ALCS Game 2 Notes

The White Sox won game two over the Anaheim Angels on one of the most controversial calls in baseball history Wednesday night. A.J. Pierzynski swung and missed for strike three, thought he had not been called out because the ball hit the dirt, ran to first base, and was called safe by the home plate umpire. Pablo Ozuna then pinch ran, stole second, and scored on Joe Crede's two strike, two out single. Californians (the 17 of them who care about baseball) are up in arms. The media is calling for the installment of instant replay ASAP. Sweet Tim McCarver shat his pants in the booth after Chicago won. "The White Sox didn't deserve to win. The Angels were robbed!"

So what?! We'll take it. You take 10 or 15 different strike calls AGAINST the White Sox from game two, over-analyze every one of them, theoretically prove that those calls went against the Sox, and then say that the game was ruined. That's what drives me crazy about all of these calls for instant replay this week. There were bad calls made all game, against the Sox and Angels. It just so happens that a possible "bad call" was made in the bottom of the ninth when Chicago was able to push the winning run across the plate.

We still had to have pinch runner Ozuna steal second. Still had to have Joe Crede go down 0-2 in the count so Ozuna could get THAT base. And we still needed Joe Crede to crush a ball off the left field. All of that still had to happen for the White Sox to win the game. So get over it, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire Angels. The series ain't over. But if Jon Garland gets back into first half form tonight, you guys are dead in the water (Donnie, The Big Lebowski).

In my opinion the series has been so close so far, so well-pitched, that it IS fair the teams go back to Anaheim tied at one's. This weekend will decide the series. Is anyone listening to me? Ah, screw it. Godfather II is on cable. I'm gonna have some birthday cake in Havana.