15 seasons ago, the Chicago White Sox ended an 88-year World Series drought under second-year manager and former Gold Glove shortstop Ozzie Guillen.
The team posted a 99-63 record and won the AL Central division title. Their postseason run started with a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS. Next, the White Sox defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 4-1 (their only loss in the postseason). They then swept the Houston Astros in the World Series, in four games.
Here’s a look back at that team and their impact on the team in the 2005 season. After showcasing the offense last time around, it is now time to focus on pitching.
Starting Rotation
Although he only posted a 16-8 regular-season record with a 3.12 ERA, he was an All-Star selection.
He was also an All-Star selection and tallied an 18-10 record with a 3.50 ERA, including three complete game shutouts.
After joining the team at the trade deadline the prior season from the Yankees, he went 15-7 with a 3.61 ERA.
Garcia posted a regular season record of 14-8 with an ERA of 3.87.
Another former Yankee, Hernandez joined the White Sox pitching staff and posted a 9-9 regular season record with a 5.12 ERA.
The bullpen included the likes of Dustin Hermanson, Cliff Politte, Neal Cotts, Luis Vizcaino, Damaso Marte, Shingo Takatsu, Brandon McCarthy, and closer Bobby Jenks.
But the story of this pitching staff was their postseason performance.
Buerhle, Garland, Contreras, and Garcia each had a complete game victory in the ALCS against the Angels. Contreras was the only Chicago pitcher to record a loss in the postseason, albeit in another complete game effort.
Hernandez pitched out of the bullpen throughout the postseason. In four total innings in relief, he only allowed one hit and no runs.
The bullpen didn’t see much postseason action collectively, with the exception of Jenks. In six postseason appearances, he posted a 0.60 ERA and four saves. He did blow a save in the World Series against the Astros after not making an appearance in the ALCS but the White Sox came back and won that game.
Although Konerko, Dye, and co. provided the offense, the pitching staff’s postseason dominance over the Red Sox, Angels and Astros played more of a critical role for the White Sox to end their 88-year drought. Plus, credit must be given to manager Ozzie Guillen for having the confidence in his staff to leave them in there to finish games. Not many managers would have kept sending their starters back in there inning after inning regardless of how they were pitching.
