HOUSTON -- If you had to pick one game of the first three World Series games that the Houston Astros were most likely to win, you would pick the one that was going to be started by Roy Oswalt.
This should be a particularly comforting thought for the Astros and their supporters because, after two straight losses to the Chicago White Sox, Game 3 on Tuesday night will be Oswalt's turn to pitch.
It is also the Astros' turn to be at home, which will be another comforting concept, in more ways than one. Including the postseason, the Astros are 57-29 at home this year. The fans will be friendlier here. The climate will be friendlier, whether or not the retractable roof at Minute Maid Park is closed.
"I don't care if the roof is opened or closed," Lance Berkman said. "As long as we can get out of this miserable weather, I don't care."
Perhaps the Chicago climate was "miserable" from the Texas perspective. From the Illinois perspective, it was about what you could expect at this time of the year, minus a degree here or there. There is no right or wrong here, just a team from a blue state playing a team from a red state.