Inside the numbers

October 28, 2005
4
Games in the 2005 World Series decided by 1 or 2 runs — the first time that has happened in a four-game series sweep.
Of the 17 previous sweeps, only two had as many as three games decided by 1 or 2 runs: the Boston Braves’ triumph over the Philadelphia Athletics in 1914 and the New York Yankees’ victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in 1950.
1.5
Average margin of victory for the White Sox in the World Series, matching the narrowest margin by a sweeping victor. The Yankees did it in 1950 over the Phillies, with three 1-run wins and another by 3 runs. Until the 2005 Series, the average four-game cumulative margin had been 12.7 runs (368-152, for a 216-run edge in 17 series). The 1932 Yankees and the 1989 Oakland A’s inflicted the biggest blowouts, each scoring 18 more runs than their opponent.
18 of 19
The White Sox shut out the Houston Astros in 18 of the Series’ last 19 innings. After scoring 4 runs through four innings in Game 3, Houston managed just an eighth-inning Game 3 run over the next 10 innings of that contest, and the team did not score in Game 4. The 18-of-19 Sox stinginess matches the performance by the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 World Series. After St. Louis scored a run in the eighth inning of Game 2, the Cardinals scored 1 more run the rest of the Series.
.253
Houston’s batting average through the eighth inning of Game 3 (24-for-95).
.104
Houston’s batting average for the final six innings of Game 3 and all of Game 4. Houston went 0-for-19 to end Game 3 and managed only 5 hits in 29 at-bats in Game 4. For the series, Houston batted .203.
7
Innings pitched by White Sox starters in each of the four World Series games.
6
Of the 11 Astros pitchers who saw action, six gave up more hits than innings pitched. The struggle was from start (Roger Clemens, 4 hits in 2 innings of Game 1) to finish (Brad Lidge, 4 hits in 32/3 innings), with a particularly devastating outing (Ezequiel Astacio, 4 hits in two-thirds of an inning) in between. Of the 11 White Sox pitchers who saw action, only one gave up more hits than innings pitched (Dustin Hermanson, 1 hit in one-third of an inning).
1
Astro, among the nine who had at least 8 at bats, who hit for a higher average in the World Series than in the playoff games leading up to the Series (Lance Berkman, who hit .314 in the NL playoffs and .385 in the World Series). The biggest drops were Adam Everett (.270 heading into Series, .067 during) and Morgan Ensberg (.256 before Series, .111 during).
13
Series-high total bases (in a series-high 21 at-bats) for White Sox’ outfielder Scott Podsednik, buoyed by 2 triples and a Game 2 walk-off homer. In contrast, his last 11 hits of the regular season were all singles. Leadoff hitter Podsednik’s 6 hits, 21-at bats and .619 slugging percentage all matched the 2004 World Series numbers posted by Johnny Damon, who led off for the Boston Red Sox in 2004.
27-24
White Sox record in postseason history, including a 17-13 mark in World Series history. In playoff appearances in 1983, 1993 and 2000, the Sox dropped 10 of 13 games before going 11-1 this postseason.
11-4
Average postseason record of World Series winners since the introduction of division series action in 1995. Other than the White Sox, only one other champion, the 1999 New York Yankees, went 11-1.

Source: http://www.dailyherald.com/