October 26, 200520 yr Wednesday, October 26 Minute Maid Park | 7:00 PM CT Freddy Garcia, RHP (0-0, -.--) White Sox @ Brandon Backe, RHP (0-0, -.--) Astros Scouting Report: Garcia is one of the few direct connections between the White Sox and the Astros, having started his career with Houston before being traded to Seattle as part of a trade for Randy Johnson. Garcia improved to 11-3 on the road this year, shutting down the Angels in the ALCS just days after his first child was born. Garcia stands as one of three White Sox pitchers with two postseason wins, having allowed 11 hits and five walks over 14 innings. Backe allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings on Oct. 16 in Game 4 of the NLCS, taking a no-decision in Houston's 2-1 win. The right-hander struck out seven and walked three in that start -- a much better one than his Division Series Game 4 start, during which he allowed five runs over 4 1/3 innings. Backe missed six weeks in the middle of the regular season with a strained intercostal muscle, but when he returned, he pitched well in key games down the stretch. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Well-rested Garcia has itch to clinch 10/25/2005 9:56 PM ET By Tom Singer / MLB.com HOUSTON -- If Jon Garland hands him some nails, Freddy Garcia will be more than qualified to hammer them into place. The Chicago White Sox designated "closer" will take the Minute Maid Park mound in Wednesday night's Game 4. Garcia doesn't close games; he closes pennant races and postseason series. Garland started Game 3 on Tuesday night and, while he was long gone by the time the record-laden 14-inning affair had ended, he helped to set the stage for Garcia to play closer again, this time in the World Series. With the White Sox holding a 3-0 Series lead, Garcia will be leaning on the pedal. Their near-death experience in the American League Central race has taught all of the White Sox to never let up. "We learned that we've got to go to the ballpark and play hard every night," Garcia said before Game 3. "If we continue playing the way we have been for two more nights, I think we've got a chance." Garcia started Chicago's AL Central clincher, on Sept, 29. He also finished off the three-game AL Division Series sweep of Boston, on Oct. 7. Now here's the cautionary note: He has taken only one other turn in that entire four-week span, when he tamed the Angels in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series, on Oct. 15 on seven days' rest. He will face the Astros following 10 days of inactivity. The back-to-back irregular starts could mess up a seven-year veteran accustomed to a routine. As Garcia said at the outset of the playoffs, when being slotted fourth in the White Sox rotation forewarned him of working on extra rest, "I'm the kind of pitcher, I like to pitch every five days. Sometimes [more rest], that's no good for me." The flip side is that Garcia probably benefits from the extended breaks, after a regular season in which he logged 228 innings, the second most of his career. "Freddy, before we got him, I think he was being used too much," said Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen, alluding to the 770 innings Garcia had logged in his last 3 1/2 seasons in Seattle prior to being acquired in June 2004. "He had a tendency to go down late in the season. I think he's stronger now because he's well-rested and he's ready to go." What he'll be ready to give, however, can't be known until Garcia actually takes the mound. Perhaps more so than with any other Chicago starter, he can be untouchable, or show up with an empty tank. Thirteen times this season, he went seven-plus innings and allowed two runs or fewer. But six other times, he lasted less than six and gave up five or more. That's a pretty healthy spread. Garcia promised to be on his best behavior, mindful of the dangers posed both by Minute Maid Park and its resident lineup, but also of the opportunity to face his original organization. "I don't think about the left-field line," Garcia said, referring to the short porch there. "The hitters still have to hit the ball. "You've got to be careful with [Lance] Berkman and [Morgan] Ensberg ... guys with a lot of power. And [Willy] Taveras, you can't let him get on base. But I'll pitch the way I have been pitching. I don't want to change my style." The Astros, always extremely proactive in scouting Latin America, signed Garcia as a 17-year-old out of Venezuela in 1993. He never reached Houston, but did reach top prospect status in its organization by 1998, when he was a key component of the trade package that brought Randy Johnson to Texas. The next year, Garcia broke in as a 17-game winner with the Mariners. "I appreciate everything that the Houston organization did for me. Good coaching, a lot of advice," said Garcia, who will try to express those thanks Wednesday night the only way he can, although it may not be in a way the Astros want to see. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
October 26, 200520 yr Author CHICAGO WHITE SOX Hitters AB R H BI BB K LO AVG S. Podsednik LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 T. Iguchi 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 J. Dye RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 P. Konerko 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 A. Pierzynski C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 A. Rowand CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 J. Crede 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 J. Uribe SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 F. Garcia P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - HOUSTON ASTROS Hitters AB R H BI BB K LO AVG C. Biggio 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 W. Taveras CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 L. Berkman LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .417 M. Ensberg 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 M. Lamb 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 J. Lane RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 B. Ausmus C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 A. Everett SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083 B. Backe P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Lets Go White Sox!!!!!!
October 26, 200520 yr Houston doesn't have the heart to come back. Another year, another WS sweep. Last night's game was fun to watch, but it still lacked the hype and fire that surrounds most WS games...
October 27, 200520 yr If the White Sox win tonight, who would get the MVP? Konerko? No one player has made a strong case for it.
October 27, 200520 yr If the White Sox win tonight, who would get the MVP? Konerko? No one player has made a strong case for it. I would say that Crede and Dye have, or even Podsednik.
October 27, 200520 yr Dye has been hitting great, but lacks any critical hits or RBIs. As far as memorable, Pos would be my pick so far with his clutch HR and a triple tonight.
October 27, 200520 yr Dye has been hitting great, but lacks any critical hits or RBIs. As far as memorable, Pos would be my pick so far with his clutch HR and a triple tonight. What about now?? RBI single for DYE 1-0 SOX!!!! 6 MORE OUTS!
October 27, 200520 yr Wow.. Brad Lidge again... What a different pitcher.. Nice RBI hit by Jermaine! Lidge=Kim 5 MORE OUTS!!!!!
October 27, 200520 yr Dye has been hitting great, but lacks any critical hits or RBIs. As far as memorable, Pos would be my pick so far with his clutch HR and a triple tonight. What about now?? RBI single for DYE 1-0 SOX!!!! 6 MORE OUTS! I just knew that was going happen. ChiSox bullpen looks shaky. They need 5 outs to clinch.
October 27, 200520 yr Well here we go...I hope the Astros put up a fight... Even though I have no interest in the series, it's always sad to see baseball over.
October 27, 200520 yr Author Lets Go Bobby Jenks........ Lets Go White Sox........ The Nastros are going down!
October 27, 200520 yr Fitting that it was a crappy ending to a crappy series. Congrats to the White Sox and all their fans who deserve this. I feel bad for Bagwell and Biggio.
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