10.22.2005 | Chicago's turn

Pity the Chicago baseball teams, mired in what seems to be decades upon decades of failure. The Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908. The Sox, who blasted their way into this year's fall classic, haven't even appeared in the Series since 1959, and last won it 1n 1917. That's a long time between drinks.

And, after this long dry spell, the pale hose from Chicago will face...a wild card team that got lucky and has never once even appeared in the Series in the franchise's history. Speaking of a team that plays in Houston, Texas. As the old-timers say, "it just ain't right, I tells ya..."

I can get used to the idea that baseball is now played in deserts and swamps, south of Washington, DC, and west of the Mississippi River. Contrary to God's natural laws, of course, but these are hardly our worst transgressions against the Big Guy. No, the real offense here is the fact that here's a team, the Astros, that did not win anything. Yet, through two "championship" series, were able to defeat two teams with better season records. In a fair universe, the St. Louis Cardinals, with the best won-lost percentage in the National League, should be playing the White Sox.

Having wild-card teams may allow for the fans in many cities to hope against hope that their teams get really lucky and make it to the Series. But that's not baseball, which should reward excellence over a long haul, over the punishing regular season. Not simply play a ratings game to assuage the feelings of fan, and that allows a second rate team to advance.

The proper name for teams that don't win their divisions? Loser.

Go Sox.