'05 Houston Astros - NL Champions....sounds great doesn't it?? Being a "Homer" and living in Houston I can only root for the hometown boys. But I also have noticed that this team is starting to get that look of a "team of destiny". IMO they are better than last years squad because they have the pitching staff that can win games....not so much dependant on hitting to win. Much more so than they did last year, the "X-Factor" this year is Andy Pettitte, who is a tested playoff pitcher who ranks 2nd to Smoltz in playoff wins. I really think that this Astros team will beat the Cardinals this year.
FYI:
Mulder took a line drive off his left biceps in his Game 2 start against San Diego and would not have been able to pitch the remainder of the series against the Padres. La Russa said Mulder had improved Saturday, but he was uncertain when Mulder, who has swelling in the muscle, could pitch again.
"Chris gets Game 1, and I think there's a real question where Mulder fits in," La Russa said Saturday night. "It might be a little different depending on whether it's Atlanta or Houston. There's a couple matchups there we like better one way than the other."
The second area of concern for the St. Louis staff is its bullpen. In the three games against San Diego, Cardinals starting pitchers allowed 16 hits and three runs in 18 2/3 innings. The relievers gave up 16 hits, eight runs and three home runs in 8 1/3 innings.
Closer Jason Isringhausen was shaky in two of the three games and finished by allowing five hits and one run in three innings. But the setup relief might become a bigger problem in the next round.
The Cardinals suffered a major setback on the final day of the regular season when Al Reyes suffered an arm injury and was declared out for the season. Reyes was superb in middle-inning relief and often was used as a bridge to Isringhausen in the ninth.
Reyes was 3-1 with a 3.46 ERA, allowing 37 hits and 13 walks in 41 2/3 innings while striking out 43 batters. Without him, the Cardinals will have to rely on Julian Tavarez and Brad Thompson, both of whom struggled against the Padres. They combined to allow seven hits, four runs and two home runs in 2 2/3 innings for a 13.50 ERA.
The cardinals can hit...we all know that. But against good pitchers that the Astros have this could hurt them since their bullpen is not as good as Houston's staff..
Go Astros!!!!!!!!!!!
FYI:
Mulder took a line drive off his left biceps in his Game 2 start against San Diego and would not have been able to pitch the remainder of the series against the Padres. La Russa said Mulder had improved Saturday, but he was uncertain when Mulder, who has swelling in the muscle, could pitch again.
"Chris gets Game 1, and I think there's a real question where Mulder fits in," La Russa said Saturday night. "It might be a little different depending on whether it's Atlanta or Houston. There's a couple matchups there we like better one way than the other."
The second area of concern for the St. Louis staff is its bullpen. In the three games against San Diego, Cardinals starting pitchers allowed 16 hits and three runs in 18 2/3 innings. The relievers gave up 16 hits, eight runs and three home runs in 8 1/3 innings.
Closer Jason Isringhausen was shaky in two of the three games and finished by allowing five hits and one run in three innings. But the setup relief might become a bigger problem in the next round.
The Cardinals suffered a major setback on the final day of the regular season when Al Reyes suffered an arm injury and was declared out for the season. Reyes was superb in middle-inning relief and often was used as a bridge to Isringhausen in the ninth.
Reyes was 3-1 with a 3.46 ERA, allowing 37 hits and 13 walks in 41 2/3 innings while striking out 43 batters. Without him, the Cardinals will have to rely on Julian Tavarez and Brad Thompson, both of whom struggled against the Padres. They combined to allow seven hits, four runs and two home runs in 2 2/3 innings for a 13.50 ERA.
The cardinals can hit...we all know that. But against good pitchers that the Astros have this could hurt them since their bullpen is not as good as Houston's staff..
Go Astros!!!!!!!!!!!
arty:
