![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
heavenly_pearlWell, Astros lost the first game of the World Series to the Sox, 3-5, but the night wasn't a total lost. Josh Groban sang the National Anthem before the game, which I didn't know he was scheduled to do -- glad that I decided to put on the pregame show even though I was mostly working on one of my websites -- so that almost made up for it. Not quite, but almost. ^_^
Honestly, I think we did rather well considering that our starting pitcher Roger Clemens only lasted two innings due to problems with his left hamstring. That was a bad break for us. Can you believe he threw a little over fifty pitches just in those two innings? The Sox batters just kept fouling and fouling the ball out of play with two strikes in the count. Annoyed the heck out of me. I also have to question the wisdom of having Clemens even start the first game when he does have that left hamstring injury he's been battling. As long as it's not a complete shut-out, that means he will most likely be pitching the fifth game as well and I think I would rather have Pettitte or Oswalt, who are both healthy, in that kind of situation. If it had been up to me, I would have either kept the order of the NLCS (Pettitte, Oswalt, Clemens, Backe, Pettitte, Oswalt, Clemens) or had Clemens pitch games two and a possible six, leaving game 3 and a possible Game 7 in our hero Oswalt's very capable hands. In any case, I think they should have gone with Pettitte for this first game. I have a feeling they went with Clemens just for the sentimentality and history (second oldest pitcher to start a World Series) value.
It was good to see Jeff Bagwell in the game again, though, serving as the designated hitter. (I'm not that familiar with AL rules, but I'm guessing that's the spot that would normally be for the pitcher in the National League. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.) Due to his shoulder injury, he's mostly been used as a pitch hitter, so I'm glad that he got to really play in at least one game. He and Craig Biggio have been waiting a long time for a chance to play in the World Series with the Astros.
As for my first impressions of the White Sox, I have to admit they are really good, but not totally unbeatable. It'll be tough, but I think the Astros can give them a run for the title, as long as they make sure to get a good lead before the Sox closer Jenks comes up. I'm scared of him. >.< Hundred mile fastballs? Our pitchers are fantastic, but I don't think any of our guys can match that.
Then there's Crede, the third baseman who kept getting in our way with incredible plays and hit a solo home run. I'm not one to wish injury on somebody...but I have to admit, I wish we didn't have to face him again. Really good all-around player, from what I saw.
Other than those two and the other starting pitchers who are apparently pretty good from what I hear, I think the rest of the players are tough, but manageable.
Here's hoping that tomorrow's game will be better.
Honestly, I think we did rather well considering that our starting pitcher Roger Clemens only lasted two innings due to problems with his left hamstring. That was a bad break for us. Can you believe he threw a little over fifty pitches just in those two innings? The Sox batters just kept fouling and fouling the ball out of play with two strikes in the count. Annoyed the heck out of me. I also have to question the wisdom of having Clemens even start the first game when he does have that left hamstring injury he's been battling. As long as it's not a complete shut-out, that means he will most likely be pitching the fifth game as well and I think I would rather have Pettitte or Oswalt, who are both healthy, in that kind of situation. If it had been up to me, I would have either kept the order of the NLCS (Pettitte, Oswalt, Clemens, Backe, Pettitte, Oswalt, Clemens) or had Clemens pitch games two and a possible six, leaving game 3 and a possible Game 7 in our hero Oswalt's very capable hands. In any case, I think they should have gone with Pettitte for this first game. I have a feeling they went with Clemens just for the sentimentality and history (second oldest pitcher to start a World Series) value.
It was good to see Jeff Bagwell in the game again, though, serving as the designated hitter. (I'm not that familiar with AL rules, but I'm guessing that's the spot that would normally be for the pitcher in the National League. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.) Due to his shoulder injury, he's mostly been used as a pitch hitter, so I'm glad that he got to really play in at least one game. He and Craig Biggio have been waiting a long time for a chance to play in the World Series with the Astros.
As for my first impressions of the White Sox, I have to admit they are really good, but not totally unbeatable. It'll be tough, but I think the Astros can give them a run for the title, as long as they make sure to get a good lead before the Sox closer Jenks comes up. I'm scared of him. >.< Hundred mile fastballs? Our pitchers are fantastic, but I don't think any of our guys can match that.
Then there's Crede, the third baseman who kept getting in our way with incredible plays and hit a solo home run. I'm not one to wish injury on somebody...but I have to admit, I wish we didn't have to face him again. Really good all-around player, from what I saw.
Other than those two and the other starting pitchers who are apparently pretty good from what I hear, I think the rest of the players are tough, but manageable.
Here's hoping that tomorrow's game will be better.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
on 2005-10-23 04:38 am (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-23 05:35 am (UTC)And I call myself a Grobanite...
But, yeah, he was great. Usually, I'm not really a fan of singers doing their own interpretations of our National Anthem (it's pretty enough without "improvements), but I really liked his version. It didn't stray off too much from the original.
no subject
on 2005-10-23 08:02 am (UTC)I myself am a Cubs fan. XD
no subject
on 2005-10-23 03:21 pm (UTC)And aren't you originally a Texan girl? That means you have to root for the Astros.
Or, you know, not.
*laughs*
no subject
on 2005-10-24 12:53 am (UTC)Actually, my father is originally from St. Louis and my mother from Chicago. They met through my mother's roommate in college and moved to Ohio when dad graduated. They had my older sisters, Erica and Megan. They then trecked down to Texas a few months after Megan was born, and had me seven years later.
So, I'm Texan girl, but the parents are Midwesterners, so in order to keep from being disowned, I'm Cubbies. ^^v
no subject
on 2005-10-23 04:28 pm (UTC)Mmm...yummy.
no subject
on 2005-10-24 12:54 am (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-23 05:13 am (UTC)(I say this all in good fun. ;))
no subject
on 2005-10-23 05:43 am (UTC)Oh, we got pretty close to scoring a couple of more times, most notably with Willy Travarez leading off the sixth and eighth innings with doubles. I kept wondering why nobody attempted to do a sacrifice bunt both times he made it to third, since I don't remember there being more than one out both times and he's our best runner, but I guess they were greedy and wanted to get two runs to lead instead of only one in to tie, which would have been difficult with a bunt. If they had, we probably would have had a good chance of winning, or at least taking the game into overtime. Oh, well. ^_^
no subject
on 2005-10-23 04:24 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-23 04:33 pm (UTC)I still say they should have tried the bunt at least once, though.
no subject
on 2005-10-23 04:58 pm (UTC)