There are 3 keys tonight for the Cardinals to win Game 1. First, Cardinal Hitters need to be extremely patient with starting pitcher Wakefield. It is very important for the Cardinals to work the count. On the road in Houston, they were very impatient swinging at pitches early in the count. With Wakefield, it is important against his knuckleball to work the count. Getting on base tonight is more important than hitting the long ball. When behind in the count, they must go the other way and not try to pull the ball. Pitch count means little with Wakefield pitching but working the count and taking the walk or hitting the the ball the other way does. The second key is set up by the first. Cardinals with the right baserunners getting on must take advantage of stealing a base of Wakefield. Knuckleballers are slow to the plate and with the difficulty the catcher has in catching the pitch, makes it near impossible for the catcher to throw out a guy stealing. With Womack, Renteria, Walker, Sanders, Edmonds, Rolen, and Cedeno, they will have many opportunities to steal tonight if they are patient at the plate. Third, how will Cards outfielders adjust to balls off the nooks and crannies of the outfield wall. It helps that Edmonds has played at Fenway and be able to give the others an idea of how the balls will come off of the wall. I don't expect Reggie Sanders playing left field to be perfect in this series so hope is a ball is not misplayed at the wrong time. Tonight I look for a tight, competitive game decided by the bullpens late. Giving no picks during this series just information as everyone will say it is a homer play but Cards will have great chance to win on road in Game 1. BOL.
fishhead,
BOL in the series as I know how passionate you are about the Red Sox. Win or lose this series, I won't be as disappointed knowing you guys have suffered longer than Cardinals. No loss goes without pains but if Cards were to lose I would probably want them to lose to Red Sox though I hope it doesn' t happen. Bol.
P.S. Journeyman had replied in one of my threads that you may want to buy some tickets for a game or two in St. Louis. If you are interested, let me know and I will do my best though I will say the prices are as high as I have ever seen for a playoff or championship game ever played in Stl.
BOL in the series as I know how passionate you are about the Red Sox. Win or lose this series, I won't be as disappointed knowing you guys have suffered longer than Cardinals. No loss goes without pains but if Cards were to lose I would probably want them to lose to Red Sox though I hope it doesn' t happen. Bol.
P.S. Journeyman had replied in one of my threads that you may want to buy some tickets for a game or two in St. Louis. If you are interested, let me know and I will do my best though I will say the prices are as high as I have ever seen for a playoff or championship game ever played in Stl.
KOJAK- Thanks guy, classy post.
The Cards have always been my favorite NL team having grown up in Iowa where many Cardinal fans reside..........the main reason though is probably because BUD is my all-time favorite beer.
After considerable thought, have decided that i just cannot make the trip at this time...........at least i am 98% sure i will not make it.
Thanks for the offer guy........appreciate it. Very very hard for me to turn this down.
Enjoy the series and may the best team win.
FISH
The Cards have always been my favorite NL team having grown up in Iowa where many Cardinal fans reside..........the main reason though is probably because BUD is my all-time favorite beer.
After considerable thought, have decided that i just cannot make the trip at this time...........at least i am 98% sure i will not make it.
Thanks for the offer guy........appreciate it. Very very hard for me to turn this down.
Enjoy the series and may the best team win.
FISH
