MLB Playoffs

I liked the Rangers in 6 going in and still do. There's often an adjustment for the road team in the first game under the opposing league's rules. I fully expected Texas to drop Game 1, just as I expect the Cards to drop Game 3. Texas will steal Game 2 on the road, the Cards will nick one of Games 4 or 5, and Texas will close it out with Lewis at St Louis in 6.

If it goes 7 though, I think St Louis will win it.

 

I laughed out loud when one story called it the "vaunted
Cardinal bullpen." They obviously haven't followed our team at all this season. The stats don't lie. They just got hot at the right time, with the rest of the team, and were being used by Don Tony and Dave Duncan in the best possible scenarios for each situation. They are still without a true closer, as evidenced last night. Motte has ONE pitch, and big league hitters are in the big leagues for a reason...they can hit ANYBODY'S fastball, especially when they can sit on a relatively straight one pitch after pitch, regardless of the velocity. That said, I still like our chances. We've played better on the road than at home this season, so we'll see if that form holds. Momentum is only as good as the next day's starter, so it may shift many more times before this series is over.

 

The Rangers aren't just bashers. They run, move runners along, and situational hit. Once they got the bullpen help right before the deadline I thought they were the best team in the AL (which dossn't mean much in the playoffs). 2 excellent games so far and would expect more in Arlington (with more scoring from both sides).

 

I think LaRussa has completely overmanaged the series so far. He gets tagged a genius when it works, but it cost them in Game 2. Elvis Andrus was big last night.

I look for an increase in the offense now that the WS is moving to Texas b/c the starter quality drops off now, the bullpens have been worn a bit, and of course, warmer weather.

The games in this World Series, while very good, seem to be moving at a snail's pace. It's probably just a side effect of watching soccer.

 

Part of the reason for pace are the endless pitching changes. The games themselves have been very good when the bullpen guys get around to finish up their warmups. Mike Napoli was traded by my Halos in what will turnout the worst in franchise history to Toronto, who turned around a couple days later and sent him to our division rival to haunt us fans forever (happy for him, pissed he got moved in the first place). Someone (Matt Holliday this means you) will have to step up since Pujols won't get much to hit in game 6.

HD, thought you were going to turn on the radio. Dan Shulman (think that's his name) is really good for espn doing the play by play

 

I'm surprised LaRussa hasn't swapped Berkman and Holliday in the order, to better protect Pujols.

The pitching changes are dragging the games out and are just terrible. I really am growing to loathe LaRussa with all of the changes he makes. On the positive side though, everytime he gets reliever happy, Texas has benefited. So keep the heavy hand (and the inability to use a phone) there Don Tony.

 

tonight, was a game for the ages. as a neutral (who doesn't really care for either club), I loved this game and have watched the GW HR a couple of times. I liked how Freese gave credit to LaRussa in the post game interview...crazy, and if you're a Rangers fan, "WTF" has to be a common utterance.

 

Simply put, why we love sports (drama, pressure, historical comparison) was on full display last night. A sporting event DOES NOT get any better than that, It wasn't perfect by any means, but for the Cards to be down to their final strike TWICE and coming back was amazing to watch. I could only imagine how Ranger fans felt last night.

The move to switch the hurt Matt Holliday for Lance Berkman was key. Berkman is one of the most underrated hitters of his generation and he was clutch.

Cruz slowed up on what could have been the final out on what looked like misjudgment. The ball was crushed by the right-handed Freese and kept traveling and slicing away from Cruz who realized it too late.

I know Joe Buck has taken some heat on this thread, but him using his Pop's famous call of Kirby Puckett's walkoff HR in Game 6 of the Twins v the Cards 20 years ago 'We will see you tomorrow night' was cool.

 

THAT'S A WINNER! NUMBER 11 FOR THE GREATEST SPORTS FRANCHISE ON THE PLANET! Now I'm gonna get greedy and hope that the next one we win is against the Yankees (for the 4th time).

 

I'm not a Rangers fan, was just rooting for them since they're a Texas team, as an Astros fan I have a fondness for Nolan Ryan, and really, they're a likable group.

Game 6 had to be gutting for the diehard Texas fans. They were one strike away on 2 seperate occasions and couldn't close the deal. I didn't like the Rangers on the road in a Game 7, but after the way St Louis fought back and took Game 6, I really hated their chances.

Congrats to the Cards, despite your manager. Advertisers should be giving that man a bonus for all the extra air-time he gets for them. I thought Berkman should have gotten the MVP as well, but Freese does make for a good story and did enough in the clutch to merit it.