Long shots gather in Chicago today

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen laughs as he watches his team practice on a blustery day at US Cellular Field in Chicago on Thursday. Chicago will play the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series in Chicago today. PHOTO: AP

Back spring training, the Houston Astros were a 20-1 shot to win the World Series. The odds on the Chicago White Sox were 22-1.

While rest of Major League Baseball has gone home, they'll be on the field for Saturday's Series opener, when 43-year-old Roger Clemens starts for Houston against Jose Contreras.

"I think it's going to be a real attractive and weird World Series because you've got two teams that aren't supposed to be there," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said on Thursday. "You're not going to see the big-name franchises. Nothing against them. I think it's just good for baseball, these two franchises that have never been there -- one the first time ever, the other people forget when was the last time."

A Cubs town is rooting for the White Sox, Chicago's second team -- a White Sox flag was even spotted on the antenna of a truck in the parking lot of the Cubs' Wrigley Field this week. Not since 1959 have the White Sox played in the Series, and they haven't won it since 1917.

Houston missed out every single year since starting play in 1962. No wonder Astros president Tal Smith didn't get much sleep.

After beating the Cardinals 5-1 in St. Louis to claim the National League pennant on Wednesday, the Astros didn't get back to their ballpark in Texas until 3am. Smith's head hit the pillow at 5:30.

"At 7:15, the first phone call came," he said. "It was for a ticket request. And it kept ringing. I guess for once every 44 years, it's OK."

Given good the pitching has been, there might be a 1917 feel to the game. The White Sox and New York Giants combined for just three home runs in that year's Series.

"My team is always under the radar, always."

Ozzie Guillen, manager of the AL Champion Chicago White Sox

Chicago's of Jose Contreras, Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia famously pitched four straight complete games to beat the Los Angeles Angels in the AL championship series, the first quartet to finish their starts consecutively in a postseason series since the 1956 New York Yankees. They were so good, Guillen is keeping them in the same order against the Astros.

Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner who led the major leagues in ERA this year, will be followed by Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt, giving the Astros a formidable trio. Brandon Backe starts against Garcia in Game 4.

His starters were so good against the Angels that the bullpen was needed for just two outs -- the lowest total in a postseason series since Sandy Koufax & Co's Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Yankees in the 1963 World Series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"A lot of people counted us out before spring training even started," Garland said. "We already were written off in a lot of people's books."

Chicago two days off after winning the pennant on Sunday in California, then worked out on Thursday for the second straight day.

At US Cellular Field, rain started falling the in the middle of Thursday's workout. There were 14 boxes of baseballs on the table, ready for each player to sign. The logos already were painted in foul territory, and the entrance to the ballpark displayed a pumpkin carved with the White Sox logo.

Outside a huge photograph of White Sox players celebrating. On it were the words: "Crying in baseball -- only acceptable if champagne burns your eyes."

Houston on Friday and will work out in a ballpark the Astros haven't played in since an interleague series in 2000. The Astros became the first team since the 1914 Boston Braves to reach the World Series after falling 15 games under .500.

"The most dangerous thing about the Astros is the wild card," Guillen said.

The last three World Series champions and four of the last five were wild-card winners. Even though the White Sox went 99-63 and had the best record in the American League, Guillen thinks they've taken many by surprise.

"My team is always under the radar, always," he said. "All kind of crazy stuff people think I will say, and they backed me up. My team backed me up. We're here together."

Ozzie Guillen sounds almost as excited for today's pregame festivities as he does for the World Series.

Luis Aparicio, the star shortstop of the White Sox's last World Series team in 1959, will throw out the first pitch for Game 1 against the Houston Astros. Aparicio, like Guillen, hails from Venezuela.

"Wow. Luis means a lot to this organization, a Hall of Famer and the best shortstop to ever play in Chicago," said Guillen, who played shortstop for 13 years for the White Sox.

"It's going to be touching," he added. "Back in our country, Luis is Luis and Ozzie is Ozzie. You see two different people. I know how the people in my country feel and how important this thing is for Venezuela."

Aparicio leads Venezuelan players in games played (2,599), hits (2,677), runs scored (1,335) and stolen bases (506), and is tied with Omar Vizquel with nine Gold Gloves. He was elected to the US Hall of Fame in 1984.

Aparicio another Venezuelan, Chico Carrasquel, as the White Sox's everyday shortstop in 1956. Three years later, he was the leadoff hitter on the "Go-Go Sox" squad that went to the World Series. Aparicio had 56 of the team's league-best 113 stolen bases that year, and combined with steady second baseman Nellie Fox for stellar up-the-middle defense.

While Guillen and Aparicio will always be linked because they played the same position for the same team, they couldn't be more different. Guillen has never met a conversation he didn't like. Aparicio will never be described as outgoing.

"Luis is not the type of person to say `Hi' to everyone," Guillen said. "To me it's an honor just for Luis to say, `Yes,' and come here and be with us."

So much so that Guillen might even get behind the plate when Aparicio throws out the first pitch.

"I think I'll be the first manager to catch a first pitch in the World Series," Guillen said.

GOOD BOY

Roy Oswalt has already found the perfect place for his MVP trophy from the National League championship series.

Wherever his father wants to put it.

The right-hander was picked as the MVP after pitching the Houston Astros to their first World Series, and he immediately turned the trophy over to his father, Billy.

Though Billy Oswalt got up at 5:30am, he was always home in time to get his son to the ballpark.

"To give it to him, that meant more to me than winning it. He didn't want to take it, but that's the way he is," the younger Oswalt said.

"It was more special for me to see his face once I gave it to him, and just the way he believed in me.

"Growing up, people used to come by and ask why he spent [so] much time with me out in the yard throwing the ball. Hopefully those guys see that on TV today."

Oswalt leave the NLCS completely empty-handed, though. Astros owner Drayton McLane had promised to buy Oswalt a bulldozer if he won Game 6. Oswalt did, allowing one run in Game 6. Oswalt also gave up one run in Game 2 against St. Louis.

NO REGRETS

Mark Buehrle was torn about which NL team he wanted to face, and it had nothing to do with lineups.

Buehrle a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan growing up in St. Charles, Missouri where he still lives in the offseason.

"To be able to play in Busch [Stadium], go there for the last few games at Busch" would have been special, the Chicago White Sox left-hander said Thursday. "But family and tickets, just trying to deal with all of that stuff in your hometown, I think that would have been a burden."

As it is, Buehrle's phone is already getting a workout. High school coaches, college coaches -- anyone who's got his number has called to congratulate him since the White Sox earned their first trip to the World Series in 46 years. Buehrle, who is 2-0 in the playoffs so far, will start Game 2 against the Houston Astros tomorrow in Chicago.

But the callers better not hit him up for tickets.

"I've got 10 tickets," he said. "If anyone else wants some, come up here and good luck trying to find 'em."

IT'S A BOY

Paul Konerko's wife gave birth to a boy, their first child, and the American League championship series MVP was on his way back to Chicago after missing the team's workout for a second day Thursday.

Konerko, who'd returned to Arizona for the birth this week, was slated to do some hitting in a batting cage.

"It's a boy? Good. We've had too many girls lately," manager Ozzie Guillen said, listing Freddy Garcia, A.J. Pierzynski, Joe Crede and third base coach Joey Cora, all of whom had daughters born this season.

"Too many girls. You know why?" Guillen said. "Because they can't be in the clubhouse. The boys can."