You think it?s going to be tough for Cubs fans to watch this World Series? Yankee fans, too, may want to turn off their televisions. Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte pitching in Astros uniforms, trying to bring the state of Texas its first Series trophy? Jose Contreras and El Duque Hernandez, trying to bring Chicago its first World Series in 88 years? It?s enough to make a Yankees fan ? not to mention George Steinbrenner ? very ill. The last time Clemens and Andy Pettitte started in a World Series together, the year was 2000, when Clemens threw a piece of baseball bat at Mike Piazza, and the Yankees beat the Mets to capture their last championship. Contreras, who the Yankees gave up on midway through the 2004 season, appeared in the 2003 World Series loss to the Marlins, while El Duque, a post-season sensation from 1998-2000, was traded from the Yankees to the White Sox in 2003, returned to the Yanks as a free-agent in 2004, then signed as a free agent with the White Sox in 2005. The Yankees certainly got their money?s worth out of Hernandez, who was ineffective in last year?s ALCS against the Red Sox after three superb post-seasons that helped the Yanks to three championships. And it was debatable whether Contreras would?ve ever found the success in new York that he?s found in Chicago where, after a rocky first half, he closed brilliantly, winning 11 of his final 13 decisions. But Clemens and Pettitte are a different story. Had the Yankees thought the Rocket wasn?t serious when he announced his retirement after the 2003 season, they might?ve offered him salary arbitration. Once they didn?t, they severed all connections to him, and the Astros were only too happy to swoop him up. Clemens, however, likely wouldn?t have unretired had it not been for the presence of his good friend Pettitte, who was inexplicably left hanging by Steinbrenner when he became a free agent after the 2003 campaign. For whatever reason, Pettitte had never been a Steinbrenner guy, not like Clemens, or even David Wells. By the time Steinbrenner acted, it was too late: Pettitte, feeling slighted, jumped to Houston, convinced Clemens to come along for the ride, and neither the Yankees nor the Astros have been the same since. The Astros made it to Game 7 of the NLCS last year with Pettitte on the disabled list; now, with both pitchers healthy, they?ve taken the Astros to the next level. All four pitchers should be instrumental in what promises to be a tightly played, low-scoring series during which runs will rationed like bread in a famine. Though the White Sox hit for more power, 119 of their 200 home runs during the regular season came with the bases empty, in part due to the fact that they were caught a league-leading stealing 67 time. However, the White Sox remedied that dramatically in their series against the Red Sox and Angels, with Paul Konerko knocking in 11 runs to go with his 4 post-season home runs. The Astros must keep the White Sox?s leading run-scorer in the post-season, Scott Podsednik, off base, something neither the Red Sox nor Angels were able to do. The Astros counter the Sox power duo of Jermaine Dye and Konerko with Lance Berkman (.314, 2 HR, 8 RBI in post-season) and Morgan Ensberg (9 RBI). Two unexpectedly hot bats that could make the difference are the Astros Chris Burke (.348 for the post-season) and the White Sox?s Joe Crede (.368 in the ALCS). Astros CF Willy Taveras (.357 in the NLCS) is also on a tear, and Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski has contributed 3 HR and 6 RBI, along with being involved in every controversial play you could name. The Astros will get a boost at the designated hitter spot, where the injured Jeff Bagwell, unable to play the field, will get to hit in Games 1, 2, 6 and 7. However, Bagwell has only three at bats in the post-season, so it?s hard to say how effective he?ll be. While the Astros veteran front three of Clemens, Andy Pettitte, and Roy Oswalt gives them a slight edge on the White Sox trio of Contreras, Mark Buehrle, and Jon Garland, the White Sox have a decided advantage in Game 4, with Freddy Garcia facing Brandon Backe. Backe has a 4.91 ERA with no decisions in the post-season, but he pitches better at home, and had a fine Game 4 outing against the Cards (5.2 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 7 strikeouts). And Clemens, as great as he is, has become a 6-7 inning pitcher at best in the post-season. The series should come down to a battle of the bullpens, assuming the White Sox relievers remember how pitch after what has become a two-week layoff. While the Astros have the better closer in Brad Lidge, the Sox are deeper, with El Duque a lethal middle reliever, and lefties Damaso Marte and Neal Cotto providing setup for closer Bobby Jenks. Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler provide able setup for Lidge, as they demonstrated in closing out Game 6 at St. Louis. Though the Astros have the hotter bats, I think the White Sox pitching will cool them down. The White Sox are better equipped at stealing bases and manufacturing runs, and while the Astros are one of the league?s toughest home teams, the White Sox were its best road team. Look for the South Side of Chicago to experience New England-style delirium, as the White Sox take a thrilling seven-game Series. And look for the ex-Yankees to make their fans wonder what might?ve been.