"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


.

[Chief Henry]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

1st place battle. Reds in town. Think Carp will drill a Red on national TV?

One hell of a question...I hope he does it aftern we have a 6 run lead.

[veist]

Originally Posted by Chief Henry

One hell of a question...I hope he does it aftern we have a 6 run lead.

If they're going to hit someone, might as well let Franklin do it since at least he can't give up a HR throwing at a guy right?

[Jewish Rabbi]

I wonder if Phillips will try his love tap shit again.

[seclark]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

I wonder if Phillips will try his love tap shit again.

i think he's dumb enough to give it a try.

also, they need to post pics of mike leake in all department stores for security reasons.
sec

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by seclark

i think he's dumb enough to give it a try.

also, they need to post pics of mike leake in all department stores for security reasons.
sec

Too bad he pitched yesterday. I would have loved to have seen the reaction he got... Remember when the fans got on John Rocker in the playoffs?

[BigRedChief]

my iuncle who knows a lot of the Cardinals minor league coaches told me that the rumor mill was that the Cardinals had asked MLB's help in getting Pujols signed. Everyone was speculating that it was the part ownership of the team that would need approval. I never siad anything because...its a friggin rumor and I though players could be part owners? But, maybe not, from Goolds column today.

Bossman Reid Laymance, the Post-Dispatch's executive sports editor, reports from New York and the annual confab between sports editors and commissioners that Bud Selig believes baseball is "better off" if Albert Pujols re-signs with the Cardinals. Selig mentioned two small-market icons, Kansas City's George Brett and Milwaukee's Robin Yount, and said "they were such big parts of their communities. Their communities were better off that they stayed. And the players said they were better off, too. So, yes, baseball would be better with Albert in St. Louis."

There have been many indications over the past year or so that the gravitational pull between the Cardinals and Pujols is strong enough to keep them together, even if tested by free agency this coming winter. An official in the commissioner's office told me this past winter that Major League Baseball recognizes the importance of an iconic player and is willing "to work with" the team to make a long-term agreement possible, even if it requires creativity in the contract. (Examples: Alex Rodriguez's milestone homer bonus clauses or, as reported in the Post-Dispatch, the consideration to pay Pujols with a portion of the team.)

Selig's comment came on a day when his beloved Brewers locked in their best hitter for at least the next 10 seasons. Ryan Braun signed a $105-million extension that includes a mutual option and could keep him in Milwaukee through at least 2020. According to multiple reports, Braun joins an exclusive but growing group: players signed through the age of 36 who have spent their career with a single team. There are seven of them - Ryan Howard, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Chipper Jones, Todd Helton and now Braun. Cardinals hope Pujols is No. 8.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

my iuncle who knows a lot of the Cardinals minor league coaches told me that the rumor mill was that the Cardinals had asked MLB's help in getting Pujols signed. Everyone was speculating that it was the part ownership of the team that would need approval. I never siad anything because...its a friggin rumor and I though players could be part owners? But, maybe not, from Goolds column today.

Bossman Reid Laymance, the Post-Dispatch's executive sports editor, reports from New York and the annual confab between sports editors and commissioners that Bud Selig believes baseball is "better off" if Albert Pujols re-signs with the Cardinals. Selig mentioned two small-market icons, Kansas City's George Brett and Milwaukee's Robin Yount, and said "they were such big parts of their communities. Their communities were better off that they stayed. And the players said they were better off, too. So, yes, baseball would be better with Albert in St. Louis."

There have been many indications over the past year or so that the gravitational pull between the Cardinals and Pujols is strong enough to keep them together, even if tested by free agency this coming winter. An official in the commissioner's office told me this past winter that Major League Baseball recognizes the importance of an iconic player and is willing "to work with" the team to make a long-term agreement possible, even if it requires creativity in the contract. (Examples: Alex Rodriguez's milestone homer bonus clauses or, as reported in the Post-Dispatch, the consideration to pay Pujols with a portion of the team.)

Selig's comment came on a day when his beloved Brewers locked in their best hitter for at least the next 10 seasons. Ryan Braun signed a $105-million extension that includes a mutual option and could keep him in Milwaukee through at least 2020. According to multiple reports, Braun joins an exclusive but growing group: players signed through the age of 36 who have spent their career with a single team. There are seven of them - Ryan Howard, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Chipper Jones, Todd Helton and now Braun. Cardinals hope Pujols is No. 8.

Selig isn't going to help the Cardinals sign Pujols...

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Selig isn't going to help the Cardinals sign Pujols...

Like what they have done before? All they have to do is agree to allow the partial ownership thing to fly.

(Examples: Alex Rodriguez's milestone homer bonus clauses or, as reported in the Post-Dispatch, the consideration to pay Pujols with a portion of the team.)

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Selig isn't going to help the Cardinals sign Pujols...

I would have swore that I read this off season when the pujols talks were hot that players becoming part owners of baseball teams they play on wasnt against the rules anymore. If that rule still does exist, they would need Selig to coorporate. I could see how ownership would be a win-win for everyone.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I would have swore that I read this off season when the pujols talks were hot that players becoming part owners of baseball teams they play on wasnt against the rules anymore. If that rule still does exist, they would need Selig to coorporate. I could see how ownership would be a win-win for everyone.

That would be correct, but I mean I don't think Selig would go out of his way to make sure Albert stays with the Cardinals.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

That would be correct, but I mean I don't think Selig would go out of his way to make sure Albert stays with the Cardinals.

Its a stupid rule anyway. He would have to change the rule. He couldn't make an exception for the cardinals and not other teams that want to add part ownership to future contracts. Alberts contract from whoever lands him will be close if not more than twice the $144 million that the team was purchased for.

[BigRedChief]

Starting Batista?

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Starting Batista?

It's raining in the St. Louis area, and it looks like at the park. Tony's doing that in case this game is rained out and the Cards would have to have a double header tomorrow.

[Rams Fan]

Rain Delay time.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Rain Delay time.

Good move from Larussa but now Mcclleahan starts with a runner on 2B and no one out.