Well folks, it’s that time of the year again. It’s the beginning of the playoffs in Major League Baseball. If you thought last years playoffs were something, just wait and see the special possibilities that may occur this year.
Remember the Boston Red Sox ended an 86-year championship drought by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in four games. And the Red Sox were the first team in any professional sport to comeback from a three games to none deficit to win a series, and against the New York Yankees at that.
This year’s version of the Chicago White Sox is led by former major league all-star Carlos Guillen and they’re hoping to also claim a World Series championship. The White Sox haven’t seen a title since 1917-a few years before the famous Black Sox scandal, which ended the careers of Shoeless Joe Jackson, Happy Fleish and Eddie Ciotte.
For those who might be unaware of the scandal, the scandal was when the three players mentioned above were paid along with several other teammates to throw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The series was fixed so well-the fans couldn’t tell that it was thrown, because the series went a full seven games.
But the White Sox haven’t won due to a lack of bad luck. I believe you pay for everything you do. Their 96-year drought might be linked to poor management and personnel decisions.
A lot of people feel bad about the Chicago Cubs because they haven’t seen a championship in 97 years. Well if you believe that the Cubs can’t win a championship because of a goat not being admitted into a game, then you might need to see a shrink to have your head examined.
See, but this might be different. This season the White Sox have 99 wins and 63 losses. They slumped a little, but they’ve picked up the tempo to take two games from the defending world champion Red Sox.
This year, the White Sox have players who can actually play and not just take up roster spots. The White Sox have players like Paul Konerko, who is hitting .283 with 40 homeruns and 100 RBI’s and Jermaine Dye is hitting .274 with 31 homeruns and 86 RBI’s. Scott Podsednik is hitting .290 with 59 stolen bases. The White Sox have offense and can produce runs.
They’re also anchored by a solid pitching staff headed by John Garland with 18 wins.
With a good supporting cast and the team umder fresh management, the mindset of it’s about time to enscribe our names onto the champoionship trophy and add world champion to the wrap sheet lingers in the minds White Sox players and fans.
The White Sox have a good chance of being the second team to end their drought in recent history.
Contact Serge Beaubrun at thefamuansports@hotmail.com