I have not posted in last day or so as I was in transit down to St. Louis for Game 4 of NLDS with Cards/Pads. This is actually my first game at New Busch as I have not been to a Cards game since ly in Game 6 vs Astros in the last game of the Old Busch Stadium. As a Cards fan, it is very possible that Cards lost their only chance of going to WS by not winning yesterday and being able to set up rotation for NLCS. Today is the day if they get it done or not at all vs Padres. Carpenter vs Woody Williams. I anticipate a close game which could favor the Pads bullpen based on comparisons of regular season though Cards bullpen has been lights out in playoffs surprisingly. It might take a Pujols heroic blow for Cards to advance or a special game for Carpenter. They are capable but Pads have to be feeling good about their chances now that the got by yesterday. Williams had struggled vs Cards until winning lw but he will have to be near perfect to give his team a chance in this game. I see this game coming down to managers in what I call a chess game. Either way, my first ball game at New Busch will be memorable but hopefully for the right reasons (A Cards Win and a trip to NLCS!)
Enjoy, Kojak. I am sure hoping to be at Game 5 tomorrow night. No way Weaver beats us again. As for tonight, Williams has won 8 of his last 9 decisions and was our hottest pitcher down the stretch. That being said, he is not overpowering and will have to pitch to contact, NEVER a good thing with a lineup like the Cards have. The Pads have been resilient all year, winning when it seems like everything is against them. Do I think they will win tonight? NO. However, it won't surprise me in the least. We have seen Carpenter twice now in the last couple weeks and won't be intimidated. The key (as always) for us is can we get a couple of early runs and put the pressure on the Cards. Dave Roberts has come to play this series. My guess is Bard will be in the lineup rather than Piazza. Bard was 3-4 off of Carpenter at Busch last week. Clay Meredith is rested and ready to go 2 innings. Linebrink and Hoffman both didn't throw many pitches. We just need a solid 5 from Woody. It sure will be exciting. I will be watching on lmy little watchman at the Q while I cheer on the Chargers. Send it back here, Kojak
whormoan,
LY Cards won every game I attended until Game 6 vs Houston (7-1). I hope it does not go back to Sd. It will be a very emotional game tonight in St. Louis as believe me it will be more than the norm home field advantage. Nothing is a given in this one even with Carp pitching. This game smells like a low scoring game but these are the type of games that go offensive. I think it should be a great game tonight!
LY Cards won every game I attended until Game 6 vs Houston (7-1). I hope it does not go back to Sd. It will be a very emotional game tonight in St. Louis as believe me it will be more than the norm home field advantage. Nothing is a given in this one even with Carp pitching. This game smells like a low scoring game but these are the type of games that go offensive. I think it should be a great game tonight!
Guys, game was everything I expected. New Busch was unbelievable. Not a bad seat in the house. Field almost identical to Old Busch. The amenities were awesome. But best of all is .......
CARDINALS GOING BACK TO THE NLCS!
I felt like we had a flashback to the glory days of the 80's with Whitey,Ozzie,Willie,Andujar,Tudor,Sutter,etc. We did it tonight without the big blow but with small ball,great defense, and solid pitching. Surprise of the post season has to be the Cards pitching. They have given up only 6 runs in 4 post season games for era of 1.50. Even more surprising is our achilles heel the bullpen has pitched 13+ innings, and given up 0 runs! Wow! Would have never expected that.
Now that we have won, time to discuss the Mets. The injuries keep piling up with no Floyd gone for the rest of the playoffs along with El Duque and Pedro. Home field, offense, speed,bullpen all seem to be in favor of the Mets. Only managing and starting pitching seem to be in our favor along with experience (Starting Pitching may not even be edge with the lineup they have!). Cards are going to have to figure out on a game by game basis, what it is going to take to beat Mets on a given night. Being the underdog definitely has its advantages here. I expect a very agressive style of managing from Tony Larussa on both the bases and his use of his pitching staff. Game 1 is the key. I think Cards will split imo in NY and Win Game 3 with Carp pitching at home. Besides Game 1, Game 4 is the pivotal game. Cards will be forced to start Marquis or Reyes with Mets countering with likely Oliver Perez. Seems to be a clear advantage for Mets with anticipated slugfest but who knows. If Cards can win this game, great chance to win series. Cards have to have no worse than 2-2 split and win Game 5 to go up 3-2. They won't win both in NY in 6 or 7. With that said, at some point in time, Mets pitching has to catch up to them and I believe this is it. I am going to go out on a limb and pick the Cards to win in 5!
CARDINALS GOING BACK TO THE NLCS!
I felt like we had a flashback to the glory days of the 80's with Whitey,Ozzie,Willie,Andujar,Tudor,Sutter,etc. We did it tonight without the big blow but with small ball,great defense, and solid pitching. Surprise of the post season has to be the Cards pitching. They have given up only 6 runs in 4 post season games for era of 1.50. Even more surprising is our achilles heel the bullpen has pitched 13+ innings, and given up 0 runs! Wow! Would have never expected that.
Now that we have won, time to discuss the Mets. The injuries keep piling up with no Floyd gone for the rest of the playoffs along with El Duque and Pedro. Home field, offense, speed,bullpen all seem to be in favor of the Mets. Only managing and starting pitching seem to be in our favor along with experience (Starting Pitching may not even be edge with the lineup they have!). Cards are going to have to figure out on a game by game basis, what it is going to take to beat Mets on a given night. Being the underdog definitely has its advantages here. I expect a very agressive style of managing from Tony Larussa on both the bases and his use of his pitching staff. Game 1 is the key. I think Cards will split imo in NY and Win Game 3 with Carp pitching at home. Besides Game 1, Game 4 is the pivotal game. Cards will be forced to start Marquis or Reyes with Mets countering with likely Oliver Perez. Seems to be a clear advantage for Mets with anticipated slugfest but who knows. If Cards can win this game, great chance to win series. Cards have to have no worse than 2-2 split and win Game 5 to go up 3-2. They won't win both in NY in 6 or 7. With that said, at some point in time, Mets pitching has to catch up to them and I believe this is it. I am going to go out on a limb and pick the Cards to win in 5!
Congrats on the win. Pads didn't deserve it. Couldn't get a clutch hit the whole series.
As for the NLCS, the Cards will get crushed. The Mets aren't the Padres, and St Louis' lack of pitching is about to get exposed. Weaver is going to get bombed on the road (as he should've in San Diego). Mets will even get their runs off of Carpenter who by the way hasn't exactly been sharp in victory either outing. I expect St Louis to win 1 game, maybe 2. Mets in 5!
As for the NLCS, the Cards will get crushed. The Mets aren't the Padres, and St Louis' lack of pitching is about to get exposed. Weaver is going to get bombed on the road (as he should've in San Diego). Mets will even get their runs off of Carpenter who by the way hasn't exactly been sharp in victory either outing. I expect St Louis to win 1 game, maybe 2. Mets in 5!
absolutely NOT!!! while i am a huge cards fan, I agree that the mets batting could possibly be too much for us but dont count us out that easily...this series will go 6 or 7 and i TOTALLY agree with my man Kojak that game 4 is make or break if in fact it is o.perez vs. marquis/reyes (u could flip a coin between the two of them IMO)...while I want more than anything to see my cards beat the mets and I think they can, it will be a very tough challenge which should make way for an amazing series...
(BTW I dunno how u can really say that Carp hasnt pitched fantastic in the pads series outside of the first inning last nite...)
(BTW I dunno how u can really say that Carp hasnt pitched fantastic in the pads series outside of the first inning last nite...)
