, as happy as I can be) about them winning the pennant and fully expect them to pound the hell out of whichever team they face. Guillen built a team designed for the playoffs.

The part that bugs me is the "Cubs Suck" mentality people are bringing to it. In 2003 the North Side was electrified with the thought the Cubs could take the pennant.

On the other hand, it's nice to know they still think about us. :-)

by chicagojosh on Oct 17, 2005 9:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

FWIW...

... I did call a Sox fan friend of mine this morning and congratulated him; I know how long he's been waiting, and he understands our drought too. We had a nice talk about the team, the series and baseball in general.

And isn't that what this is supposed to be all about?

by Al on Oct 17, 2005 9:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

who

did you call? I thought about it last night also, but I don't want to duplicate the sucking up for the WS tickets!!!!??? ;)

by bh714 on Oct 17, 2005 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Check...

... your e-mail.

by Al on Oct 17, 2005 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

say Al,

i was wondering if you will actually buy, or already have bought, yourself a Sox jersey or some other sort of parephenalia or is more just a matter of seeing the games and respecting what the sox are doing?

a good team can't be beat!

by WrigleyCat on Oct 17, 2005 11:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll just see the games...

... if there is, say, a generic WS cap or shirt, or one featuring both teams, I may buy it. Otherwise, no.

by Al on Oct 17, 2005 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just curious

how will you procure your tickets?

by JFCubFan on Oct 17, 2005 11:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That...

... is a secret!

by Al on Oct 17, 2005 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

if you are truly confused...

perhaps you can root for the umpires. it appears they need all the help they can get. wouldn't 7 games of high drama, low scoring, and zero controversy be what the series is all about anyhow?

by dc60123 on Oct 17, 2005 11:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

3 calls

within 20 seconds of Kotchman's grounder to Paulie. No kidding or exaggeration. 3 bullshit Sox fans called to make sure I knew the Sox were going to the W.S.

This, Dr. Crawdad, is why I hope and pray the Sox get their asses kicked. Sox fans are more concerned with being Anti-Cub fans than they are being Sox Fans. When the Bulls won their titles I wasn't calling anyone and guess what, when the Bulls sucked I never got a call. You root for your own team. Sox fans don't get that part.

I never called any Sox fans when the Cubs went down to ATL and won and went up 3-1 versus FLA. It's truly amazing at the difference and it sucks having to sit through it.

by socalbob on Oct 17, 2005 11:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The interesting thing is...

...Dr. Crawdad made a couple of nearly-identical posts if you switch out "Cubs" with "White Sox." Obviously it's a heated rivalry, but what you say about "Sox fans" is only true of an ugly, vocal (I was going to say minority, but the data don't confirm or deny that at this point, so...) subgroup. There are Cubs fans like us who cheer for our team and were too busy celebrating with fellow Cubs fans (and/or too considerate) to bother our Sox counterparts in '03, and there are Sox fans like Dr. Crawdad who (especially now that they've won the pennant) is calling other Sox fans to celebrate instead of calling Cubs fans to gloat. There are also fans obsessed with the cross-town rivalry who can't enjoy their victories without rubbing it in other fans' faces. They exist on every side, for every team. It's a shame, but it's there.

by Loon from Left on Oct 17, 2005 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not just to you...

You're right. I posted here way before the Sox entered the post-season.

I don't know that I've ever said, "Cubs suck." I'd NEVER wear a shirt with a Cubs logo, even if it was altered in some anti-Cubs way.

The board where I regularly post is WhiteSoxInteractive, much more often than I post here. At WSI, there are a few regular Cub fan posters, even Les Grobstein is a regular there. Interestingly, these Cub fan posters don't get ripped or ragged on for being Cub fans posting on a Sox board.

To those who think it's only Sox fans who are irritating louts, I suggest that you've never walked in my shoes. I wore my Sox shirt today with pride. In the few short hours I was in the public, I had to hear from one Cub fan how the Cubs are more popular than the Sox.

As I mentioned here before, if you think Cub fans are by their nature better than Sox fans, take a moment to view the vile things Cub fans have posted in the Sox NG.

If you wonder why some Sox fans take delight in rubbing it in, remember the put-downs of the Sox and Sox fans printed in The Heckler not to overlook the slams in the Cubs house organ, the Tribune.

by DrCrawdad on Oct 17, 2005 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They'd Say it Anyway

Come on guys, the Sox fans will be saying "Cubs suck" win, lose or draw. It's what they do. Then they kick their cats.

Corey Patterson, please go be potentially good somewhere else.

by Ross on Oct 17, 2005 12:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I am growing fond of the Astros

Seriously I have NO trouble rooting for them and
it would be hypocritical for me not too. I would root for
the Cardinals though I hope it does not come to that.
I know a few dedicated Sox fans and I am glad they
are a happy. None of them are the obnoxious sort
however I still can imagine NOTHING worse for
Cubs fans than the Sox winning the World Series.

I do not like the team, I do not like the manager
I do not like the owner and I do not like the park.
I don't see why I should jump on the bandwagon or
why on earth they would want me.

Al has never felt this way but I don't get people who
say they are die hard Cub fans who USED to hate
the Sox but now that they are better than the Cubs they will root for them. Back in 1983 ( long before it
was a popular term) a understandably disgruntled
Sox fan brought a sign expressing his displeasure
at the sudden increase of Cub "fans" at Comisky now
that the Sox were winning. It read "YUPPIE SCUM:
GO BACK TO WRIGLEY FIELD".

I agreed then and I agree now. I may not be a yuppie
( I think you actually have to make real money to qualify ) but I AM a Die Hard Cub Fan who will ALWAYS hate the Sox . It is part of my nature

Jessica

by jessica on Oct 17, 2005 1:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll be rooting.....

....against the White Sox. I don't care who they play. If it was a team from the dark depths of hell and managed by Satan himself, I'd be all about the Satan's spawns.

by SoBlueCal on Oct 17, 2005 2:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

but

i think that may be same team

by mike bornemann on Oct 17, 2005 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Detached and Dispassionate

That's my approach. If the Sox win, from me it'll be "Yeah, good for you. When does spring training start?"

On the other hand, if there is a massive Sox collapse I will be immediately on the phone to my South Side college roommate, who called me immediately after the Bartman incident and who I am still convinced is responsible for the Gonzalez boot.

by 08Cubs on Oct 17, 2005 5:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Denial

Trust me if the White Sox win it all, it'll be the worst sports moment of your life and you will NEVER be able to forget about it and pass it off with indifference.

by SoBlueCal on Oct 17, 2005 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

sometimes saying I don't care means that you do care. I would probably say I don't care to everyone, but in reality I do care.

Cubbie blue always sPaRkLeS in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Oct 17, 2005 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Flip Side

I'm just flipping the philosophy that Al so rightly espouses -- that Sox fans should follow their own team without worrying about the Cubs.

Now, on the other hand, this week for once I am very glad I don't live in Chicago.

I did get a rise a few days ago when I told a Sox fan that I had heard that gamblers were already actively working the Sox players to find some of them to throw the World Series ....

by 08Cubs on Oct 17, 2005 6:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I will root for the Sox

to honor my Dad's memory, a diehard fan who only experienced the '59 series (when I wasn't alive).

And I figure that this can only put more heat on MacPhail and Hendry to make a serious offseason effort to get some talent to fill the obvious shortcomings of the current Cubs roster.

by JFCubFan on Oct 17, 2005 7:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Against the Sox

is the way I'll be rooting. As a Cub die hard, there is no way I can be rooting for them. I haven't felt this sick to my stomach since after games 6 & 7 of the '03 NLCS.

I did congratulate some Sox fans I knew b/c I know if I were in their shoes, it would be one of the best feelings ever. I just hope we get to experience that feeling sometime soon.

by cubbie08 on Oct 17, 2005 7:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think you'd best...

...find your friends who are Astros fans and console them. They haven't a chance against Satan's Minions. This is going to be worse than the 2003 Cubs. 1 out from the World Series.....
This is what happens when you sell your soul.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 17, 2005 11:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs