I have read thread after thread of how Padres are going to win this series or how Padres are going to win Game 1 this and that. Let me tell you. No matter what I tell you on this subject will be taken as a homer or biased opinion but I am simply going to stick with the facts. First of all, everyone is looking at Padres taking 4 of 7 in season series. Yes Cards were outplayed in St. Louis in May but Cards were already coasting and Padres were fighting not to go down double digits to Dodgers who were extremely hot at that time. Motivation was not there for Cards while Pads were extremely focused. Second, Cardinals have never lost a Divisional Series. Past means nothing but don't forget, Cards did not lose a home game in Divisional or NLCS series ly. Third, prior to that 4 game series in STL, Cards Have Owned the Padres. Bochy and Pads have had little to no success often getting swept or winning 2 or fewer in season series. In fact series in STL in May was like their first series win vs Cards for a few years. Fourth, I have told everyone since day 1 that this team is more focused this year than last. They are more hungry due to their loss to Red Sox in World Series. I will tell you that I predict Cards to sweep Padres and not lose more than 1 game in NLCS to get back to series. They will not slide by but dominate the post season this year. It is funny how everyone is looking at their pitching as a question mark but last 3 weeks they have not cared and simply wanted avoid injury even though Al Reyes is out which in playoffs does not hurt as much as expect Suppan or Marquis to slide into that role. All of those doubting Carpenter, Mulder and Morris won't be after the playoffs. Morris and Carpenter are very motivated and will pitch well. Carpenter will pitch well because of missing ly and Morris because he has something to prove and is a free agent again. This reminds me alot what people were saying about Derek LOwe and Pedro before playoffs ly and they went out and dominated. These 2 guys will as well. Pujols,Walker,Sanders,Grudz,Edmonds,and Eck are all starting to hit and are well rested so expect offense more like 04 than 05 in playoffs.Anyway ly I predicted Cards to get to Series, but this year they will win it and finish unfinished business. The journey starts today of the Cards and its fans getting the trophy back to St. Louis, closing Busch in style, and to finally get the respect Nationally that this team deserves for being the best team in baseball 2 years in a row.:toast:
Another thing that many of you are forgetting about Cardinals is this. They hit and win vs good pitching. It is the journeyman or rookie that beats them. Padres can not hit enough to win. For Padres to win this game they will have to score above 6 runs and for that matter in every game in this series for them to win one. I predict Peavy to be out by 6th inning having given up 4+ runs.
Correction, Cards have lost 1 Divisional Series to Arizona year they won WS.
Fishhead,
Larussa I agree manages differently in playoffs than he does in regular season. With that being said, LaRussa will manage very strongly this year. Cards team mirrors Tony's team in Oakland. 88 lost 4-1 to dodgers where he was outmanaged. Next year A's returned to WS and swept Giants. Not predicting a sweep in WS but I predict the Cards in 5 games.
Anyway, I am leaving in 15 minutes to go to Busch. BOL
Fishhead,
Larussa I agree manages differently in playoffs than he does in regular season. With that being said, LaRussa will manage very strongly this year. Cards team mirrors Tony's team in Oakland. 88 lost 4-1 to dodgers where he was outmanaged. Next year A's returned to WS and swept Giants. Not predicting a sweep in WS but I predict the Cards in 5 games.
Anyway, I am leaving in 15 minutes to go to Busch. BOL
Fishhead said:Something to look at.......
SAN DIEGO +1.5
I played this at -130 (matchbook).
Kojak - I agree the Padres hitting is awful but I don't buy the "St. Louis was already coasting in May argument". I don't think you have to say anything more then the Padres were playing better ball then. It's all about recent peformance anyway like you said and the fathers' bats really limped in.
arty:
