Congratulations to the Chicago White Sox 

Posted 11:06 PM by Sean
Well, after six and a half months and 172 games, the doomsayers finally got one right.

My initial reaction is, of course, disappointment. Not disappointment in losing, exactly, but in playing so poorly in a series that was, when you get down to it, winnable. That's not to take anything away from the White Sox - they came through when it counted and proved themselves the better team - but after that first game the Angels just looked terrible, particularly at the plate. Chone Figgins and Vlad Guerrero are in serious danger of being labeled postseason nonentities, and for good reason. A team that never really had much offensive punch during the regular season saw it disappear entirely in the ALCS.

There were, of course, good things about this year - a second straight Western Division championship and sending the Yankees home in the ALDS, to name two. There are a lot of teams out there that would've loved to accomplish those things. I note here in passing that, since two-tiered playoffs began in 1995, the Angels have won four postseason series. The Mariners have won two. The Rangers and A's have won none.

There will be more to say in the next few days, but for now let's just congratulate the White Sox. For all the poor officiating - and honestly, at times it was simply gruesome - there's really no reasonable way to claim the Angels should have won this thing. I wish the Chicago club the best of luck in the World Series, and I hope that whichever team comes out of the NL gives them a better series than the Angels did.

The road to the threepeat starts in four months.