OK, can we finally agree that White Sox are for real?

	Joe Crede put the White Sox ahead for good with his fourth-inning homer, but it was his glove work at third that kept them there. Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
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CHICAGO -- Five points to ponder before Game 2 of the World Series, scheduled for Sunday night at U.S. Cellular Field. Lefties Andy Pettitte of the Astros and Mark Buehrle of the White Sox will start. The Sox won Game 1, 5-3.

First things first

One game, of course, is not such a big deal. The Red Sox spotted the Yankees three games last postseason, if you'll remember, and the Red Sox managed to muddle through.

Still, with their win Saturday night in the opener, the White Sox have proven to any remaining doubters out there that they are no mere muddlers. The best record in the American League, a blowout of the defending World Series champs, an easy walk through the AL Championship Series and, now, beating one of the best pitchers of all time (the Astros' Roger Clemens lasted only two innings in Game 1) in the World Series ... well, if people don't realize the Sox are for real by now, they probably should stick with the NFL.

These are heady days for the Sox. After that win Saturday, the Sox have this to look forward to: Three more fresh starters on deck, a bullpen that looks untouchable (see below), an aggressive offense that can make runs where there seemingly are none, a manager who never lets off the gas pedal and another game, Sunday night, in front of a loud home crowd.

Yes, in a Series like this, things can change in the time it takes to burp up a Chico Carrasquel hot dog. They often do. An injury to your guy, an outstanding performance by one of theirs and, suddenly, things no longer look so good.

But for right now, on this magical weekend in the Windy City, the White Sox are kings.

For right now.

Glovin' it

Not since The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has a man with leather made so much noise.

White Sox third baseman Joe Crede had that solo homer in the fourth inning, which was nice and all. But his work around third base, all night, made him the MVP of Game 1. It started with gunning down Craig Biggio, the first batter of the game, after fielding a slow chopper in the hole.

Then, in succession, Crede backhanded a bouncer in front of the bag to throw out Adam Everett in the fifth; snagged a grounder from Biggio, the next batter; stopped a sizzling shot from Morgan Ensberg with a man on third in the sixth inning; then went to his knees to stop another Biggio shot in the seventh, stranding another runner on third.

After the game, the name "Brooks Robinson" was uttered in the same breath as "Crede." That might be a bit of blasphemy. Still, the point is taken.

"There's no bigger stage," Crede said. "To be compared to all those great players, it's definitely an honor."

We forget about defense sometimes and its importance in winning the World Series. We won't forget about Crede's glove from now on.

Pettitte the Stopper

The Astros need a big start Sunday night, and no one on the staff -- that includes Clemens -- has pitched more big games in the World Series than Pettitte, the former Yankees lefty who will be making his 11th Series start.

Pettitte's outings in the Series haven't always gone well, as Pettitte will point out. He blames himself for the Yankees' loss to the Diamondbacks in the 2001 World Series, especially for an awful start in Game 6. The Yankees were looking to clinch at that point, but Pettitte lasted just two innings, gave up seven hits and six runs, and the Yankees lost 15-2, necessitating a seventh game that the Diamonbacks would win in thrilling style.

As bad as that game was for Pettitte, though, he has had some good starts. In the '98 World Series, for instance, he went 7 1/3 innings, scattered five hits and didn't allow a run in the Yankees' 3-0 Series-clinching win over the Padres.

Overall, Pettitte is 3-4 in World Series starts with a 3.90 ERA. He'll need to do better than that Sunday night in Chicago if the Astros aren't to fall into a bad, bad place.

A DH for the Astros

Nobody doesn't like Jeff Bagwell. And, given the choice of playing a veteran like Bagwell in the World Series and a rookie like, say, Chris Burke, it's easy to see why Houston manager Phil Garner went with Bags.

But Bagwell has not been looking particularly good in his plate appearances this postseason, not surprising for a guy with 12 second-half at-bats. Bags went to the plate four times in Game 1, was plunked twice, flew out to left field and struck out in the fateful eighth. For the postseason, he is now officially 1-for-5 with a single and an RBI.

Garner admitted Saturday that his heart played a big part in his selection of Bags as the DH. That's nice and all, and good for Bagwell and the loyal Astros fans, but the skipper may have to put aside the sentiments for the good of the team, maybe as early as Game 2.

If Bags, still suffering the effects of the shoulder surgery he had in May, can't consistently drive the ball -- something a DH, at the least, should be able to do -- Garner needs to think about Burke or someone else in that role. Every at-bat counts.

Closing the door

Some concern lingered before Game 1 about the fitness of the White Sox bullpen. No one back there had pitched in 11 days, since the first game of the ALCS against the Angels. Relievers, the belief goes, need their work.

So nobody knew quite what to expect when manager Ozzie Guillen pulled starter Jose Contreras after one batter in the eighth inning of Game 1, with the Sox ahead 4-3.

Well, now we know. Hold the Rust-oleum. These guys will be just fine.

Lefty Neal Cotts gave up a hard-hit single to Lance Berkman, the first batter he faced. But then Cotts calmed himself, staying to strike out Ensberg and lefty Mike Lamb. Cotts then gave way to young righty Bobby Jenks, who blew away Bagwell and Jason Lane, got Brad Ausmus on a grounder to shortstop, then whiffed Everett to end the game.

The Sox bullpen is an interesting place. Damaso Marte, the one-time closer, lost the good will of Guillen but the manager kept him on the postseason roster anyway. Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez is back there, too, ready for some long work, if needed. Cotts and Cliff Politte have been steady all season long.

But the face of the bullpen now belongs to the 24-year-old, 270-pound Jenks. Guillen has shown an unerring faith in him in the past few weeks. And after Saturday, you know that the manager won't hesitate to make the call again.

Jenks should continue to have a lot of success, for a couple of reasons. One, he throws heat, hitting 100 mph on the radar gun Saturday night.

And two, the Astros just can't lay off it.