In 1906 the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox faced off in the sixth World Series. The Cubs coasted into the post-season, clinching the pennant with weeks to go. The Sox dragged it out, winning the pennant in the last week. The Cubs were unbeatable on paper, they had more wins than any team in both league for the regular season. The Sox got lucky and snuck in with the worst batting average in the AL. The Cubs were guaranteed to win, with papers all but calling the series a lock. The White Sox won the series in six games. The two teams haven't been in the post-season until now, this week, 102 years later.
The Cubs clinched the NL Central with a game and two series to go. The White Sox dragged it out, losing a 2 and a half game lead in the last week of the season only to regain it in a one game playoff. The Cubs ended the season with the best record in the NL. The Sox were lucky enough to be in a division where the first place record was worse than the wild card record. The Cubs are the NL favorite. The White Sox will be lucky to advance to round two. In spite of all of this, it wouldn't surprise me to see another Crosstown Classic.
In my ideal world, the Cubs and Sox trade off World Series trophies yearly, the Bulls are consistently in the playoffs, the Bears defense is menacing, the running game is solid (even in my picturesque world the Bears don't have a great QB, I'm not crazy) and all the Hawks games are actually on television, not Hawkvision. Chicagoans should be thrilled both baseball clubs have made it this far. The Cubs accomplishments aren't diminished by the Sox success and the Sox are getting just as much coverage as they would have if the Cubs remained loveable losers.
Let's hope that both teams win the pennant and meet off the Red Line later this month. Since god (I'll start believing in god if the following happens) may read this, I'll give you my ideal 2008 World Series.
Game 1
October 22
U.S. Cellular Field
Mark Burhle takes the mound for the South Side. Alfonso Soriano hits a lead off home run. Burhle retires the next three. Zambrano retires Cabrera, gives up a solo shot to Alexi Ramirez and proceeds to get out the next two batters. The teams' two fastest pitchers, both in terms of speed of pitch and time between tosses, make this game the quickest in World Series history. The teams are tied 1-1 until the 9th. Both starters remain in the game until the 9th. It's a pitchers duel. A classic match. The Sox bring in Jenks. Jenks does his job, striking out Theriot and grounding out Lee on a sharp hit to third (the first of many amazing plays by Juan Uribe). Aramis Ramirez is not as easy. After getting the count to 3 and 2, Ramirez begins to hit foul ball after foul ball. After five or six fouls, Jenks losses a little control and Aramis makes the most of it. Home run. Cubs up 2 to 1. Soto is up next and grounds out to Konerko at first. Surprisingly, no fights break out. The Cubs bring in Wood for the bottom of the ninth. Wood almost gives up a home run to his first batter, Jim Thome, but thanks to the fielding of Jim Edmonds, a home run is averted. The next two batters go down easy. The Cubs lead the series 1-0. There are no fights inside or outside the park.
Game 2
October 23
U.S. Cellular Field
Mayor Daley throws out the first pitch. Ryan Dempster takes the mound for the Cubs. He gives up six home runs over seven innings. Since we're talking about the Sox, five out of six of these home runs are solo shots. The Sox win seven to four. It's a relatively uneventful game. No close calls, no collisions at the plate, no drop third strikes. The series is tied 1-1. There are no fights inside or outside the park.
Game 3
October 25
Wrigley Field
This one is for the golden oldies. Jim Edmonds and Ken Griffey Jr. have landmark games, with each center fielder going 3 for 4 with a walk. Ted Lilly and John Denks throw well, but the wind is blowing out and Wrigley Field is ecstatic to see it's first World Series game in over 60 years (The 1908 Cubs played at the West Side Grounds and the 45 Cubs only won one home game against the Tigers). The game is tied 10-10 in the eighth when the Cubs blow it out of the water. Lee leads off with a double. Ramirez is walked. Soto bunts to advance the two to third and second. With one out, Jim Edmonds hits a double, driving in both men. Daryl Ward pinch hits a single, making it 13-10. Wood gets the save. The Cubs lead the series 2-1. There are no fights inside or outside the park.
Game 4
October 26
Wrigley Field
This is the game baseball analysts will talk about how this is truly the first World Series game that uses the word 'world' correctly. Kosuke Fukudome, Alexi Ramirez, Aramis Ramirez and Orlando Cabrera are breakout stars, making daredevil catches and hitting superbly in clutch situations. Cubs mid-season pickup Rich Harden pitches a complete game, giving up hits to only Ramirez and Cabrera. These happen to be home runs. The Cubs win the game 3-2. The Cubs lead the series 3-1. There are no fights inside or outside the park.
Game 5
October 27
Wrigley Field
Presidential hopeful Barack Obama throws out the first pitch. He does so wearing a White Sox hat. He gets a standing ovation. Carlos Zambrano takes the mound for the Cubs, Burhle for the Sox. The two veterans again go til the 9th. Zambrano gives up solo shots to Konerko, Thome and Dye. Burhle is the victim of home runs by Lee, Ramirez and Theriot. The Cubs lead 5-4 going in to the 9th. They bring in Wood. He gives up a lead-off single to Juan Uribe. He strikes out pinch hitter Nick Swisher. Lead-off hitter Orlando Cabrera singles. Men at third and first. One out. A.J. Pierzynski hits a ground ball to shortstop Ryan Theriot, he goes to second with a throw to Fontenot who turns the double play to Lee. From Theriot to Fontenot to Lee does not become a poem ala Tinkers to Evers to Chance, but the trio do record the last two outs for the Cubs. Lee gives the game ball to Wood. The White Sox shake hands with the Cubs, like they're all in Little League. Ozzie and Lou hug each other. Aramis Ramirez is named series MVP. The Cubs win the series 4-1. There are no fights inside or outside the park.
That's it. I don't think it's too much to ask. The Cubs have to win it all sooner or later, so it might as well happen in Chicago, on the North Side, without any fights. Also, the good people at Fox will not show any footage of frat boys on the North Side or white trash on the South Side. No stereotypes. In fact, the only crowd shots will be of children 10 and under and the elderly 65 and older.
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