Bruiser Chong

Would it kill the umps to have a similar strike zone for both teams? Brad Ausmus needs nothing else against him to strike out. He can do it on his own, guy.

Well, Roy didn't wait too long to put his superstar status into question. Sox are hot, but the guy on the mound sure didn't look anything like the one that set the 'Stros to the WS last Wednesday.

Not all that surprising. It's something I'd expect from either side of Chicago, even though it does seem more fitting to the side that prides itself on being blue-collared.

What's wrong with there being consistency? Lord knows they've done it with the umpiring. Why not everything else?

Who the hell cares if it's open or not? Does it really matter? My point was, if they said NOTHING about it being open as recently as seven days ago, why bring it up now?

But it doesn't make sense that they have no issue with it all the way through the regular season and first two rounds of the postseason, and yet, come World Series time, they've suddenly decided to step in. I don't think it makes a difference, but I don't think it could be much more obvious that MLB wants Chicago to win it all.

Man, he gets shot and it's not even something he could use to build his rep on. I'm sure he's got the whole pride thing going on that kept him from giving up a car he can surely replace with no second thought. The wished-death posts in this thread seem to be failed attempts at sounding witty.

Yeah, we seem to be overlooking the fact that the White Sox got their first two runs because of lousy Astros defense.

I'd say that the umps have leaned towards the Sox on just about every questionable call in this entire postseason. Doesn't take away from the fact that they look unstoppable. I just wish the umps wouldn't be so quick to give them every call when it's clear they need none of the help.

If it hits your bat, it's a foul. The replay showed that it went off the barrel of the bat. Do you not understand the rules or something?

Except it wasn't a foul, so no dice. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's exactly what I'm saying, genius. Had it been called a foul as it should've been called, who knows what would've happened next? And Scott Podsednik, are you fucking kidding me? Someone needs to put Lidge on suicide watch. I don't think the Astros really have a chance in the series.

I just about lost it. I thought with Vizcaino coming up, this one was over. Even when he got it through the infield, I was sure Burke would be out at home. Wow. This'll be devestating to either team that loses.

But that's a huge play, iggy. They call it a foul and who knows what happens next? I still don't know why with their best hitter due with the game on the line, why they wouldn't bring Lidge on right then. Guy hasn't pitched in almost a week and with an off day tomorrow, what harm would it do to let him get seven outs instead of six?

So apparently the Astros are on the take in this series.

Adam Everett has no business holding a postseason spot on a MLB team.

If I believed in curses and jinxes, I'd declare that Mac was the White Sox's Trojan Horse in 2003.

Hacking away at everything will make anyone look better.

Gotta believe this game's going to the Sox. I knew going into the 8th that if the Astros had a shot, they had to score then with their big hitters coming up. With Lane, Ausmus, and Everett due in the 9th, the Sox more or less have this thing locked.

I know the Sox have great pitching, but this inning is a shining example of why I don't think the Astros deserve to be here.

See, this is why I don't totally back smallball. You get the first two guys on and have your DH bunt them over. Obviously they're going to walk Rowand and thus, it's up to Pierzinski, a guy built for the double-play. And as a Cubs fan, I find it a bit maddening to see Bernie Mac there decked out in Sox gear going crazy for them. I know, he supports the city of Chicago. But still.

I recall a story from spring training during his days with the Giants in which he was hit in the junk by a pitch, the trainer came out and asked if he was okay, and responded to by hitting him in his jewels. And leave it to dickhead Clemens to suck and get hurt the one time I'm pulling for him.

Whether it's a coincidence or not, Eight Men Out is on one of the Encore movie channels tonight at 8.

If this were true, you wouldn't hear a peep about the Cubs in the early going. Guys like me, Czech, sfaJack, and others are a sample sizing of what most real Cubs fans are like. We wanna talk Cubs not only in September and October, but January, February, March, and you get the idea. And we've got more reasons not to ever talk about them than any other fanbase in pro sports. But we do. I don't wanna turn this into "our team has a better and bigger fanbase than yours does." I think a lot of us Cubs fans have become more callous since 2003, so I can understand why non-Cubs fans would dislike us. Regardless, we're all about talking baseball and the Cubs all season long. It's like a curse. That's why there can be millions of dollars being made from ticket sales, advertising and whatever the Tribune Co. can think of, and yet, not put everything they can into building a well-rounded team sure to compete.

I'm sure as long as she gets off, everything's just gravy.

And let's not forget Sanders obviously not being 100 percent and Walker being more or less a shell of his former self. Still thought they could take it, but it's not surprising in retrospect that they didn't. They've got some excellent pieces in place, but they'll be looking to fill some holes around the field, no doubt.