Congratulations to the Chicago White Sox and Fans

for shaking off all the bad calls (I know they all seemed to go the Sox way) and absolutely crushing the Angels. The Sox pitching staff turned in one of the most dominating performances, in a playoff setting, this side of the '69 and '73 Mets.

Only 2/3 of an inning of relief. Incredible. The Sox I feel bad for are Dustin Hermanson, whose aching back seems to have made him a forgotten man, and maybe Frank Thomas.

Pitching coach Don Cooper mentioned four or five different relievers for praise, without mentioning the guy who probably got his bad back from carrying the bullpen through the White Sox early season domination.

Now Bobby Jenks is the fair-haired boy (closer). I guess that's how it goes, you always lose your job to injury. At least, that's what Wally Pipp told me.

It's amazing that we again see a team, without it's superstar, marquee player, playing better, more team-oriented ball in that players absence. And to think, Kenny Williams was receiving trade deadline pressure to add Ken Griffey, Jr. When will we ever learn?

So far today, Chicago fans haven't seemed to digest the good news completely. It's almost as if they think there's going to be some post-series review of the umpires calls (which there should be, behind the scenes) and upon such further review, they'll be called back to spot of Pierzynski's Bluff. Or, that it was all some sort of J.R. Ewing, "Dallas"-style dream that they'll wake up from.

Pinch yourselves and get ready for Houston, I believe. Two new teams, a poster series for competetive balance. Who needs a salary-cap anyway?

Hopefully, the Cardinals-Astros series goes seven games so the pattern of the prior two series repeats in the Sox favor. The umpire calls were a bonus, but the main reason they were able to flatten both the Angles and the Red Sox, rest and aligning their starters for the next opponent. The Angels looked spent (old) after being extended in the Yankee series.

But to the victor, goes the spoils. That early season 15-game lead allowed the Sox to position themselves for this type of run and they are doing it.

The only bad news for me is that if the White Sox get their World Championship after the Red Sox got theirs last year, the longest record of futility will belong to my Giants and the Cubs. Maybe those two will battle it out next year. I guess now I'm dreaming. Anyway.....

Go, go, go go White Sox........see you in the Series.