Astros In World Series; A Few Red Sox Notes

Congratulations to the Astros and city of Houston for reaching their first World Series in franchise history (43 years). The Astros defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in six games, making the Cardinals of 2004 and 2005 the best team to never win a World Series. Changes are on the horizon in the Gateway City -- a new ballpark and maybe an entirely different outfield will be in place in St. Louis in 2006. The Astros are now off to Chicago's South Side to face the White Sox. Game 1 is on Saturday night. The ChiSox have an even longer stretch of futility than the Astros -- they haven't won a World Series since 1917 and they haven't even appeared in the Fall Classic since 1959. This should be a World Series that will appeal to those of us who enjoy great pitching, solid defense and timely hitting. Both Houston (Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt and Brandon Backe) and Chicago (Jose Contreras, Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia) have great starting pitching and both teams have above average bullpens as well. TheBostonInsider says the Astros will take this series in 6. As for the Red Sox, it was a year ago tonight that the Sox went into New York and defeated the Yankees in Game 7 to finish the greatest comeback in baseball history in the ALCS. Of course, as we all know, the Red Sox then swept the Cardinals to win the World Series. Third base coach Dale Sveum resigned yesterday to take the same job with the Milwaukee Brewers. Sveum will now be payed to get Brewers thrown out at home plate instead of Red Sox. Also in Sox news, USA Today is saying today that the Red Sox have offered Manny Ramirez to the New York Mets for Carlos Beltran. Beltran is one of the few (if not the only) players the Red Sox could bring back in a trade for Ramirez that could even imagine to replace No. 24's production.