Six weeks ago I gave up on the St. Louis Cardinals and declared them to "officially suck". Apparently, I was wrong. The team completed an improbable run to the playoffs with an 8-0 win last night over the hapless Houston Astros and finished the season as the National League Wild Card champion.
This Cardinal team trailed the Atlanta Braves by 10 1/2 games in late August and to be honest I had stopped watching. I just couldn't stand the poor defense, mediocre relief pitching and crappy management by Tony LaRussa. But, with the aid of one of the biggest chokes of all times by the Braves, the Cardinals are now in Major League Baseball's 2011 World Series tournament.
As amazing as the Cards were in overcoming that huge deficit, the Tampa Bay Rays overcome even bigger odds. The Rays clinched the Wild Card spot in the American League with a come from behind win over the evil New York Yankees. The Yanks led at one point 7-0, but the Rays kept battling and came back to tie it with a two out solo homer in the bottom of the ninth. Then in the bottom of the 12th Evan Longoria hit a walkoff homerun to win the game 8-7. At the same time an even bigger choke artist, the Boston Red Sox, blew a lead to a bad Baltimore Orioles team, and the Rays are in the playoffs. Hey Boston, don't let the door hit you in the ass.
Watch out now, because while the Yanks (the best team money could buy) had the best record in the American League this year, I believe the Rays are to them what Kryptonite is to Superman. It should be a fun post season.
Showing posts with label MLB Playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLB Playoffs. Show all posts
September 29, 2011
October 11, 2009
Fortunatly,the Cards Aren't Alone
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have done the rest of the baseball world a favor by eliminating one of the most overhyped overpaid ballclubs that made the playoffs. Goodbye, Boston Red Sox.
The Angels came from two runs down in the top of the ninth this afternoon to beat the Sox and sweep them out of the American League playoffs. The final this afternoon was 7-6.
I am not a hater of the Red Sox, but I am glad to see their high priced team go the way of the rest of most MLB clubs. Now if only the Twins can bounce back against those low life Yankees.
The Angels came from two runs down in the top of the ninth this afternoon to beat the Sox and sweep them out of the American League playoffs. The final this afternoon was 7-6.
I am not a hater of the Red Sox, but I am glad to see their high priced team go the way of the rest of most MLB clubs. Now if only the Twins can bounce back against those low life Yankees.
Man Was I Wrong
If you read the post below this one you'll see I was wrong about the Cardinals and the Dodgers. The Dodgers swept the Red Birds and it was anything but a classic. In fact, the Cards were downright ugly.
It's taken about 24 hours for me to get past the loss, but as the old saying goes..."there's always next year". In fact Spring Training in Jupiter will start in a little over four months. The team was very good from late July to early September. There 33-11 record was better than any other organization. But, it was all down hill from there. Just like many clubs the Cardinals peaked too early.
The end was bitter, but it certainly was a fun summer.
It's taken about 24 hours for me to get past the loss, but as the old saying goes..."there's always next year". In fact Spring Training in Jupiter will start in a little over four months. The team was very good from late July to early September. There 33-11 record was better than any other organization. But, it was all down hill from there. Just like many clubs the Cardinals peaked too early.
The end was bitter, but it certainly was a fun summer.
October 06, 2009
Cardinals Entering Playoffs on a Sour Note
The St. Louis Cardinals will open post season play on Wednesday evening against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. And I have no idea what team will show up for the Cardinals. The Red Birds lost eight of their last ten games and looked terrible on numerous occasions in the final week and a half of the regular season. The Cardinals made too many errors and the bullpen was not getting many batters out. Cardinal hitters also seemed to be in a funk and did not come up with timely hitting.
On the plus side the Cardinals will start two of the top pitchers in the league against the Dodgers. Adam Wainwright will go on Wednesday and Chris Carpenter will get the start on Thursday. Both have had good success against LA. If the Cards win the first game they may very well dominate the series. But on the other hand, LA is starting two tough lefties each of those evenings. And there have been times lefties have made the Cards feckless.
The teams played seven times this season and the Cardinals won five; three games in LA and two in St. Louis. And all of the games were good tight ballgames. If form continues St. Louis will win and it could become a classic playoff series.
On the plus side the Cardinals will start two of the top pitchers in the league against the Dodgers. Adam Wainwright will go on Wednesday and Chris Carpenter will get the start on Thursday. Both have had good success against LA. If the Cards win the first game they may very well dominate the series. But on the other hand, LA is starting two tough lefties each of those evenings. And there have been times lefties have made the Cards feckless.
The teams played seven times this season and the Cardinals won five; three games in LA and two in St. Louis. And all of the games were good tight ballgames. If form continues St. Louis will win and it could become a classic playoff series.
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