Zero to Hero Just like that....

Zero to Hero
By John Chagaris, College AP
October 24, 2005

Chicago, IL -- It was the best of times which quickly became the worst of times for the Houston Astros. To quote a song from a Disney movie, Scott Podsednik went zero to hero just like that. Keeping in mind that Podsednik had zero home runs in the regular season. I'll allow you a moment to let that sink in, ZERO home runs in the regular season. When the man steps up to the plate when the Sox need a walk off he deliveres. In what seemed like Deja Vu for Astros fans, lights out Lidge was walking off the mound after another walkoff home run. After Bagwell and Burke scored in the top of the ninth on a single by Visciano, magic seemed to develop. The Astros had just tied the game, Lights out Lidge is coming in the 9th, he never allows home runs, well except the ones of walk off proportions.

"Well, we're not in a good spot," Phil Garner claimed, "they can't do anything wrong."

While the Sox can't do anything wrong, it seemed the umpires could not do anything correct, in yet another instance where instant replay in baseball is needed may I present exhibit 92 your honor? In the seventh inning Dan Wheeler was pitching and Dye was the batter with a full count. Here comes the pitch and the ball goes off Dye's bat. Wait just a second, Ray Charles has become the home plate umpire and awards Dye first base?

"I thought in my heart I made the right call," spokesman Pat Courtney said quoting Jeff Nelson.

And what did Dye think about the insident; "I'm not going to tell him I fouled it off."

And ofcourse your honor and members of the jury, what happens next? Well ALCS MVP Paul Konerko comes up with a grand slam to give the White Sox a 6-4 lead.

"We're going to get this win," Konerko described the attitude in the dugout before the bottom of the ninth, "I didn't think we thought it would be that quick or by a home run"

A home run that would not have won the game if baseball had instant replay. MLB, Bud Selig, the fans of baseball in every city, well except Chicago, beg you to institue instant replay in the post season so insidents like that would not happen. John Garland takes on Roy Oswalk on Tuesday, coverage begins at 8:05 on Fox.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.