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COPYRIGHT 2005 Sporting News Publishing Co.
Based on what has transpired so far, this World Series could be known as much for what it won't have as what it will have. You may have heard the Yankees are sitting this one out--again. So are noted sluggers such as Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez. But they're not the only ones. In fact, barring a monumental comeback in the National League Championship Series, not one slugger who can legitimately put superstar in front of his name will be stepping into the batter's box in the Fall Classic.
Are you ready for some Paul Konerko? How about Morgan Ensberg? Jermaine Dye? Jason Lane? Joe Crede? Fine hitters all--but not exactly names that will light up the FOX marquee. Perhaps it's appropriate that in a season in which tougher steroids testing was implemented, hitting has taken a spot behind pitching, defense and even umpiring in this postseason (way behind umpiring, in fact).
You've seen this next line more than those duck commercials: Good pitching beats good hitting. Well, what will good pitching do to mediocre hitting? If the Astros finish off business in the NLCS--they were up 3-1 on the Cardinals when the week began--we're soon going to find out. The Astros and White Sox fielded offenses that were average at best--based on the regular season, anyway. Houston ranked 26th out of 30 teams in batting average, Chicago 18th. The Astros were 24th in runs scored, the White Sox 13th. There's even a number for the stat geeks: Both teams ranked in the bottom 10 in on-base percentage with identical .322 marks.
"That's just the story of the postseason," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa says. "Whether it was Atlanta against Houston or us against San Diego, or you take what the White Sox have done to (Vladimir) Guerrero and Garret Anderson, if you pitch really well, it's tough."
Indeed. Tough pitching was the hallmark of the White Sox and Astros long before the LCS. The Astros ranked second in regular-season ERA behind the Cardinals, and the White Sox were fourth. Astros starters led the majors; White Sox relievers were fourth. Then came the LCS, and both teams took their pitching to the next level.
Count on tough pitching in the World Series if these teams keep throwing like they did in the LCS.
The Cardinals were clicking after a...
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