Black Betsy

Morning After Thoughts

As congratulations pour into my e-mail inbox...

• I cannot fault the choice of Jermaine Dye as World Series MVP. Jermaine came up big in games 1, 3 and 4. He hit over .400 in the World Series with a homer and 3 RBI. He is also a solid citizen, quiet and productive. However, any one of about 12 Sox players could probably get this award, it was such a team effort. In terms of post-season awards, I would much prefer an award similar to the Conn Smythe trophy in the NHL for most outstanding player in the playoffs. That way, we could reward performance throughout the playoffs. My personal Conn Smythe trophy recipient (call it the "Mickey Mantle" award or something) would be Joe Crede, who hit .289/.327/.622 with 4 HR and 11 RBI and played stellar defense in the ALCS and World Series. He won Game 2 of the ALCS, and tied up Game 5 of the ALCS, and provided the winning margin in Game 1 of the World Series. A close second to Paul Konerko, who hit .265/.321/.612 with 5 HR and 15 RBI. He provided the winning margin in Game 3 of the ALDS and Games 3 and 4 of the ALCS. He also provided the greatest thrill of my sporting life with that grand slam in Game 2. Podsednik, Contreras and Garcia would also get votes.

• Last night, my wife brought up champagne when the Sox won. We popped it open and toasted the Sox. After a bit, she said "I don't really like this champagne all that much." I responded, "It's the best champagne I've ever tasted in my life."

• Group Four's contribution in the playoffs - Blum 1-2, 1 HR (game winner), 1 RBI; Harris 2-2, 1 run scored (game winner), 1 RBI; Widger 0-1, 2 BB, 1 RBI; Ozuna, 1 run scored (game winner), 1 SB. Total - 3 for 4, 1 HR, 3 runs (all game winners), 3 RBI, and 2 SB. Now THAT is an effort.

• Ring up the cash registers - I've already bought the DVD, the Black World Champions Hat, and two T-Shirts. Based on merchandise purchases alone, I expect the Sox to be able to bump up the team salary by oh, say, $100 million.

• Jerry Reinsdorf was classy in accepting the World Series trophy. He congratulated the Astros first, and then got a little choked up in crediting his organization and team. For a guy who is often criticized and stays away from the media, he really connected with Sox fans on the podium last night. World Series trophies tend to do that. It was also classy that they brought the entire Sox organization down to Houston.

• The Houston Astros are a class team and they have classy fans. Way to go Houston for asking for an encore from your team. I often root for the Astros in the National League, so I hope you get your World Series soon. But not if you are playing the White Sox.

• Team ERA for the playoffs: 2.55. Wow. Starters - 2.84 ERA (0.97 WHIP!). Relievers - 1.29 ERA.

• The club hit .272/.345/.476 in the playoffs. Not only did the Sox have a higher average, but they were relatively more patient at the plate.

• The Sox honestly have the Minnesota Twins to thank for all of this. Having your brains kicked in for three years (four if you count 2001) by a team that plays great defense and does not beat itself is a powerful lesson. Kenny Williams learned the lesson, got a former Twin (Pierzynski), got the horses, and out-Twinned the Twins this year. We owe the Twins a debt of gratitude for making the Sox stronger.

• Paul Konerko is the White Sox postseason career leader in HR and RBI. Those totals were built up this year - Paulie did nothing in the 2000 ALDS. Joe Jackson still has the record for hits, with 17 over the 1917 and 1919 World Series.

• The Twins won the World Series in John Rooney's last year with the Twins. The Sox's new strategy should be to rehire and fire Rooney every year.

• Wow. I finally get to order one of those Sports Illustrated commemorative things!