Champs of the Past, Finale

As I said yesterday, we're wrapping the Champs of the Past series up today with the White Sox and Cardinals.

The Basics 
Record(s):
CHA 99-63
STL 83-78
Pythagorean Record(s):
CHA 91-71
STL 82-79
Manager(s):
CHA Ozzie Guillen
STL Tony LaRussa
General Manager(s)
CHA Ken Williams
STL Walt Jocketty
Inspirational Symbol(s)
CHA Ozzie Guillen, Frank Thomas
STL David Eckstein

Roster(s):
Catcher
CHA: A.J. Pierzynski took most of the reps and provided some pop behind the plate, but not much else except some post-season controversy. Chris Widger and even Raul Casanova saw some time behind the plate as well.

STL: Young Yadier played much like his brothers, good defensively, but not so much defensively. Gary Bennett was the primary backup and Mike Rose saw a few at-bats as well.

First Base/DH
CHA: Paul Konerko and a mix-mash of Carl Everett and Frank Thomas combined for a pretty effective trio with Konerko cashing in similar to Mike Lowell.

STL: The amazing Albert Pujols got his first and at the moment only ring at the age of 26. It was a typical Albert season: .431 on-base and .671 slugging. Ho-hum.

Second Base
CHA: Tadahito Iguchi, Willie Harris, Geoff Blum, and Pablo Ozuna all saw time at second. That’s more than a bit amusing.

STL: Ronnie Belliard was the defensive wunderkind, but Aaron Miles, Hector Luna, and even Jose Vizcaino saw time here. Again amusing.


Third Base
CHA: Joe Crede had a Rolen-esque year with the glove and with power. Not so much with getting on base, he managed to hold off the mighty Pablo Ozuna though.

STL: Scotts Rolen and Spiezio covered third, with Rolen showing why St. Louis jumped at the chance to acquire him a few seasons earlier. .369 OBP, .518 SLG, and stellar defense at third, um yes please?


Shorstop
CHA: Juan Uribe  and freaking Ozuna. For a guy with no offensive skills Ozuna sure did play a lot.

STL: Let me transcribe what Gary Thorne just said about Eckstein: “[Eckstein] is a spark plug, a lead by example guy who has done so on two World Series champions.” 

Outfield
CHA: Scott Podsednik went ape before re-becoming Scott Podsednik and made the Carlos Lee deal look good for a season. Jermaine Dye had a pretty good year, and Aaron Rowand was decent.

STL: Jim Edmonds headlined the offensive and defensive portion of the outfield. So Taguchi, Chris Duncan, and Juan Encarncion played second, third, and fourth fiddle until Preston Wilson arrived.

Rotation:
CHA: Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, Jose Contreras, Jon Garland, Orlando Hernandez, and Brandon McCarthy.

STL: Chris Carpenter, Mark Mulder, Jeff Weaver, Sidney Ponson, Anthony Reyes, and Jason Marquis all made starts.

Bullpen
CHA: Bobby Jenks, Dustin Hermanson, Neal Cotts, Cliff Politte, Damaso MArte, and Luis Vizcaino.

STL: Jason Isringhausen, Braden Looper, Randy Flores, Josh Hancock, and Adam Wainright.