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Posted: Friday October 21, 2005 12:16PM; Updated: Friday October 21, 2005 4:55PM
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World Series Preview: Astros vs. White Sox
First Base
Lance Berkman still is the Astros' most likely candidate to play first, and he's probably best put there, considering his bad knee limits his mobility. He can swing, though, and has an OPS above 1.000 in the postseason. (He's much better from the left side.) He'll move to left field if the Astros want to get Mike Lamb in the lineup.
Paul Konerko won the American League Championship Series MVP by smacking two home runs and driving in seven runs against the Angels in five games. It was no fluke: He hit 40 homers and knocked in 100 RBIs during the season. He's the No. 1 force -- and the only reliable bat -- in the middle of the Chicago attack.
The Edge: White Sox
Second Base
Craig Biggio has made it into his first World Series in style, hitting .326 from the leadoff spot with an on-base percentage near .400 this postseason. He's as solid as he's ever been at second base, too, a Hall of Fame kind of player who's somebody everyone can root for.
As a No. 2 hitter, Tadahito Iguchi does it all for the White Sox -- just not this postseason. He's hitting .207 and his OBP is slightly above .300. Those are a long way from his numbers during the regular season. He has power and can steal a base, but he needs to show it.
The Edge: Astros
Third Base
Morgan Ensberg, who led the Astros with 36 homers this season, still is looking for homer No. 1 this postseason and was ineffective (.292 OBP) in the NLCS. He's driven in nine runs, though, best on the team. He's a good glove over at third, too.
Joe Crede hit .368 in the ALCS against the Angels, with two homers and seven RBIs, numbers that should have won him the MVP. Over the course of the season, though, Crede has proven to be a streaky hitter. The Sox need him on a good streak for the Series.
The Edge: Astros
Shortstop
Adam Everett's defense makes up for an average bat. He's got great range, sure hands and an accurate arm. He's hit .270 this postseason, but his .282 OBP is the lowest of any Houston regular. Any help the Astros get from him offensively is pure gravy.
The Sox like Juan Uribe even with his unorthodox defense. That's because he can get hot (.308 this postseason), he has power and even with his weird way of grabbing the ball, he's a very good defensive player. He's a plus at the bottom of the lineup.
The Edge: White Sox
Catcher
Brad Ausmus is a veteran catcher handling a veteran staff, which is exactly what the Astros want him to do. He had a huge homer in the 18-inning win over the Braves in the Division Series, but outside of that he's driven in just one run in nine games.
Nobody has made more noise this postseason than A.J. Pierzynski. And most of the noise is extraneous. Still, he's a heady player (as that dash to first proved) who has power (three postseason homers) and the confidence of his pitching staff.
The Edge: White Sox
Designated Hitter
The DH is a bonus position for the NL's representative, to be used only in Chicago. The Astros figure to go with either Lamb (who swings left-handed) or Chris Burke (righty), depending on who's pitching. Lefty Orlando Palmeiro is also a possibility, and don't be surprised to see Jeff Bagwell in there.
The best thing about Carl Everett is that the White Sox won't miss him much when the DH gets dropped for the middle three games in Houston. Everett, a switch-hitter, has zero extra-base hits and only three RBIs this postseason.
The Edge: Astros

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