7 REASONS TO CARE ABOUT THE WORLD SERIES.Byline: TOM HOFFARTH The chic pick may be Chicago, but who's to say Houston can't do it? Either way, there's no reason to question why tuning into the 102nd World Series should be worth watching, starting with tonight's Game 1. Still, we're here to provide answers to your inquisitive nature. Why aren't the White Sox faithful a bunch of tormented crybabies like the Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox are a member and currently champions of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball’s American League. From to the present, the Red Sox have played in Fenway Park. fans when they've had to wait longer for a world title? Nice observation, Affleck. The Red Sox ended a 86-year drought last season, but the White Sox have waited 88 years now - since 1917, just before Julio Franco's rookie season. If you were really observant, you'd note that umpire Doug Eddings Douglas Leon Eddings (born September 14, 1968 in Las Cruces, New Mexico) is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He came to public attention with a controversial call during Game Two of the 2005 American League Championship Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles , whose call helped the White Sox start their four-game win streak against the Angels, wears No. 88. Of course, the crosstown Cubs haven't won a Series title since 1908, and are still blaming Steve Bartman Steven D. Bartman (born 1977) [1] [2] is a resident of the Chicago area, who gained notoriety on the evening of October 14, 2003, for attempting a catch of a foul pop-up in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series between the Chicago Cubs and the and an old billy goat for their woes, but we digress di·gress intr.v. di·gressed, di·gress·ing, di·gress·es To turn aside, especially from the main subject in writing or speaking; stray. See Synonyms at swerve. . Is it in the cards for another wild-card to win it all? Pay attention to recent history. The 'Stros will try to become the fourth consecutive wild-card winner to capture the title, following the Angels ('02), Florida Marlins The Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Marlins have played in Dolphin Stadium. ('03) and Boston Red Sox ('04). It's one of those kooky trends we don't even pretend to understand, like why they keep making ``Survivor.'' Is this really the last time we'll see Roger Clemens William Roger Clemens (born August 4, 1962, in Dayton, Ohio), is a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, and is one of the preeminent pitchers in Major League history. In 2006, a poll of 32 ESPN analysts named Clemens the greatest living pitcher. pitch in the World Series? A definite maybe. But then we thought he was walking off the field for the last time a couple years back in Miami when he was with the Yankees. Listen, the guy's 43 - as old as the Astros' franchise - but led the majors with a 1.87 ERA. In seven World Series starts, he's 3-0 with a 1.90 ERA. He hangs around any longer, he'll be pitching against his son. Which of the White Sox players is ripe for taking a bribe to throw the series? What are you trying to do, open up another ``Black Sox Scandal''? We all learned that valuable lesson from watching ``Eight Men Out,'' and it wasn't just that D.B. Sweeney couldn't pull off Shoeless Joe Jackson Early life Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estevez played Hap Flesch. Never, ever, ever associate with gamblers (right, Mr. Rose?) because that black mark from 1919 hasn't gone away from the Southside of Chicago. Is it just a rumor, or do the White Sox actually have a bullpen? What in the name of Bobby Thigpen ALDS Automatic Lightning Detection System ALDS Advanced Laser Diode Simulator ALDS Armored Laser Detecting Set ALDS Academy Lakes Day School (Academy at the Lakes) ALDS Application Layer Data Striping against the Red Sox. Who are the key celebrity fans supporting each team? We've seen enough of former President Bush and his wife Barbara in prime seats during Astros games. But to the White Sox, star power doesn't matter. Team owner Jerry Reinsdorf turned down a ticket request from John Cusack, who was a big Cubs supporter during their playoff run two years ago. ``I think we've been successful in branding this team a certain way and maybe that Hollywood, sunglasses, jet set isn't really the look that the White Sox are all about,'' Reinsdorf has said. Which ump will mess up the big call? Angel Hernandez. Guaranteed. Even though this is his second Series assignment, Hernandez is notorious for making himself the focal point focal point n. See focus. of a game. Go to any baseball blog site and look at how many times he's irked fans by running managers or players for no reason. Hernandez may be no Angels, but Joe West, named to be the crew chief, also has made it into the top five of a recent Sports Illustrated player polls naming the worst umpires in the game. Hernandez starts the series on the right-field line, so he won't work his way around to the plate until later. But West is behind the plate tonight and could set the tone. You've been warned. CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1 -- color) no caption (Charlie Sheen, right) Daily News file (2 -- color) no caption (Bobby Jenks) (3 -- color) no caption (Roger Clemens) (4 -- color) no caption (Angel Hernandez) Getty Images |
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