The White Sox's Clean SweepWell, it took me a while for it all to sink in. The White Sox won the World Series in a clean sweep. I found myself wishing it would go on for at least one more game. But a clean sweep, it’s just brilliant.

Chicago is not the biggest metropolis, though it’s certainly substantial, yet Chicagoans manage to support two major league teams. Not only do they support these teams, they fervently support these teams. The most amazing thing about this support is that neither the Sox nor the Cubbies have been winners. Is it America’s love of the underdog?

Does this also explain the disdain for the Yankees? ‘Damn Yankees’ is part of the American vernacular. Outside the 5 boroughs is there anyone who really roots for the Yankees? I say this even though I have a soft spot in my heart for Derek Jeter. He always puts the team before himself. But, Derek Jeter does not a team make.

I just remembered a song from ‘Damn Yankees’: “You’ve gotta have heart“. The coach is talking to the disgruntled players:

See boys, that’s what I’m talking about. Baseball is only one half skill, the
other half is something else…..something bigger!
You’ve gotta have….Heart! All you really need is heart!
When the odds are sayin’ you’ll never win,
that’s when the grin should start!*

Yeah, the Sox have heart. that and a great bull pen. The best part was that it was good baseball. It was team baseball, not superstar- -stuff-your-pockets-full-of-money-and-steroids baseball. Of course, I do have a criticism.

It’s time to bring the automatic replay to baseball. It has done wonders for football. It’s time for it to be embraced by MLB. There were too many bad calls throughout the playoffs and the series itself. The worst, I suppose, was the home plate ump’s call in the playoffs. It should have been the first base ump’s call, but he wasn’t looking. Never did find out what he was doing, not earning his money that’s for sure.

But there were a few other questionable calls. There were far too many questionable calls. Get that video screen on the field. Let the umps see for themselves.

Other than that though, it was a great series (albeit, too short). The teams were well matched. But the Sox just had a better bull pen. They’ve erased the shame of the ‘Black’ Sox scandal and shaken the curse off forever. The Astros’ time will come and they probably won’t have to wait 88 years.

In the meantime, let’s hear it for the Sox. Wotta a team!

*”You Gotta Have Heart”

See boys, that’s what I’m talking about. Baseball is only one half skill, the
other half is something else…..something bigger!
You’ve gotta have….Heart! All you really need is heart!
When the odds are sayin’ you’ll never win,
that’s when the grin should start!
You’ve gotta have hope!
Musn’t sit around and mope.
Nuthin’ half as bad as it may appear,
wait’ll next year and hope.
When your luck is battin’ zero,
get your chin up off the floor.
Mister, you can be a hero.
You can open any door.
There’s nothin’ to it, but to do it.
You’ve gotta have heart!
Miles and miles and miles of heart!
Oh, it’s fine to be a genius of course!
But keep that ol’ horse before the cart!
First you’ve got to have heart!
A great pitcher, we haven’t got!
A great slugger, we haven’t got!
A great pitcher, we haven’t got!
All:
What’ve we got? We’ve got heart!
All you really need is heart!
When the odds are sayin’, You’ll never win,
that’s when the grin should start!
We’ve got hope!
We don’t sit around and mope!
Not a solitary sob do we heave,
Mister ’cause we’ve got hope.
We’re so happy, that we’re hummin’.
That’s the heart-y thing to do.
‘Cause we know our ship will come in!
Hmm, hmm, hmm
So it’s ten years over due!
Hoo, hoo, hoo. We’ve got heart!
Miles and miles and miles of heart!
Oh it’s fine to be a genius of course,
but keep that old horse before the cart!
So what the heck’s the use of cryin’?
Why should we curse?
We’ve got to get better……
….’cause we can’t get worse!
And to add to it; we’ve got heart!
We’ve got heart! We’ve got Heart!