12/31/24
October 26, 2005
Game Over: The White Sox win the longest game in World Series history to take a 3-0 lead over the Astros.
posted by kirkaracha to baseball at 01:22 AM - 59 comments
one of the greatest games ive ever seen. full of imperfection and clutchness. im tired, and school in the morning. GO WHITE SOX! (if this dosent solidify their place as the best team in this series/major leagues, i dont know what will)
posted by 15yroldkid at 01:41 AM on October 26, 2005
Freakin' Astros. Wait til I'm walking home from the bar at 2:00, then give up the deciding runs.
posted by cl at 01:45 AM on October 26, 2005
(mis?)Quote of the game, by Mr. McCarver: "Ozzie and the White Sox are playing error free baseball." Sometimes, I wonder what game he's watching.
posted by slackerman at 01:55 AM on October 26, 2005
I thought the sox were dead in the water with Oswalt pitching and a 4-0 lead. This was their game to win. They had to have it and didn't get the job done. Got to hand it to the white sox. Gonna take a miracle to stop them. In other news, clemens now looks like he just might start game 5. Bagwell says it will add to the rocket's legend. He could barely walk a couple days ago. I guess it's a miracle ;) (if there is a game 5)
posted by justgary at 02:31 AM on October 26, 2005
Wasn't the home run by Lane early in the game not really a home run? Is this bad call enough to counteract the HBP call on Dye in game 2? What I mean is, enough to counteract those who say the White Sox are the only ones getting the good calls this postseason. Well, at least for the World Series, anyway. Interesting that I don't see any of the writers bring this up yet.
posted by greasepig at 02:44 AM on October 26, 2005
good point greasepig. im watching espnews and sportscenter and it was only mentioned once and was brushed off.
posted by aztlan78 at 02:54 AM on October 26, 2005
posted by justgary at 03:19 AM on October 26, 2005
posted by justgary at 03:34 AM on October 26, 2005
Its going to be over in 5 games. They'll win tommorow- but it wont mean anything. Thats a shame- we had 2 crappy World Series in a row. wow = (
posted by redsoxrgay at 05:02 AM on October 26, 2005
The part that freaked me out were the two weird-ass hits after the two-out homerun by Blum that was the winning run. My feeling is that Astacio didn't pitch badly at first: the homerun pitch wasn't a meatball, it was a decent pitch that an otherwise-forgettable left-hander just turned on for no explicable reason. After that... those crazy hits! Those "hits" to third base were unreal, seeing-eye, perfect rolling hits that by all accounts should have and could have both been outs. Yeah, Astacio walked in the second run (the nail in the coffin run- if it'd been a one run game, Houston might not have looked so deflated batting in the bottom of the 14th), but I can imagine he was frustrated by that point. Still no excuse for not throwing strikes- nothing, and I mean nothing, pisses me off when watching baseball like a pitcher who tries to get "cute". Throw it down the heart of the plate and take your chances, you pussy- don't give them the sure thing in a walk! But yeah- there's good pitching, and then there's hitters who get themselves out. What's that old saying about hitters swinging like they're trying to get a grand slam even with no one on base? Houston has been abysmal this series when it comes to situational hitting- when they do play for the one run, they waste outs and don't advance runners well. And much of that blame goes to Garner- he seemed more interested in throwing his chair when Astacio gave up a homerun than in managing his friggin' team! Isn't it also weird that- should Chicago win this series- it'll be the case that the last two times the Red and White Sox franchises won World Series, they also did it in back to back years? Guess that means that not only does history repeat itself... but you should go put a ton of money on Cincinatti to win it all in 2006!
posted by hincandenza at 05:15 AM on October 26, 2005
Wow, what a game. Yep, I thought when Oswalt had 'em down 4 - 0 that it would be a tough road to hoe coming back. But, once again they show they are determined, no matter what. And, if you really pay attention to a game - balls, strikes, getting doubled off at second, there are really close calls going on ALL THE TIME that could have cost a team the game. Difference is that the White Sox have always seemed to capitalize on them. I seen several chances where big mo was in the Astros favor, small calls were going their way, and boom, they lose the game. Its how you capitalize on favorable calls that makes the difference. GO WHITE SOX!!!!
posted by Shoalbaby at 05:20 AM on October 26, 2005
Hey greasepig & aztlan78, the White Sox have been getting CLOSE CALLS, not blatantly horrendous calls (I'm sure some would beg to differ and will). There was nothing close about Lane's long FOULBALL early in the game. Payback will come only by playing good hard baseball. Just watch the White Sox and you'll see what I'm talking about.
posted by Shoalbaby at 05:33 AM on October 26, 2005
This was a very exciting game - if a sloppy one. McCarver truly is the kiss of death though. Every time he says something like "they are one strike away from winning" in any post season game, you know immediatly that something is going to get screwed up for the team that seems like it is going to win.
posted by Joey Michaels at 05:53 AM on October 26, 2005
we had 2 crappy World Series in a row. I don't know that it's as bad as the NFC/AFC issue we saw in the 1990s NFL, but it seems like NL teams don't have the lineups to run with the AL teams. Even the best NL pitchers wind up allowing 4 runs; if your lineup is planning on providing 2-3 runs of support, there's a bit of a problem. Not sure there's a good answer. It's not like we can ask the NL teams to start carrying a DH-type just in case they make the Series. I suppose the pitcher could hit in both cities (or it could be part of the lame-ass "league that wins the All-Star game" clause).
posted by yerfatma at 06:14 AM on October 26, 2005
What the Astros freaking lost? Man, I shouldn't have gone to bed after the 4th inning. Or maybe I should have, there's NO WAY I could stay up that late.
posted by mayerkyl at 06:34 AM on October 26, 2005
So did the Astros lose because of the roof being open?
posted by scully at 07:00 AM on October 26, 2005
justgary: In other news, clemens now looks like he just might start game 5. Bagwell says it will add to the rocket's legend. Not if he comes out after an inning and a half. terrapin: So did the Astros lose because of the roof being open? And, um, that HBP call back in game 2.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:06 AM on October 26, 2005
If Qualls gets Konerko out, that erroneous hit-by-pitch call is meaningless. Making up for an unlucky break is part of the game. Assuming Chicago goes on to win the Series, I think two other moments are more significant than the HBP: 1. The eighth inning of game 1, Astros at first and third. No outs. Heart of the order coming up, and all three strike out. 2. The bottom of the ninth in game 2, Astros have just tied the game and taken momentum. Podsednik goes yard on Lidge. Walk off homer. The Astros have had their chances.
posted by rcade at 08:18 AM on October 26, 2005
What a come back! To get to Oswalt with 5 runs speaks by itself about this "scrappy" White Sox team :-)
Then, it was off to the Bull Pen - Both teams showed deph on their pitching, but lack of clutch hitting. A lot of missed opportunities for both squads, but mainy for the Killer Bs who seem to have lost their sting!
It was a fun game to watch, very entertaining..... Can you say: "White Sox in 4 "!!!! Go Garcia, I do want to see the Rocket for the last time.... Hopefully he'll make it past the 3rd. this time! - I still can't believe Andy Pettite didn't go out for the 7th inning of his game, what a "pussy"- Cost the Astro's that game, and now they will get swept! Phil Garner has done a good job, his team has lacked execution..... Uribe making those errors at SS, Ozzie was going to choke him ! Uhmm, enough for now....
posted by zippinglou at 08:26 AM on October 26, 2005
Not to get too far off topic, but did you see how homely the fans are in Houston? Wow! Also, what the hell did I miss between Garner and the Sox dugout? I came in shortly after it started. I thought Carl Everett and Garner were gonna go toe-to-toe. I think it had something to do with Crede getting HBP but, like I said, I missed it.
posted by willthrill72 at 08:40 AM on October 26, 2005
Lidge Ends Two-Homer Skid With Three Ks: Good for Lidge. Nice to see he is so proud of his accomplishments in a losing cause. I guess it's something to build on for next year.
posted by willthrill72 at 09:01 AM on October 26, 2005
Hal, I agree with you about Astacio's early pitching. I thought he was doing just fine. The home run pitch was low and inside, and Blum just managed to get some really good wood on it. And those other two hits were carrying little signs which said "I should be foul, but I'm not, neener neener". He pitched fine up to that point, but it looks like he just lost all confidence—I can imagine why, if three pretty good pitches end up going for three hits and one RBI. I really felt for him.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 09:09 AM on October 26, 2005
Why are kids choosing to play football over baseball when careers in baseball tend to be longer and pay better? Well maybe because basketball and football are much more fun than baseball. Sounds illogical, I know, but you know how kids can be.
posted by Miles1996 at 09:10 AM on October 26, 2005
In re: popularity and development, basketball has the advantage of needing fewer players to play a reasonable facsimile of the game (thus better suited to pick-up), needing less space for facilities, and also being the kind of game where it's easier to practice some skills solo.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:28 AM on October 26, 2005
The White Sox have gotten to where they are because they are a team. Look at the impact players in each of the games - it seems like someone different steps up every game. Jenks, Podsednik, Blum, Konerko, Dye, AJ, Crede - each player has chipped in over this series. The Sox don't rely on one or two big hitters (as they have in the past) to win games. Just as in the regular season, the Sox are inventing ways to squeek out wins. Have they gotten breaks? Sure. Have they taken advantage of the breaks? Absolutely. They play hard and deserve to be where they are today. This has been a tight World Series where they have shown the ability to get just enough from everyone to win.
posted by ChiSox1977 at 09:40 AM on October 26, 2005
Tim McCarver wasn't announcing last night, it was Thom Brennaman and Steve Lyons. The play-by-play is being divided, not sure what the deal is, but McCarver and Buck were in Chicago, they weren't doing the Houston game.
posted by the red terror at 09:50 AM on October 26, 2005
Request to Fox Sports: please, for the love of god -- no more close-ups of Barbara Bush. My digestion is bad enough.
posted by the red terror at 09:52 AM on October 26, 2005
The Astros have lost it mentally. The White Sox are in their heads and under their skin. You can see it in the Astros. Oswalt forgot he was in a World Series. (Mind you, the person sitting behind home plate wearing the revolting Barbara Bush Hallowee'n mask would've been enough to scare Sandy Koufax and throw him off his game.) You could see it in the face of Phil Garner. His pitcher is unravelling and facing his 10th batter in an inning, and Nail's stands there with a blank catatonic expression on his face with nobody warming up. Then the next minute he's in a shouting exchange with the Sox bench, looking for all the world like Whitey Herzog going insane on Don Denkinger.
posted by the red terror at 09:59 AM on October 26, 2005
Why are kids choosing to play football over baseball when careers in baseball tend to be longer and pay better? Just reading this reminded me of Rick Leach. Leach was one of the best athletes in Michigan history. As a Wolverine QB he was named All-Big Ten quarterback three times, and three times placed in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. As a Senior he was voted the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player. Leach had a chance at a NFL career, but instead chose baseball because he believed there was less chance of injury. Naturally, his first ever game in a MLB uniform for the Tigers during 1981 spring training, he wipes out his leg and is disabled, missed the beginning of season.
posted by the red terror at 10:22 AM on October 26, 2005
These are supposed to be the best 2 teams in baseball going head to head, but just like last years rout of the Cardinals from the Red Sox, it's going to end to quick. What does this say about the Cards and Astros besides the fact that the W.S. is not a good venue for them? Does it have to be the Yankees, Braves or Red Sox every year just so We can get a good to great 6 or 7 game series? Oh well, I guess it's see them all in March. I will say it now and eat all my words since the end of the regular season...I was pretty much wrong on all my post season picks {this is why I never gamble} and the Sox proved to be a scrappy bunch who couldn't be beaten. I am happy for all the fans of the Sox {wife included} and although not thrilled with the outcome, I am proud to live in a city with another champion {FINALLY!}.
posted by melcarek69 at 10:58 AM on October 26, 2005
Phil Garner has done a good job, his team has lacked execution..... I'm all for his teams execution...
posted by drevl at 11:01 AM on October 26, 2005
By the way, can't We get Bob Costas, Al Michaels or Steve Stone or even Steve Lyons to call the post season? I used to like Joe Buck until I realized just how boring he really is. As far as Tim McCarver, I agree with all who wonder what game he is watching. It's like watching Harry Carey in his later days but without the high entertainment value. Time for a new announce team for sure.
posted by melcarek69 at 11:04 AM on October 26, 2005
These are supposed to be the best 2 teams in baseball going head to head, but just like last years rout of the Cardinals from the Red Sox, it's going to end to quick. Er, well, it's apples and Wankel rotary engines, I know...but a lot of us Yankee fans said this after game 3 of the ALCS last year. Even now, it doesn't have to be a rout. I just think the White Sox understand better the need to hang tough and never give up. They weren't willing to give up that game last night, and where are they this morning? There's a huge difference between 3-0 and 2-1. The Astros can still win it, but they're going to need a big dose of that "it ain't over" attitude to even make a respectable showing of it at this point.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 11:06 AM on October 26, 2005
Does it have to be the Yankees, Braves or Red Sox every year just so We can get a good to great 6 or 7 game series? Last Red Sox WS: 4 games Last Braves WS: 4 games Average length of WS when the Yankees are involved (since 1994): 5.3 games Your most recent 6/7-game series were: FLA-NYY 2003 (which should've been over in five) ANA-SFG 2002 (a great series) ARI-NYY 2001 FLA-CLE 1997 and then the early Yankees and Braves wins. So if your sample space is 1995 through 1996, then yes, you do need the Yankees or Braves for a good, long series.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:12 AM on October 26, 2005
I'd like to dedicate this slap upside the head to MLB for starting the goddamned games so late. I didn't watch past the third inning last night because I knew there was no chance of me seeing the end. Thank God I didn't start or I never would have made it to work this morning. And even though it's annoying to see it on every freaking pitch, I like the tracking graphic. On those borderline calls, it's interesting to see where the ball crossed the plate. Although with it being Fox, you wonder if it's accurate.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:13 AM on October 26, 2005
Touche'
posted by melcarek69 at 11:15 AM on October 26, 2005
it aint over yet. the astros are a team that was 15 games under .500 at the start of the season and look at where they are now. they still have a fighting chance.
posted by bkahuna6705 at 11:37 AM on October 26, 2005
acceptance is the first step to recovery
posted by willthrill72 at 11:47 AM on October 26, 2005
I love the drama of a long series (hopefully with a Game 7) as much as anyone, but this series has been great. Every game's been close, there have been comebacks in every game, and there have been a lot of close, exciting plays. I'd rather have a 4-5 game series of great games than a 6-7 game series of blowouts. It's quality over quantity, my friends. His pitcher is unravelling and facing his 10th batter in an inning, and Nail's stands there with a blank catatonic expression on his face with nobody warming up.
How do you let the opposing team bat around in a World Series game that you have to win? (Sure, they'd like to win them all, but down 2-0, you have to win to have a chance.) He should have yanked him much sooner. Oswalt was great shutting down the Cards, but he looked off from the beginning of this game to me. And even though it's annoying to see it on every freaking pitch, I like the tracking graphic. On those borderline calls, it's interesting to see where the ball crossed the plate.
The tracking graphic and the strike zone graphic have got potential, but I hate the way they're implemented. The pitch looks like a comet, and lines on the strike zone graphic are too fuzzy. They'd be more useful and accurate if the lines were crisper. Wasn't the home run by Lane early in the game not really a home run?
It definitely wasn't a home run, judging by the replay. But the Sox shrugged it off and won anyway.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:53 AM on October 26, 2005
I used to like Joe Buck until I realized just how boring he really is. I have 0 patience for crappy announcers, so I'm still trying to figure out if it's weird that I really like Joe Buck or if people miss all the subversiveness. The fact he hasn't been fired by Fox yet suggests a lot of people are missing it. I wish I could remember the comment he made in the very opening of the pre-game last night. He barely hides his disdain for Fox or McCarver yet they both seem to love him.
posted by yerfatma at 12:22 PM on October 26, 2005
I'm definitely missing it.
posted by cl at 12:29 PM on October 26, 2005
posted by the red terror at 12:33 PM on October 26, 2005
In other news, clemens now looks like he just might start game 5. Bagwell says it will add to the rocket's legend. Not if he comes out after an inning and a half. I thought it was a funny comment by bagwell. I doubt there's gonna be a game 5. Since game 4 is do or die I wouldn't be surprised to see the clemens in relief early if things go badly.
posted by justgary at 12:41 PM on October 26, 2005
I don't like the Astros very much but I also don't like sweeps in the World Series. I will hope the Astros can win tonight and only a little bit so that Clemens can take the loss to lose the series in Game Five. But my hatred of Clemens is mitigated by my admiration for how Craig Biggio has gone about the game, he deserves a World Series win.
posted by fenriq at 01:08 PM on October 26, 2005
Tim McCarver wasn't announcing last night, it was Thom Brennaman and Steve Lyons. The play-by-play is being divided, not sure what the deal is, but McCarver and Buck were in Chicago, they weren't doing the Houston game. With my cable setup (in London, ON), I can listen to two different broadcasts of the game: SportsNet-HD had one. FOX-HD (out of Detroit) had another. One of them was McCarver, the other was Lyons (but I don't remember which was which). It was tough for me to pick which one to listen to because they were both annoying. McCarver because he's an idiot, and Lyons because he just..won't..shut..up! I think I've been spoiled for life since listening to Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez do Blue Jays games in the 1990s. That has always been my favourite TV duo for broadcasting games. Shulman called the game with minimal input, Martinez always explained what was happening, and they played off each other with questions and suggestions. It was not only entertaining, it was informative. I wouldn't be surprised to see the clemens in relief early if things go badly. If the Astros are getting shellacked (like 9-0) in game 4, I definitely think Garner will bring in Clemens. In part, to stop the bleeding, and in part to give him one last final goodbye to the Houston fans. I think this injury has been the end of his career, but he might be able to gut it out for 3 or 4 batters.
posted by grum@work at 01:11 PM on October 26, 2005
But my hatred of Clemens is mitigated by my admiration for how Craig Biggio has gone about the game, he deserves a World Series win. So much good and evil on one team. It is quite the dilemma ;) I think this injury has been the end of his career Might not be.
posted by justgary at 01:17 PM on October 26, 2005
I watched the Sportsnet feed, grum, and I think that was Lyons. I had the volume down quite a bit though.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:23 PM on October 26, 2005
justgary, that's part of what I love about the game. You can love some players and hate others and then you still have to figure out who you want to win. Man, I hate the off season though! Maybe this year I'll figure out a way to get down to Arizona for a weekend of spring training!
posted by fenriq at 01:31 PM on October 26, 2005
the red terror: Tim McCarver wasn't announcing last night, it was Thom Brennaman and Steve Lyons. Well, damn. Which one of them makes the McCarver-like moronic pronouncements?
posted by Joey Michaels at 01:45 PM on October 26, 2005
Just to chime in: the US HD broadcast was Buck and McCarver.
posted by yerfatma at 02:24 PM on October 26, 2005
willthrill72: acceptance is the first step to recoveryUh, except it isn't. The Astros can win Game 4, and if they do Game 5 would be Clemens. Yeah, he might be injured, but he might be feeling better, and he's still a helluva pitcher. I can't believe how dismissive some of you are over a 7-time Cy Young winner who had a 1.87 ERA this year! And should the Astros win that game, well... anything can happen, and it's all about playing the one game at a time. It's no longer impossible to believe that the Astros come back and win this series, since the Red Sox did just that last year over the Yankees. Which reminds me of the best part of last year's Red Sox team (besides actually winning the World Series, of course): now, every single time a team goes down 0-3 in a series, the obligatory "How teams have fared when down 3-0 in a best-of-seven series" graphic will be displayed by Fox/ESPN/et al, and my beloved Red Sox will be there as the outlier, "Only time in baseball a team has come back from down 0-3 in the postseason". Sweet!
posted by hincandenza at 02:47 PM on October 26, 2005
McCarver: "Ozzie and the White Sox are playing error free baseball." Except for the two called errors, lots of unintentional walks, and hitting baserunners with the ball--twice!--which prompted me to call a buddy to confirm that that thowing the ball at the baserunners to get them out only works in kickball.
posted by kirkaracha at 03:17 PM on October 26, 2005
The HD broadcast is McCarver?? I don't have HD, but get both the Fox and Sportsnet feeds, and McCarver wasn't on either of them last night. (I click back and forth because occasionally one network or the other comes back late from commercials, while the other has the game.)
posted by the red terror at 03:33 PM on October 26, 2005
Actually, both the HD and standard broadcasts here were Buck/ McCarver. I assume Thom Brennaman is put back in storage the second the LCS round is over.
posted by yerfatma at 05:58 PM on October 26, 2005
The key is: pause your dvr for about 20 seconds and listen to the radio feed on XM. No McCarver or Morgan.
posted by ?! at 06:38 PM on October 26, 2005
I am relieved to know that McCarver remains one of a kind.
posted by Joey Michaels at 06:42 PM on October 26, 2005
It was McCarver in Detroit and I heard the error free baseball pronouncement unless lyons had a sore throat or something
posted by fade2244 at 07:24 PM on October 26, 2005
I stand corrected. I checked Game 4 and it was Brennaman and Lyons doing a Fox feed picked up by Sportsnet in Canada, and Buck and McCarver were on the Buffalo Fox channel. I spent a bit of time flipping between the feeds. It soon became obvious that not only are Brennaman and Lyons more interesting, there voices aren't as irritating. I am sick of Buck's voice, and I am sick of McCarver's commentary, so having another option available was sweet. Also, the feed going to Sportsnet always went to commercials later and came back to the game earlier, there was more of the game on Sportsnet than Fox. Then at end of game, for post-game trophy presentation, Brennaman and Lyons turned it over to the main feed with Buck, McCarver, and the equally annoying Jeannie Zelasko.
posted by the red terror at 07:31 AM on October 27, 2005
The White Sox gave the Astros a ton of chances with all the walks and errors, but the Astros couldn't bring them home. So far in the series, all of the Astros starting pitchers have looked off to me. The White Sox have had some excellent clutch hitting. It seems like most of their runs have come with two outs.