"Official" 2011 St. Louis Cardinals Thread

[BigRedChief]

This is so unreal. We were dead. No hope. A season over. Somehow, someway we find some team chemistry and squeak into the playoffs on the last day of the season.

Only to find us facing one of the best pitching staffs assembled in years with home field advantage. We somehow, someway find a way to beat the best pitcher in baseball on the road in an elimination game.

We have to go on the road and beat the team with the best home record in baseball. A team who mortgaged their future to make this run .We somehow, someway find a way to beat them on the road and make our 18th World series trip.

We take game 1, we give away game 2 and home field advantage. Albert goes off for probably the best performance in World Series history and we take game 3 easily. Games 4 & 5 our bats fall asleep, Phone gate happens and its not looking too good.

Game 6, one of the best baseball games of all time and it takes place in a season ending go home game. Cardinals are down 2 runs in their final chance on the season, twice. They are down to their final strike of the season, twice. They give up a 2 run homer in extra innings. In the bottom of the inning their final 3 batters are a combined 3-26 in the Playoffs and a pitcher because the bench is empty. Somehow, someway they get some runners on and the comeback player of the year drives in the tying run. Mr. Freese hits the walk off home run. We will see you tommorrow night.

Game 7, With our bulldog on the mound pitching on 3 days rest he is able to give us 6 good innings and get us to within 9 outs of our 11 World series title. Texas meltsdown, probably left over from last nights game and its over.

The underdog, come back team who had no business even being in the playoffs wins a World championship. They make movies about events like this in life. Events that you remember even if your not a fan of the sport or team for the rest of your life.

When it is your team.......Priceless


.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

From the perspective of a fan, that was the most stressful, dramatic, angering, joyful, heart-rending sports viewing I've ever had. I can't imagine what could possibly top a game like that.

The beginning was nothing short of horrendous. Terrible execution by both teams made it look like a Bantam league contest.

The sheer stupidity of Holliday's catch, Freese dropping a tee ball level pop up, Salas' throw into center, and the Rangers' multiple gaffes at first made this hard to watch.

By the time Holliday was picked off at third I was so angry that had I been in St. Louis I would have probably ran on to the field and attempted to stab him in his non-existent heart with a shard from a splintered ash bat.

I was furious at La Russa for trying to go another inning with Lynn against the heart of the Rangers order (5-6-7), when the situation seemed tailor made for Dotel.

I can't believe that cokehead-Tyrone-Biggums-level-intellect Washington fired his biggest bullet in Holland at such an early point when he had a chance to bridge to Feliz with Feldman and Adams.

I thought the game was over when Furcal went full Furcal on the first pitch from Adams. I was miffed that we didn't try and send Yadi on Jay's soft single in the 9th, even though Cruz has a hose.

I understood why Craig took the slider from Feliz, because he missed his spot by a foot, but I'm devastated he didn't turn on that meat pitch. It looked like all of Texas' hits were finding holes and we missed all their mistakes, where all our mistakes got third decked.

I really thought Freese was going to K on gas from Feliz. I let out an absolute cacophonous stream of Carpenterian "Mother**** You"s at Feliz after Freese's tying hit.

I thought we were in good hands with Motte in the 10th. I thought we were ruined after Hamilton, who had been a complete nothing aside from batted ball luck, one handed that heater into the bleachers.

Descalso brought back his early season clutchness, Jay finally got a dying quail to drop for us, Lohse executed one of the best, and ballsiest, bunts I've ever seen, and Berkman, who I also thought was going to K on Feldman's slider, delivered the most professional of professional hits.

Then Freese, whom I was hoping at best could double, absolutely pisspounds the ball into the centerfield grass.

I watched the game with my best friend who recently got back from business in Thailand. A game like that wasn't a sporting event, it was a life event. It's what makes sports worth it. As long as I live, I'll never forget tonight's game because it represented all of the possibility that we attach to sports that never, ever happens.

Except for the one time it does.

You didn't mention the stupidity of not pinch hitting for Colby Lewis with the bases loaded in the 5th. That might have cost Texas the game.

Also, yeah, there is no better situation for Dotel than the 5-6-7 guys there. Puzzling that he wasn't used until later in that same inning.

[kcpasco]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Motte, Lynn, and Salas shouldn't be used for Game 7.

Basically, Scrabble/Rhodes/Dotel/Boggs are good for Game 7.

No Boggs plz. I don't think my nerves could handle that shit.

[KC_Connection]

It looked like Mike Napoli sprained his ankle at 2B, but he stayed in the game and continued to catch. Yet Holliday had to leave with a bruised finger.

I think we know which one of them is likely to be playing tomorrow.

[veist]

You have to tip your cap to Napoli for not just playing through this but playing extremely well.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by veist

You have to tip your cap to Napoli for not just playing through this but playing extremely well.

Yeah, nobody will ever excuse Mike Napoli of being a pussy.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Yeah, nobody will ever excuse Mike Napoli of being a pussy.

Or accuse either.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by beer me

Or accuse either.

Been awake for a while now, man, my mind is tired.

I can't go to sleep, though, and I'm not even a fan of these teams. I just wish that the Jays will play in a playoff game one of these years so I can feel something close to what the Cards fans are feeling right now. I was far too young when Joe Carter hit his HR to understand what it meant or even really care at all.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by beer me

Or accuse either.

Forgive him, he's a KU fan.













Whoops

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by SPchief

Forgive him, he's a KU fan.













Whoops

Also Canadian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FEW5mh7iAI

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by SPchief

Forgive him, he's a KU fan.













Whoops

Yeah... so am I... no need to feel bad for us....

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Been awake for a while now, man, my mind is tired.

I can't go to sleep, though, and I'm not even a fan of these teams. I just wish that the Jays will play in a playoff game one of these years so I can feel something close to what the Cards fans are feeling right now. I was far too young when Joe Carter hit his HR to understand what it meant or even really care at all.

Well I love baseball far more than any other sport and I'm a Royals fan so.... yeah I feel your pain.

[58kcfan89]

Hey guys, Royals fan here.

Just wanted to say good luck later tonight. That was a helluva game and this series has been incredible to watch. I assumed the Rangers would take it easily because their offense was so good & figured the Cardinals offense couldn't keep up. Yeah....not so much.

I'm not going to lie, I've been going for the Rangers. But after tonight, I don't really care who wins, I just want to see a good Game 7. Gotta love the stories in either case. The Rangers are fairly obvious having never won a title. But I love the hometown (at least that's what they said on TV) story with Freese, and Berkman trying to win a ring as a productive team member in the twilight of his career.

Anywho, I'm hoping Missouri's western franchise gets their heads out of their collective asses in the next couple years so I can experience some playoff baseball (wasn't born until well after last Royals playoff appearance). Much like this year's NBA Finals did with basketball, this series is reminding me why I grew up loving baseball, despite not having a horse in the race.

Good luck in Game 7.

[58kcfan89]

Hey guys, Royals fan here.

Just wanted to say good luck later tonight. That was a helluva game and this series has been incredible to watch. I assumed the Rangers would take it easily because their offense was so good & figured the Cardinals offense couldn't keep up. Yeah....not so much.

I'm not going to lie, I've been going for the Rangers. But after tonight, I don't really care who wins, I just want to see a good Game 7. Gotta love the stories in either case. The Rangers are fairly obvious having never won a title. But I love the hometown (at least that's what they said on TV) story with Freese, and Berkman trying to win a ring as a productive team member in the twilight of his career.

Anywho, I'm hoping Missouri's western franchise gets their heads out of their collective asses in the next couple years so I can experience some playoff baseball. Much like this year's NBA Finals did with basketball, this series is reminding me why I grew up loving baseball, despite not having a horse in the race.

Good luck in Game 7.

[Nzoner]

I won't be around a computer for a few days so just wanted to say even though I don't like the Cards I've got to give props where props are due.That said,I'll be on a small vacation and doubt that I'll even watch any of the game so good luck.

Honestly,after those comebacks last night I see the Cards rolling in Game 7 they have to be feeling like Superman about now.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

This!

And LA Chiefs fan.

Very low class to come in and talk trash when the Cardinals are losing and not show their face when they win.

That clown is too busy crying in a corner pretending it's the "Doyers " that are really the ones playing like this to no avail.