For the first time in 102 years, both Chicago baseball teams had a chance this postseason to make it all the way and win the World Series. Chicago was hoping for a Red Line World Series, which would have intensified the already heated rivalry between the two teams. The Chicago Cubs, searching to end 100 years of futility to win their first World Series Championship in a century; the Chicago White Sox, looking to repeat their 2005 campaign and capture their second World Series title in three years. However, after the first week of the Major League Baseball playoffs, both teams will have to keep searching in 2009.
The team from the north side of town dominated the National League this season, posting the best record in the league with 97 wins and 64 losses. The Cubs were on top of the National League Central Division for most of the year, leading them to win the division in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1906 to 1908. Wrigley Field lived up to its nickname, The Friendly Confines, with the Cubs posting a 55-26 record at home for the best record at Wrigley since 1935.
Carlos Zambrano pitched the Cubs’ first no-hitter in 36 years on September 14th against the Houston Astros in a game that had been relocated to Miller Park, in Milwaukee, due to Hurricane Ike. Ted Lilly added to history the next day when he pitched a seven inning one-hitter against the same Astros. It was the first time in history that a one-hitter had ever followed a no-hitter. The summer was highlighted with the Cubs sending a club-record eight players, including National League Rookie of the Year candidate Geovany Soto, and manager Lou Piniella to the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.
With a dominating pitching staff and productive offense, the Chicago Cubs led most National League pitching and hitting categories. With new editions, Jim Edmonds, Reed Johnson, Kosuke Fukudome, and Rich Harden, the hard working offense and pitching staff boosted the Cubs late in the season, allowing the Cubs to clinch on September 20th, eight days before the regular season ended.
While the offense and stellar defense propelled the Cubs to many exciting finishes during the regular season, the two forces seemed to disappear against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. The Cubs lost three straight games and were eliminated from the first round of the postseason for the second year in a row. Disappointed Cubs fans will have to wait yet another year for a chance at the World Series.On the south side of Chicago, the story was written slightly different than their neighbors to the north. The Chicago White Sox were not expected to win the division this year, but they defied the odds and critics by battling their way to the top of the American League Central Division. The Sox finished first with 89 wins and 74 losses, improving from their 72 win and 90 loss 2007 campaign. Due to a tie for the division with the Minnesota Twins, the White Sox played a tiebreaker the day after the regular season ended. The White Sox won the game 1-0 thanks to Jim Thome’s 34th home run of the season.
The surprise story of the season for the White Sox was newly acquired outfielder, Carlos Quentin. In one-hundred-thirty games, he led the teams in runs batted in and home runs. Quentin put the Sox in a position to make the playoffs before he went down at the beginning of September with a broken bone in his wrist. Also pitching in on offense, infielder Alexei Ramirez made a strong bid for American League Rookie of the Year with four grand slams and 77 runs batted in.
Another key player for the White Sox this season was starting pitcher, Gavin Floyd. Leading the team with seventeen wins, Floyd pitched in 33 games, striking out 145 batters. The bullpen was one of the deciding factors for the White Sox this season. When they were hot, they were unstoppable, but at other times they often blew leads and gave up more runs than the Sox could add back.
The fact that the White Sox played three different teams in the final three days of the season in order to win the Central Division could be a reason why they also made an early exit from the postseason. The Sox faced the American League East’s surprise team in the Tampa Bay Rays, losing the first two games in Tampa Bay. However, the Sox came home to a “Blackout” at U.S. Cellular Field, and beat the Rays, but suffered defeat for the last time in game four, when they were eliminated from the playoffs.
The Chicago Cubs and White Sox gave Chicago baseball fans an exhilarating 2008 season they will never forget. As the other teams continue on in hopes of winning the 2008 World Series, the Chicago teams and players return home for a long winter in hopes of bringing World Series hopes back to Chicago in 2009.
By Elizabeth Maluta, staff writer
