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If you know me well, you know that I’m a pretty nostalgic guy.
I spend my free time building lego sets because it reminds me of a time when keeping track of loose bricks was my only responsibility. I collect old Nintendo games because I can pop any of them into their respective consoles and be instantly transported to when things were much simpler. I love watching old movies and TV shows and getting a sense of what things were like way back when. When it comes to logos and branding, I’ll always choose the vintage option. Always.
I’m a simple man. The future and everything around it scares me, so I look back to the past. Back to times when I was happy, naive, and even more full of life than I already am now. We can’t go back and change the past at this point, but we can remember it fondly.
And to tie all of this together, there are few things I remember more fondly than the 2005 White Sox.
I know I’ve talked about both the White Sox and the 2005 team in this space before, but you’re going to have to sit by this week and read me do it again. The World Series starts on Friday night and the 20th anniversary of the Pale Hose breaking the 88-year long drought is fast approaching. In fact, as I write this on Wednesday afternoon, it’s the anniversary of the team’s 5-3 Game 1 win. Now is as good a time as ever.
I was at my desk last week and found myself reading a column by Bill Plaschke, a long time writer for the Los Angeles Times. In it, he detailed how this year’s Dodger team, if they were able to finish off the World Series with a sweep, would be the greatest postseason baseball team of all time.
Being incredibly biased, I scoffed at that notion.
Sure, if Los Angeles won the World Series in four games, they would finish the postseason with a 13-1 record thanks to the Wild Card round. The 2005 White Sox went 11-1, and those extra two games the Dodgers played would give LA the better overall win percentage and just the one loss.
Now, before I refute Plaschke’s point, I’d like to give the Dodgers their flowers. I will not be rooting for them in the World Series, but I know they are an incredibly talented group. From top to bottom, the team has one of the most insane rosters ever put together. They probably will win their second title in as many years and continue what is the beginning of a dynasty. But I’m not here to talk about that.
I could talk about how the 2005 White Sox had a murderer’s row lineup that featured Paul Konerko, Jermaine Dye and Joe Crede. I could mention the fact that they won 99 games that year, six more games than LA, while going wire-to-wire in the division. I could get in depth on Ozzie Guillen, truly the only man for the job. Any of those things could help me prove my point, but there’s also something else.
Something that the White Sox did to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALCS that has never been duplicated since and most likely never will be. It’s one of the first things I think of when it comes to that team.
It’s the fact that Chicago White Sox pitchers threw four straight complete games to win the final four games of the series.
To put it in perspective, in the 20 years since, there have only been 18 complete games in the playoffs, not including eight-inning defeats. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s complete game against the Brewers in the NLCS was the first one since 2017. The White Sox threw four in a row.
Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, “Sweaty” Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras. Four names that will live on forever in the minds of White Sox fans for much more than what they accomplished during that four-game stretch. But four names to me that will always be synonymous with the most dominant postseason run in MLB history.
My favorite part was that the Sox bullpen was nails that year, but they didn’t even need to go to it. They were fresher than any other bullpen in history has ever been heading into the Fall Classic, and it showed.
In a world where pitchers get taken out of postseason games for the smallest, and frankly, dumbest, possible reasons nowadays, we will never see four straight complete games in the playoffs ever again. Managers play the numbers game too much as opposed to having a feel of the game.
Monday night was the perfect example. George Kirby was pitching very well for the Mariners in Game 7, but his manager didn’t want him to see the lineup a third time. He was taken out, the middle reliever that was brought in went an inning too long, and boom. George Springer happens and heartbreak continues for Seattle.
In 2005, we didn’t have to worry about that. If Buehrle was pitching well, you knew he was going at least seven or eight and the game was going to be over in two hours. That’s just the way it was. They don’t build ‘em like that anymore. I’m just glad I was around to see some of it.
I was pretty young when the White Sox got the job done in ‘05, but I’m incredibly lucky to remember it as well as I do. It’s the major reason I love baseball as much as I do today, and even when the Sox of the present day are losing 100+ games, I can close my eyes and look back.
I remember A.J. Pierzynski taking off for first on a dropped third strike in the ALCS. Paul Konerko’s Grand Slam in the World Series. Scott Podsednik, who had 0 home runs in the regular season, hitting a walk off blast in the fall classic. Geoff Blum coming out of nowhere and winning it in the 14th inning of Game 3. Bobby Jenks, may he rest in peace, coming in to close out a 1-0 win in the clincher. Do any White Sox fans remember who scored that run? I do. It was Willie Harris in the top of the 8th. Jermaine Dye drove him in, because of course he did.
I could go on and on, but I’m starting to get emotional. I want nothing more than for the Sox to create some new postseason memories for me to remember for the rest of my life. We’ll have to wait and see about that.
But in the meantime, at least we have the past.
Bounced back to the tune of a 3-2 week last week. Let’s try to keep that rolling.
FAVORITE FAVORITE
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots (-7)
Honestly, part of the reason I’m picking this game is because I need to talk about Drake Maye at some point this season. The second-year QB has looked incredible at times this year, leading his team to a 5-3 record. Last week, I picked against the Browns and it was a terrible mistake. I’m doubling down here. I misread Miami’s fight level coming into that game, but I still don’t think Cleveland will be able to hang here. The New England offense has been too dynamic.
The Pick: Patriots -7
BIG DAWG GOTTA EAT
San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans (-1.5)
The Niners are finally starting to look like the Niners again despite all of the horrible injury luck they’ve had this season. Mac Jones has played well under center, even with a lack of a receiving corp. Christian McCaffrey is still a monster, so they’ll always have a fighting chance. The Texans, however, look awful offensively even after a bye and are playing some uninspiring football. Give me the Niners to get the road win.
The Pick: 49ers +1.5
BEAR DOWN
Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens (-6.5)
Don’t look now, but the pride and joy of Illinois have won four straight games. While the wins are continuing to stack up, I have to admit I’m still not high on Caleb Williams. While he’s made a ton of improvements this season, his accuracy has not been one of them. That being said, as a team, Chicago is playing really well. The Ravens are 1-5, have a horrible defense and don’t even know if Lamar Jackson is playing yet. Remind me why they’re a touchdown favorite in this game?
The Pick: Bears +6.5
THIS IS OUR COLTS
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-14.5)
Based on this line, it would appear oddsmakers are finally giving the Colts the respect I have been giving them each week. Make no mistake, Indianapolis is one of the best teams in the league. The offense is dynamic with Jonathan Taylor as a legitimate MVP candidate. The defense is really good too. On the other side, the Titans are really bad. You all know I hate these incredibly lopsided lines but how on earth could I go against Indy here? Tennessee is out here getting crushed by teams with much worse offenses. I have to break protocol.
The Pick: Colts -14.5
GAME OF THE WEEK
Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos (-3.5)
This might end up being the most fun game of the week to watch based solely on who is playing in it. Dallas’ combination of an awesome offense and terrible defense makes them a must watch team by themselves, coupled with the fact that Denver has been the kings of the late-game heroics this season. It should be an entertaining game regardless of who wins. I’m going to go with Dallas, because while the defense has been putrid, that offense is going to score points.
The Pick: Cowboys +3.5
That wraps it up for me this week. Enjoy your weekend and some sectional football on Friday night.
Cheers.
Last Week’s Record: 3-2
Season Record: 20-15
