Meanwhile, in the American League

2015 is going to be a season of great changes - at least in the American League.  The three teams that won division titles last year will be scrambling just to grab a wild card berth this year.

In the meantime, three teams that haven't won a division title in a long, long time will finally break through in 2015 - and one of those division winners will actually make it to the World Series for the first time in franchise history (although their wait will have been considerably shorter than some team we know in the NL Central that hasn't played in the Fall Classic since the Truman Administration and last won it all three years before Ronald Reagan was born).

Here's the way it's going to play out in the Junior Circuit:

AL EAST                                    AL CENTRAL                                    AL WEST

Toronto       89-73                       Cleveland         88-74                          Seattle         90-72
Baltimore    85-77                       Detroit              87-75                          LA of A        87-75             Boston        83-79                       Chicago           82-80                          Oakland       83-79

Tampa Bay  75-87                      Kansas City      81-81                          Houston       80-82

New York    71-91                       Minnesota        66-96                          Texas           71-91

Advancing to the World Series for the first time in franchise history will be the Seattle Mariners, who will of course, be playing the St Louis Cardinals (since it's an odd-numbered year).  It's interesting to note that in 1982, the Cardinals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers - who were making their first trip to the World Series - in a classic seven game showdown.

Of course, the Cardinals lost a seven-game series to the Kansas City Royals in 1985, then lost another seven-game series to the Minnesota Twins in 1987.  Both teams had never won a World Series before, although both had played in a World Series on one other occasion.

What does all this mean?  Simple:  The Cardinals will beat the Mariners in a classic seven-game series.  In the future, if Seattle makes a return trip to the World Series, and they happen to play St Louis again, they'll probably win it that time - in seven games, of course.

October 19, 2006 - Against All Odds: Molina's 9th-Inning Blast Sends Cards to World Series

Thursday, October 19, 2006 - Game 7 - NLCS vs New York Mets at Shea Stadium - Attendance:  56,357 - Starting Pitchers:  Jeff Suppan vs Oliver Perez

The fact that the Cardinals were still playing this deep into the postseason baffled the vast majority of baseball experts who thought the San Diego Padres would send 'em home after three or four games of the NLDS.  Instead, it would be the Pads losing a third straight postseason showdown with the Cards - three games to one.  In '96 and again in '05, St Louis took care of San Diego in three straight games to advance to a NLCS which they would ultimately lose - first to Atlanta and then Houston.

This time around, San Diego managed to win one game, improving their lifetime postseason record to 1-9 vs the Cardinals.

Meanwhile, the heavily favored New York Mets had eliminated the Redbirds in just five NLCS games back in 2000 - as a wild card team, no less.  This time around, the experts generally anticipated a four game sweep.

But here they were, playing a seventh and deciding game in this season's NLCS - both teams unwittingly conspiring to ice down a red-hot Detroit Tigers team that had eliminated the Oakland Athletics far too quickly in their championship series.  The team that plays the waiting game usually has a tough time in the Fall Classic - as the Tigers would eventually find out.

If the Cardinals were going to advance to the World Series, they would have to win this game on the road - against a team that had already swept a three-game series from St Louis - right here at Shea Stadium, back in August.

Actually, winning road games anywhere was a challenge for the Cardinals in '06,  as their 34-47 record away from home would attest.  When  the Mets scored a first-inning run on a two-out double by Carlos Beltran and a bloop RBI single by David Wright, the challenge got a bit more intense.  However, Cards starter Jeff Suppan dodged a bullet when Shawn Green hit a bullet right at Scott Rolen at third base to minimize the damage.

The Cardinals tied the game in the second-inning off Mets starter Oliver Perez.  A lead-off single by Jim Edmonds and a one-out bloop hit by Yadier Molina put runners on the corners for Ronnie Belliard.  Manager Tony LaRussa - anticipating difficulty scoring runs - called for the squeeze play - and it worked.  Belliard's bunt towards second base scored Edmonds to make it a 1-1 game.

In the third-inning, a lead-off double by David Eckstein went to waste, as Preston Wilson (nephew of Mets icon Mookie Wilson) struck out - then after an intentional walk to Albert Pujols, Juan Encarnacion grounded one to third baseman Wright who started an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.

What happened in the sixth-inning is almost beyond belief.

Still tied at one run apiece, Jim Edmonds drew a one-out walk off a tiring Oliver Perez.  Next up - Scott Rolen hit one deep to left field which seemed to be gone.  But left fielder Endy Chavez somehow caught the ball at the absolute apex of his well-timed leap - not only bringing the ball back, but firing a strike to second baseman Jose Valentin who quickly relayed the ball to first baseman Carlos Delgado - to double up a very shocked Edmonds - while sending the fans into an absolute frenzy.

With all that momentum going for them, the Mets seemed almost certain to take the lead in the bottom half of the sixth.  After a one-out walk to Delgado, Wright hit a ground ball to a distraught Scott Rolen, who hastily threw one into right field - trying to start a double play.  Suddenly, New York had both runners in scoring position.  With first base open, Suppan intentionally walked Green, then got perhaps the biggest strikeout of his career when he fanned Valentin on a nasty slider.  Up next - the heroic Chavez - with a chance to add to his legend with a potential game-winning base hit - instead flew out to center to end the threat.

Mets reliever Chad Bradford (career postseason 0.39 ERA in 23.1 IP) worked a perfect seventh-inning - then Suppan finished up his terrific performance with another scoreless inning in the bottom half.

However, at this point in the game, the prospects for a Cardinal victory seemed remote - to say the least.  During the regular season, the Redbirds only managed to win one game on the road when they were tied after seven innings of play.  Strangely enough, that happened in the second game of the season - when they managed to score a ninth-inning run in Philadelphia, and held on for a 4-3 win.

On the other hand, the Cardinals lost nine times on the road when they were tied up after seven-innings.  Even when they had the lead after seven-innings on the road, the Cardinals still managed to lose five games.  To their credit, they did manage to win two games on the road when they were trailing after seven innings.  Go figure.

So here they were, playing the biggest game of the year - in a 1-1 tie at Shea Stadium after seven-innings of play.  Not exactly their blueprint for success in recent history.

A new Mets reliever - Aaron Heilman - pitched a scoreless eighth-inning - first retiring Eckstein on a ground ball to the first baseman - unassisted - then getting Scott Spiezio on a called third strike.  Heilman wanted no part of Pujols, however - walking him intentionally with two-out and nobody on.  He then struck out Encarnacion to retire the side.  Whether or not that strategy had any impact on what would transpire in the ninth-inning is pure conjecture.

After Suppan walked Beltran to open the bottom of the eighth for the Mets, LaRussa brought in Randy Flores to face the heart of the New York lineup - and he was equal to the task - striking out both Delgado and Wright before inducing Green to ground out to Pujols - unassisted.

On to the ninth-inning.  Heilman struck out Edmonds for out number one.  Rolen then grounded a single to left field, bringing Yadier Molina up to the plate.  Perhaps Heilman thought Yadi would take a pitch or two, to get ahead in the count - but that wasn't what Yadi had in mind.  On a first pitch fastball, Molina lined one deep - and high enough - to clear the wall in left.  Chavez would have needed a trampoline to have a shot at catching this one.

The Cards had a shocking 3-1 lead now - but this game was far from over.

Rookie Adam Wainwright came in for the save - but it wouldn't be easy.  Both Valentin and Chavez singled to start the last of the ninth.  With runners on first and second, pinch hitter Cliff Floyd couldn't pull the trigger on a called strike three.  Jose Reyes then lined out to Edmonds in center for out number two.  Next up - Paul LoDuca - walked to load the bases.

With the season on the line for both teams, the most dangerous postseason hitter the Cardinals have ever encountered - Carlos Beltran - stepped up to the plate.  Three pitches later, he was out on strikes.  The final pitch was a baffling curve ball on the outside corner which completely fooled Carlos - dropping about two feet to finish knee-high.

The Cardinals had survived this crazy game.  On the road.  With a National League championship on the line.  On a home run from what was - at the time - the least likely candidate to go yard.  They were on their way to their second World Series appearance in three years - quite naturally, as huge underdogs.

Of course, this team knew better - and they were about to shock the experts one more time.

October 18, 2013 - NLCS MVP Wacha Leads Cards to World Series

Friday, October 18, 2013 - Game 6 - NLCS vs LA Dodgers at Busch Stadium III - Attendance:  46,899 - Starting Pitchers:  Michael Wacha vs Clayton Kershaw

It was one of the most highly anticipated pitching match-ups in postseason history.  The best left-handed pitcher in major league baseball vs the twenty-two year old rookie phenom.  In the end, the Dodgers' ace southpaw - Clayton Kershaw - would be knocked out of the game after four innings -  allowing seven runs on ten hits.

Meanwhile, Michael Wacha would continue his amazing postseason dominance - allowing just two hits, one walk and nary a run in seven innings pitched - striking out five - as the Cardinals advanced to the World Series in a 9-0 cake-walk over the Dodgers.

It wasn't supposed to be this easy.  But the combination of great pitching and a relentless offensive attack on an arm-weary opponent created the perfect storm:  the Cardinals' fourth trip to the Fall Classic in the last ten seasons.

Not surprisingly, Michael Wacha, with his third straight postseason win and impeccable 0.43 ERA in league championship play was voted NLCS MVP for 2013.  Almost overnight, this unassuming but highly talented young feller from Texas - with a blazing fastball and baffling change-up - had become a national celebrity.  In an age where player's nicknames are often chopped-up-hip-hop versions of their first and last names - A-Rod, A-Gon or Mad-Bum - Michael Wacha is now whimsically referred to as "Wacha-Wacha-Wacha".   Much better than Mich-Wach or Wach-Three, don't you think?

With the Dodgers already trailing three games to one in this best-of-seven showdown, manager Don Mattingly really had no choice but to gamble on using his best pitcher on short rest.  For the first two innings, the strategy had at least kept his team in the game - a scoreless tie.

However, things unraveled for Kershaw and the Dodgers in the home half of the third.  The inning began harmlessly enough when Wacha grounded out.  However, a tenacious Matt Carpenter fouled off a half-dozen pitches before finally ripping a two-ball-two-strike pitch down the right field line for a fist-pumping double.

With that, the Cardinals were on their way to a five-hit-four-run inning which essentially sealed the deal.  Carlos Beltran followed Carpenter's double with an RBI single - advancing to second on the throw home.  After Matt Holliday looked at a called third strike, it appeared Kershaw might be able to keep the damage at a minimum.  Not tonight.  Yadier Molina scored Beltran with a base hit to right - then advanced to second on a David Freese single to center.

Next up - 2014's NLDS hero, Matt Adams - walked, to load the bases.  Shane Robinson drove in Molina and Freese with another base hit to right, to give St Louis a 4-0 lead.  The last batter in the inning - Michael Wacha - in his second plate appearance in the third - struck out.

After Wacha carved up the Dodgers' lineup in the fourth, a weary and ineffective Kershaw tried his luck again in the bottom half - to no avail.  Molina ripped a single to right, then advanced to second on right fielder Yasiel Puig's lackadaisical error.  Freese moved Molina to third with a single to left field - then Adams delivered the knock-out punch to Kershaw with an opposite-field double to left - scoring Molina, as Freese held up at third.

At that point, Kershaw was relieved of his duties, with the Dodgers in a 5-0 hole.  The two runners on base were his responsibility - and both would later come in to score as well.  The Redbirds pecked away for a couple more runs - stopping at nine.

After Wacha's brilliant seven-inning outing concluded, Carlos Martinez (two strikeouts) and Trevor Rosenthal (one strikeout) combined for two perfect innings to send the Cardinals to another World Series showdown with the Boston Red Sox.

Unfortunately, the postseason magic wore off for Wacha and the Cardinals in Game Six of the World Series.  Arm troubles added to Wacha's misery in 2014.  Although he had recovered in time to pitch some moderately effective innings at the end of the regular season, he was clearly far from where he was a year ago.

Still, manager Mike Matheny called on Wacha to pitch in a no-win ninth-inning situation against the Giants in Game Five of the NLCS.  He hadn't pitched in nearly three weeks.  Even then, he struggled with his command early in the game - allowing two first-inning runs to a weak Arizona Diamondbacks team.  Could anyone really expect Wacha to survive one inning against a team that knew how to win?  Aside from manager Mike Matheny?

Fortunately, Wacha is still quite young, and with good health, can be a dominant major league pitcher again.  Fundamentally, the Cardinals are still a very good team, and should be good enough to reach the postseason again next year.

Time will tell.  Obviously, one year - or 363 days - can bring about much change in the fate of any player - or team - in the game.

October 16, 1985 - Clark's 3-Run 9th-Inning Blast Sends Cards to World Series

Wednesday, October 16, 1985 - Game 6 - NLCS vs Los Angeles Dodgers - At Dodger Stadium - Attendance:  55,208 - Starting Pitchers:  Joaquin Andujar vs Orel Hershiser

The Cardinals are trailing, 5-4, with two on and two out in the top of the ninth-inning.  Ozzie Smith is on second - Willie McGee on third.  The next scheduled hitter is Jack Clark - aka "Jack the Ripper".  Andy Van Slyke - aka "Van Strike" - is on deck.

Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda has a decision to make:  With first base open, should he instruct reliever Tom Niedenfuer to intentionally walk Clark to face Van Slyke?  Lasorda's decision is captured by lip-readers from coast to coast watching the game on NBC:  "Pitch to the son of a bitch!"

At this moment, millions of Cardinal fans watching the broadcast are leaning forward in anticipation of what is about to transpire on Niedenfuer's very first pitch - a fastball, right down the middle:  Jack rips it deep into the left field bleachers.  Dodgers' left fielder Pedro Guerrero - a demonstrative slugger who can't believe what he just saw - slams his glove to the ground as the ball zooms a hundred or so feet over his head.

The instant Clark makes contact with the ball, millions of Cardinal fans watching the broadcast leap
for joy - knowing that ball is long gone.  No doubt some of those fans, who may have been taking an extended lunch hour to watch the game at a nearby sports bar, have caused quite a commotion by accidentally knocking over the little table where they are sitting - and with it, whatever is left of the burger, fries and coke that sits atop that tabletop.  Broken glass and stoneware litter the area as Clark slowly makes his triumphant trip around the bases - no doubt oblivious to the property damage his swing inadvertently incurred.

Complete strangers, sharing an allegiance to St Louis Cardinal baseball are sharing high-fives, as an assortment of harried bus boys are busy sweeping the area of the carnage, making little attempt to hide their contempt for such reckless customer behavior.  The waitress hovers over the culprit asking with feigned concern for his well-being - implying that all this extra work deserves extra compensation - and rightfully so.

As the NBC camera relentlessly fixates on the distraught Tommy Lasorda in the Dodgers' dugout - the pained expression on his face reveals what's he's now asking himself:  "Why didn't we walk that son of a bitch?"  Lasorda's trembling hand smooths down his white mat of hair which has suddenly gotten even whiter in just a few seconds.  Even those who despise Lasorda's tiresome "Dodger Blue" mantra feel some measure of compassion - if only for a split second - for this man after making what was a blatant tactical error.  Of course, Lasorda would never admit it - but anyone with any knowledge of baseball would be able to see through the facade.

The Cardinals had survived a start by their least reliable pitcher over the past several weeks - Joaquin Andujar:  6 IP - 6 H - 4 R - 2 ER - 2 BB - 3 SO - 1 HR - Although two of the runs he coughed up were "unearned", they came as a direct result of Andujar's own defensive miscue.

In typical Andujar fashion, his greatest contribution to Cardinal victory came while batting in the third inning, down 2-0 already.  Leading-off the inning, Andujar doubled and eventually scored from third base on Tommy Herr's two-out single.

The Cardinals were even rougher on Dodger starter Orel Heshiser:  6.1 IP - 9 H - 4 R - 4 ER - 1 BB - 1 SO.  Still, Hershiser was in line for the win, had Niedenfuer avoided calamity for the second straight game:  2.2 IP - 3 H - 3 R - 3 ER - 2 BB - 3 SO - 1 HR

Earning the win was rookie Todd Worrell, despite giving up a tie-breaking home run to Mike Marshall in the eighth-inning:  2 IP - 2 H - 1 R - 1 ER - 2 BB - 2 SO - 1 HR

The Cardinals had to put together a bit of seventh-inning magic to forge that tie to begin with.  Trailing 4-1, both Darrell Porter and Tito Landrum singled off a tiring Hershiser to start the inning.  Pinch hitting for Andujar - Steve Braun - moved both runners up with a ground ball to the right side.  Then Willie McGee - an unsung hero in this game - singled in both runners to make it a 4-3 game.

Lasorda then brought in the guy who gave up Ozzie's "Go Crazy, Folks" home run in Game Five - Tom Niedenfuer - who was forced to face his nemesis once again - with similar results.  Ozzie lined one off the base of right field wall - just missing a home run by a few feet.  The ball rattled around in the corner long enough for Ozzie to cruise into third, as McGee easily scored the tying run, to make it a 4-4 game.

Niedenfuer then walked Herr intentionally to set up a potential double play with Clark due up next.  However, Clark struck out - as did Van Slyke to end the threat.  After Marshall's eighth-inning home run over the right field fence gave LA a 5-4 lead, Niedenfuer's heroics came to an abrupt halt with the iconic Jack Clark blast deep into the Southern California early-autumn afternoon haze.

Getting his second postseason save was Ken Dayley, who retired the shell-shocked Dodgers in order in the bottom of the ninth:  1 IP - 0 H - 0 R - 0 BB - 2 SO

Heading into the World Series, the Cardinals were huge favorites to win their second world championship in four seasons - but for a variety of reasons, that didn't come to pass.  Their opponents - the Kansas City Royals - won the last three games - to not only capture their only championship in franchise history.  They also started quite a postseason winning streak, in the process.  With eight straight postseason victories in 2014, their overall streak has now reached eleven in a row - an unsustainable streak that will in all likelihood end with a World Series defeat.

The odds-on favorite to oppose the Cinderella Royals are now the San Francisco Giants, who lead the Cardinals three games to one in the NLCS.  The Cardinals have never recovered from such a deficit to win any best-of-seven postseason series.  In fact three out of the four times they trailed by such a margin, they lost Game Five (1943 World Series, 2000 NLCS & 2002 NLCS).  The one time they staved-off elimination in Game Five happened in the 2005 NLCS - when Albert Pujols hit his iconic three-run home run in Houston to extend the series for a Game Six showdown in St Louis.

No fairy tale ending there - as the Cardinals were bounced out of the postseason by those wild card Astros in the last game ever played at Busch Stadium II.

But wouldn't it be fitting, if the Cardinals could turn the tables on the Giants - who overcame a three games to one deficit to the wild card Cardinals two years ago - en route to a World Series sweep of the Detroit Tigers?  Besides, the Cardinals have a 29-year-old score to settle with that Royals team.

If they can somehow salvage Game Five in San Francisco...anything's possible.

Why a World Series Win on OCTOBER 6 Was Bad for the Cards - A Loss Good

The following memo was recently discovered at a garage sale in Henderson, Nevada.  It sheds some light on a very strange phenomenon that had occurred on October 6 - whenever the Cardinals happened to appear in a World Series and played a game on that date.
                                                               
MEMO

To:  Major League Baseball                                                          Date:  April 1, 1926
From:  The Baseball Gods

Subject:  World Series Games Played on October 6

It has come to our attention that the team that calls itself The Saint Louis Cardinals is going to win the National League Pennant at the conclusion of the 1926 Major League Baseball Season.  How on earth that is going to happen, we can't really explain.  But there's a first time for everything.

In any event, any World Series Games played by The Cardinals on October 6, 1926 - and any future World Series Games played by The Cardinals on the aforementioned date - shall be deemed - actually, we're not sure what to call it.

But here's the deal:  If The Cardinals win any October 6 encounters vs the American League in the World Series - they must forfeit their right to win the World's Championship of Major League Baseball - or The World Championship, as some may call it.

On the other hand, if The Cardinals lose any October 6 encounters vs the American League in the aforementioned Series, the American League team hereby forfeits their rights to attain the World's Championship of Major League Baseball.  The only exception to that rule is in case of a Loss by Shutout in an even-numbered year - The Cardinals wouldn't deserve to win the World Series every time they're Shutout on October 6, now would they?

We realize this may cause some cynical Baseball Executives to question the integrity of the two competing Ball Clubs playing on October 6.  Neither team would find it in their best interests to actually "Win" any Games played on October 6.  In essence, one might think each team would be tempted to deliberately "Lose" any Games played on the aforementioned date.  Of course, that's a distinct possibility.  But we figured that those negative efforts would just cancel each other out.

Consequently, the Fans would be treated to a real humdinger of a Ballgame - and that's all that matters.  Most importantly, the temporary despair the Losing Team's loyal Fans endure on October 6 will be replaced by a slightly more permanent feeling of rapture by winning the whole Shebang.

This new policy only applies to World Series Games played on October 6.  Any future Postseason Games - "Division Series" and/or "League Championship Series" - do not apply for some reason.

We certainly appreciate your cooperation in attaining full compliance in this matter.  We don't normally share the future, but thought it would be helpful to give you some examples of what's in store for the next forty-some-odd years in World Series Games to be played on October 6 involving the aforementioned National League Ball Club (hereinafter referred to as "Cards")

1926 - Game 3 - New York Yankees 10 - Cards 5 - We thought it might be fun to have a guy like Babe Ruth hitting three home runs in this Game - just to give the Saint Louis Fans something to appreciate as they temporarily drown their sorrows in their bootleg beer.  Cards in 7.

1930 - Game 5 - Philadelphia Athletics 2 - Cards 0 - That's what I'm talking about.  No runs on October 6 - no Championship Trophy.  A's in 6.

1931 - Game 4 - Philadelphia Athletics 3 - Cards 0 - Odd-numbered year.  We'll let it slide.  Cards in 7.

1934 - Game 4 - Detroit Tigers 10 - Cards 4.  Cards in 7 - Winning the last 2 on the road, no less.

1943 - Game 2 - Cards 4 - New York Yankees 3 - Sorry, that one Win = a World Series Defeat.  Yanks in 5.

1944 - Game 3 - St Louis Browns 6 - Cards 2 - The Browns?  Welcome to WW II - Cards in 6.

1946 - Game 1 - Boston Red Sox 3 - Cards 2 (10-Innings) - Such a devastating defeat makes this all the more compelling for the vanquished.  Besides, The Curse of The Bambino still in effect.  Cards in 7.

1968 - Game 4 - Cards 10 - Detroit Tigers 1 - Turnabout is fair play (See "1934") - Also, the Baseball Gods don't like it when Lou Brock steals third with a nine-run lead in the eighth-inning.  That gives him seven stolen bases in the first four Games.  How many do you think he'll get in the next three Games?  0 - Tigers in 7.

We'll share our thoughts on other matters in the future - such as excessive braggadocio and/or demeaning comments directed at opposing Teams and/or Players.  Hint:  We frown upon such activity, along with silly self-imposed nicknames (such as "T-PLush", "T-Gumbo", etc).

You'll see.

Yours truly, The Baseball Gods - The National Pastime, Inc

October 4, 1964 - The Cardinals Win The Pennant!

Sunday, October 4, 1964 - At Busch Stadium I (Curt Simmons - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  New York Mets (Galen Cisco - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  30,146

On the last day of probably the most miraculous season in major league histroy, the Cardinals salvaged the final game of a season-ending three-game series with the lowly New York Mets - to claim their first National League pennant since 1946.  Bob Gibson, who lost a heart-breaking eight-inning start on Friday night, worked four innings of gutsy relief to get the win in the clincher - as the Cardinals eventually cruised to a memorable 11-5 win.

Ironically, the team the Redbirds spent most of the summer chasing down - the Philadelphia Phillies - gave the Cardinals the help they needed with a 10-0 drubbing of the Cincinnati Reds - co-leaders with St Louis at the start of play today.  The win moved Philadelphia into a second-place tie with Cincinnati - both with 92-70 records - one game behind the Cardinals, who somehow finished at 93-69.

Thankfully, the Cardinals avoided the three game-sweep to the worst team in baseball.  Otherwise, the top spot in the National League would have resulted in an unprecedented three-way tie - with all sorts of convoluted playoff possibilities, which more than likely would have resulted in the survivor of the pandemonium heading into the Fall Classic confrontation with the New York Yankees with a less than favorable starting rotation.  More than likely, the Bronx Bombers would have emerged victorious in Mickey Mantle's final World Series appearance, instead of falling to the Cardinals in seven games.

Despite the seemingly lopsided victory, this game was a nail-biter until the Redbirds finally took command about halfway through.

The Cardinals grabbed a second-inning 1-0 lead off Mets starter Galen Cisco - on Mike Shannon's two-out RBI single - scoring Tim McCarver - who opened the inning with a double.

In the fourth-inning, the Mets tied the game on Charlie Smith's two-out solo home run off Cards starter Curt Simmons.

In the bottom half of the fourth, Dick Groat's lead-off double nearly went to waste, but Dal Maxvill of all people, lined a two-out single to center to bring the go-ahead run home:  2-1 - St Louis.

The lead quickly evaporated as the Mets batted in the fifth-inning.  George Altman started the trouble with a single, then advanced to second on Cisco's sacrifice bunt.  Bobby Klaus then lifted a fly ball deep to right field which Altman thought would be caught - but it landed safely, as Klaus made it all the way to second, while Altman only advanced to third.  However, the next batter - Ken McMillan - scored both runners with a double of his own to left field.  Suddenly, the Mets had a 3-2 lead.

Manager Johnny Keane had seen enough.  In from the bullpen to replace a tiring Simmons came the Cardinals' ace - Bob Gibson - to restore order.  He was working on just one day's rest - after pitching masterfully in a painful 1-0 loss to Al Jackson on Friday night.  But with the entire season on the line, he made himself available for duty in this game, if needed.  And he was needed, as Simmons was out of gas.

Gibson retired the next two Mets batters to keep the deficit at a single run - before an inspired Cardinals' lineup seized control of the game in the bottom half of the inning.  Lou Brock led-off with a base on balls, then advanced to second on Bill White's base hit to right field.  Ken Boyer's double to left field scored Brock with the tying run - as manager Casey Stengel brought in reliever Bill Wakefield to take over for Cisco - attempting to get out of this second and third no-out predicament.

The first batter Wakefield faced - Dick Groat - gave the Cardinals a lead they would not relinquish - on a ground-out to the second baseman - scoring White from third as Boyer advanced to third.

After McCarver was intentionally walked, Shannon struck out - but Maxvill did it again - a two-out RBI single to right field - scoring Boyer to give the Cardinals a 5-3 lead.  With Cincinnati getting clobbered at home to the Phillies, everyone in the ballpark knew a pennant was very likely going to be won today by the home town team.  Electricity filled the air.

Gibson - clearly arm-weary on such short rest - faltered in the sixth-inning, but avoided serious trouble.  A two-out bases loaded walk to Klaus made it a 5-4 game - but a collective sigh of relief could be heard throughout old Busch Stadium when McMillan grounded out to end the threat.

The festive mood at the ballpark intensified when the Cards scored three more runs in the bottom half of the sixth off reliever Willard Hunter.  Brock's one-out double preceded White's two-run home run - then later in the frame, after Boyer walked, McCarver brought him in with a ringing double to right:  8-4 - St Louis.

Curt Flood put the crowd into a frenzy with a lead-off eighth-inning home run - then with two out, Boyer drew another base on balls, advanced to third on Groat's double, and both runners scored on McCarver's single to center:  11-4 - St Louis.

By this time, the irascible Cardinals owner, Gussie Busch had joined the wildly exuberant broadcaster - Harry Caray, who had moved down to the field-level box seats to capture the excitement of this inevitable pennant-clinching moment.  The party was delayed momentarily when an exhausted Gibson could no longer maintain control of his pitches - walking two batters as the Mets took their final turn at bat in the ninth.  With two on and one out, Barney Schultz and his dancing knuckle ball took over for Gibby, who departed the mound to a standing ovation from the appreciative fans.  Eventually, one run came scored but Schultz got the final out of the season - inducing Ed Kranepool into popping a foul ball behind home plate - which McCarver grabbed - to send the Cardinals to their first World Series in eighteen years.

Old Gussie's gravely voice could be heard on the radio at that moment, proclaiming this day to be the happiest of his "live-long life" as Harry couldn't stop repeating his excited summation of what had just transpired: "The Cardinals win the pennant!"

Of course, the Cardinals also went on to win the World Series, as well.  Even though Bob Gibson - still arm-weary from his recent late season activity - lost Game 2 - he would pitch heroically in Games 5 and 7 to earn his first World Series MVP honor.

Even better performances in baseball's grandest stage would lie ahead for the great Gibson - who was just beginning to write his own World Series legacy.

October 2, 2011 - Game 2 - NLDS: Cards Rally for Crucial 5-4 Win Over Phillies

Sunday, October 2, 2011 - At Citizens Bank Park (Chis Carpenter - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Philadelphia Phillies (Cliff Lee - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  46,575

The 2011 postseason for the St Louis Cardinals began - as most experts predicted - with a Game One NLDS loss to the Philadelphia Phillies - and Game Two seemed destined for defeat, as well.

The Cardinals were down 4-0 after three innings of play.

Cliff Lee - one of the game's best pitchers - was on the mound for the Phillies.

Trying to mount a comeback under those circumstances required two highly unlikely conditions to be fulfilled:  (1) The Cardinals would have to score at least five runs while (2) the bullpen would have to prevent the potent Phillies lineup from any further scoring.

Of course, that's exactly what happened, as the Cardinals shocked the Phillies, their fans and the experts, with a come-from-behind 5-4 win - to even this best-of-five playoff series at one game apiece.

Prevailing in the face of adversity became a trademark for the 2011 St Louis Cardinals - and this game was no exception.  Its frustrating beginning featured a lead-off triple off the bat of Rafael Furcal to start the game.  But Cliff Lee struck out Allen Craig, got Albert Pujols on a popup to the second baseman, then induced Lance Berkman to ground out to the third baseman to end the threat.

With that wasted opportunity came more frustration, as the Phillies scored three first-inning runs off Chris Carpenter - starting this game on four - not the usual five - days' rest.  A lead-off double by Jimmy Rollins preceded back-to-back walks to Chase Utley and Hunter Pence.  Ryan Howard scored J-Rol and Utley with a single to center, before the Flyin' Hawaiian - Shane Victorino - made the first out of the inning - on a fly ball to Jon Jay in center.

Tobacco-chewing Raul Ibanez then stroked a single to left - scoring Pence with the Phillies' third run of the game, as Howard stopped at second.  This game - along with the Cardinals' postseason - seemed to be slipping away very quickly.  However, Placido Polanco obligingly grounded into a Furcal-to-Theriot-to-Pujols double play to keep the deficit at three runs.

Leading-off the second-inning for the Redbirds was David Freese.  He doubled, but like Furcal an inning earlier, would be stranded.  Lee struck out Yadier Molina and Ryan Theriot - then got Jon Jay on a tap right back to the mound to retire the side.

The Phillies added to the Cardinals' frustration in the bottom of the second.  With two out, Rollins lined his second straight double into left field - then stole third while Utley was drawing a base on balls.  Pense got the RBI on a base hit to right before Carpenter escaped further damage by retiring Howard on a fly ball to left.  Still, the Phillies had a formidable 4-0 lead with a former Cy Young Award winner on the mound.  As Whitey Herzog might have said, "It don't look good on paper."

After an uneventful third-inning, the Cardinals finally got something started in the fourth.  Lance Berkman walked to lead-off the frame.  After Freese looked at a called third strike, Molina reached on an infield single to short - advancing Berkman to second.  Ryan Theriot then got perhaps the biggest hit of his career - a double to right field to score Berkman with the first run of the game for St Louis.  Jay then scored Molina with a single to right - as Theriot advanced to third, while Jay moved up to second on the throw to the plate.

With Carpenter due to bat, manager Tony LaRusssa sent Nick Punto in to pinch hit - and he struck out.  However, Furcal lined a two-out single to left, scoring Theriot - but left fielder Ibanez nailed Jay at the plate, trying to score.  The Cardinals were only down by a single run, as the Citizens Bank Ballpark mood suddenly shifted from frivolity to paranoia.

Carpenter's night was over after three arm-weary innings:  five hits - four runs - thee walks - two strikeouts - not a typical game for the Cardinal ace - but the early exit would help him recover sufficiently for his next start.

Now, it was up to the bullpen to keep the Phillies in check for the next six innings.  Six relievers - Salas, Dotel, Rzepczynski, Boggs, Rhodes and Motte - did just that - shutting out the Phillies on one hit while striking out six.

Meanwhile, with Cliff Lee still toiling for Philadelphia, the Cardinals tied the game in the sixth-inning.  It all started with a two-out double by Theriot - who scored on Jay's opposite-field single to left.  Once again, the Cardinals tested the arm of left fielder Ibanez - and this time, Theriot slid in safely on a high throw to the plate.  Momentarily sprawled across home plate, the jubilant Theriot jumped to his feet and was given a hero's welcome in the animated Redbird dugout - given a new lease on postseason life - this game was tied, 4-4.

Manager Charlie Manuel continued to trust his starter, heading into the seventh-inning of this suddenly tied ballgame.  That may have been a mistake.  This time, Allen Craig got the lead-off extra base hit for the Redbirds - a triple, deep to left field.

This time, the Cardinals didn't squander a golden scoring opportunity.  Pujols lined the first pitch from Lee just over the leaping Rollins' outstretched glove at shortstop - into left field with the base hit that put the Cardinals in the lead for the first time in the game.

After Berkman blooped a single just out of Utley's reach at second base - advancing Pujols to third - Manuel finally decided Lee had run out of gas.  His pitching line:  6 IP - 12 H - 5 R - 2 BB - 9 SO

Ironically, reliever Brad Lidge managed to work his way out of that first and third-nobody out mess - to keep the score where it was - a 5-4 Cardinal advantage.  Relievers Bastardo, Worley and Madson worked the final two scoreless innings for Philadelphia.  But it was too late.  The damage had been done.

Jason Motte closed out the Phillies in order in the ninth, to earn his first postseason save.  Octavial Dotel (1-0) pitched 1.1 innings of perfect relief to record the win - and keep the Cardinals' postseason dreams alive.

St Louis had last appeared in the postseason in 2009 - eliminated in three straight agonizing losses to the Dodgers in the first round.  This crucial win prevented a similar calamity from occurring this year.

The faces of the distraught fans still lingering around after their team's stunning defeat told the story:  They were very concerned about the outcome of this best-of-five series - and they had every reason to feel that way.

September 30, 2006 - 3-Run 8th-Inning Rally Puts Cardinals in Postseason

Saturday, September 30, 2006 - At Busch Stadium III (Jeff Suppan - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Milwaukee Brewers (Ben Sheets - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  44,294

The difference between the Cardinals winning the NL Central and advancing into the postseason and losing the division title - and going home early - really boiled down to the three-run eighth-inning rally the eventual World Series champions put together in this game - to turn a 2-0 deficit into a crucial 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

That was a close call, fans.  Of course, any season that hinges on one or two games between postseason glory or postseason tee times - can be identified by reviewing the events in one key inning, or one key at bat.  In this particular case, a couple of managerial decisions on the part of Tony LaRussa late in this game impacted the long term benefits Cardinal fans would ultimately enjoy - namely, a tenth world championship trophy for this storied franchise.

First things first.  Prior to this game, the Cardinals had won just eleven times in September - losing sixteen times.  On September 28, their once comfortable NL Central lead had dwindled to an alarming one-half game over the defending National League champion Houston Astros.

After a much-needed win on Friday night, coupled with a Houston loss in Atlanta, the lead was back to a game and a half as the Cardinals and Brewers prepared to do battle on this beautiful Saturday afternoon in St Louis.

Both starting pitchers - Jeff Suppan and Ben Sheets - were on top of their games today - neither allowing a single run to cross the plate through the first six innings.

But then in the top of the seventh-inning, the Brewers rallied.  With one out, back-to-back singles by Geoff Jenkins and Corey Hart suddenly had runners on first and second.  After David Bell lined out to Preston Wilson in left field, Mike Rivera walked to load the bases.

Brewers nanager Ned Yost, trying to capitalize on this scoring opportunity, inserted pinch hitter Jeff Cirillo in to bat for Ben Sheets.  It was a good move, as Cirillo lined a single to center, scoring Jenkins and Hart, to give Milwaukee a 2-0 lead.

Although they were now behind by a couple of runs, the Cardinals were probably glad to get Sheets out of there.  Although he'd given up seven hits in six innings of work, Sheets had also fanned seven - including striking out the side in the sixth.

Reliever Jose Capella pitched an uneventful bottom of the seventh for Milwaukee, but the eighth-inning would be quite a different story.  Albert Pujols started the fun with a lead-off single to right.  After Wilson struck out, Scott Rolen doubled down the left field line - advancing Pujols to third.

Yost went to his bullpen again - bringing in lefty reliever Brian Shouse to face Jim Edmonds - instead, LaRussa sent pinch hitter Juan Encarnacion to bat - who received an intentional walk to load the bases.

Yost went to the bullpen again, bringing in Francisco Cordero to face Ronnie Belliard - who lined out to left field for the second out.  It was getting late - not only in this game - but the for the entire season - which seemed to be slipping away into non-postseason hell at this point - especially with Cordero now pitching for Milwaukee.  Acquired on July 28 from the Texas Rangers for some young outfielder by the name of Nelson Cruz - Cordero had been nothing short of sensational - posting a 1.69 ERA in twenty-four innings - and on the verge of wrapping this one up.

Due up was Yadier Molina - who wasn't much of a hitter early in his career.  LaRussa knew it was now or never for his fading team - sending in the future postseason cult hero - Scott Spiezio - up to bat for Yadi - and he delivered the biggest hit of his career - at least up to this point - a bases-clearing triple deep to right field.  Suddenly, the Cardinals had climbed out of the abyss - taking a 3-2 lead heading into the ninth-inning.

Tyler Johnson - who had worked a scoreless eighth-inning for St Louis - would be in line for the win (2-4) if a young Adam Wainwright could pitch a scoreless ninth to earn his third major league save.

Waino walked one and struck out one to close this one out.  The Cardinals had come-from-behind to win a game they absolutely needed to win - especially since Houston had also won today to remain just a game and a half behind St Louis.

As fate would have it, the Astros would lose again on Sunday, October 1 - and so would the Cardinals - to remain a game and a half in front of Houston - with just one game left on the schedule - a game that was previously rained-out.  Thanks to the mathematical impossibility of St Louis blowing that lead, the Redbirds didn't have to worry about playing Game 162.

St Louis finished the regular season at 83-78 - five games above .500 - but it was good enough to win the NL Central - so it was good enough to sneak into the postseason.  After eliminating the over-whelming favorites in the NLDS - the San Diego Padres - three games to one - the Cardinals advanced to the NLCS to face the over-whelming favorite New York Mets - who were beaten, four games to three.

On to the World Series, to play the extremely overwhelmingly favored Detroit Tigers - who even had home-field advantage going for them.  The only thing they didn't have going for them were a whole lot of wins.  St Louis crushed them - four games to one - much to the shock and dismay of practically everyone outside of Cardinal Nation.

The Cardinals' postseason record:  11-5 - six games above .500 - marking the first time in history a team had ever gone higher above .500 in the postseason than they had in the regular season.  The cover of Sports Illustrated - capturing the essence of this upset - displayed a photo of a jubilant World Series MVP David Eckstein on the cover - arms extended high over his head - with the appropriate caption:  "Get Over It" - but I don't think a lot of bitter fans from other championship-deprived franchises really have gotten over it.

Come to think of it, the outcome of the 2011 World Series seemed to have surprised and disappointed the disgruntled masses once again.  Of course, heading into the 2014 postseason, the Cardinals are huge underdogs again.  In fact, odds-makers have given the wild card Pittsburgh Pirates a better shot of winning the World Series.  Go figure.

Of course, that's just the way the Cardinals seem to prefer it - playing the role of the underdog.

September 28, 2011 - Carpenter's 2-Hit Shutout Punches Wild Cards' Ticket to Postseason Party

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - At Minute Maid Park (Chris Carpenter - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Houston Astros (Brett Meyers - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  24,358

The Cardinals completed their most improbable quest for postseason play since 1964, with an 8-0 win over the Houston Astros.  Chris Carpenter had his most dominant outing of the season - a complete game two-hit shutout, which also included eleven strikeouts and just one base on balls.  Clearly, he was primed for postseason play.

The Cardinals took command of this game from the outset - scoring five first-inning runs on seven hits.  The Redbirds tacked on another third-inning run when Carpenter got into the act with an RBI single to score David Freese - who also scored a fifth-inning run (his third of the game) on Skip Schumaker's second RBI of the game - on a run-scoring ground out.

Allen Craig added a ninth-inning solo home run to round out the scoring - for the game - and the regular season for the National League's most dominant offensive attack.

With Carpenter anchoring the starting rotation and a vastly improved bullpen, this team seemed to have all the pieces required to go all the way.  And of course, they did.

In the meantime, after this game concluded, St Louis now held a one-half game advantage over the Braves for the coveted wild card berth in the National League.  The game between the Braves and Phillies - which began an hour before this one - was still in progress - tied at three runs apiece.

As the Cardinal players gathered in the visitor's clubhouse to watch the conclusion of that game - the Phillies scored a thirteenth-inning run to take the lead.  When Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman grounded into a season-ending 3-6-3 double-play - one hour and fifteen minutes after their win in Game 162 - the Cardinals were in - and the first of four wild champagne celebrations had begun.

Three years later, the Cardinals clinched their second straight NL Central title after Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto avenged last season's embarrassing wild card loss to the Pirates - and at least for a day - was not the most despised opposing player in Cardinal Nation.

September 12, 2006 - Come-From-Behind Walk-Off Win Over Houston

Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - At Busch Stadium III (Jeff Weaver - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Houston Astros (Andy Pettitte - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  41,453

Albert Pujols' two-out two-run ninth-inning double scored Skip Schumaker from second and Scott Spiezio from first - to lift the Cardinals to a dramatic 6-5 walk-off win over the Houston Astros.

Houston closer Brad Lidge - who gave up that famous game-winning three-run home run to Pujols in Game Five of the 2005 NLCS - was victimized once again by his nemesis.  As the rest of the regular season unfolded, this particular game-winning Pujols hit was - quite simply - the difference between postseason play for the Redbirds in 2006 - or going home.

At the time, this win over Houston merely padded the Cardinals' lead to five games over their division rivals - with just eighteen games remaining on the schedule.  However, that comfortable five-game lead would dwindle to a half-game - thanks in large part to a four-game sweep at the hands of the Astros - September 21 - 24 (Games 151-154).

Yes, it was unnerving to be a Cardinal fan at that time.  But the Cardinals were a resilient team - as we all found out for sure, by the time the postseason rolled around.

Before all that ninth-inning excitement, this game was a see-saw battle throughout - with Houston striking first - on a first-inning solo home run by Mike Lamb off St Louis starter Jeff Weaver.

The Cardinals grabbed the lead in the third-inning - on Preston Wilson's two-out two-run home run off Astros starter Andy Pettitte.  When the next batter - Scott Spiezio reached on an error by shortstop Eric Bruntlett, manager Phil Garner abruptly removed his starter - apparently due to some sort of injury.  Pettitte had worked just 2.2 innings in this game - and that home run was the only hit he allowed.  He walked one (who scored) and struck out two - but now he was suddenly out of the game.

Pettitte wouldn't appear in another game for the Astros until September 21 - when he worked five innings in a start vs the Cardinals - allowing five runs - in a game eventually won by Houston.  Whether or not his absence from the Houston starting rotation played a role in the outcome of this crazy division race is just another topic in the "what if" game for 2006.

What we do know is that the Astros took the lead once again in this game - on pinch hitter Orlando Palmeiro's bases loaded two-run single in the fourth-inning:  Houston 3 - St Louis 2.

The Cardinals tied it again in their half of the fourth, when the young, light-hitting catcher - Yadier Molina - singled with two out to bring home Edwin Encarnacion - who had previously tripled.

The Cardinals then took a short-lived lead in the fifth-inning - when Encarnacion come through again - with a two-out single - scoring Scott Spiezio from second:  St Louis 4 - Houston 3.

Weaver's night would be over after facing two batters in the sixth-inning.  The first one - Luke Scott - walked.  The second one - Chris Burke - hit a two-run home run - giving Houston a 5-4 lead.

Reliever Josh Hancock struck out all three Houston batters - Bruntlett, Ausmus and Jimerson - to end the top half of the sixth.  Two other relievers - Tyler Johnson (one inning pitched) and Braden Looper (two innings pitched) - also contained the Astros offense - allowing the Cardinals the opportunity to pull this one out of the fire.

The fateful bottom of the ninth began with pinch hitter John Rodriguez (batting for Molina) singled off Astros closer Brad Lidge to right field.  Again, imagine the consequences if J Rod had failed to reach base safely.  Luckily, he got that hit to start the game winning rally.  Skip Schumaker then entered the game to pinch run for our unsung hero - then advanced to second when pinch hitter Jose Vizcaino (batting for Looper) laid down a sacrifice bunt.

But Lidge struck out Preston Wilson for the second out of the inning - then, the Cardinals got a break, when the next batter - Scott Spiezio - was hit by a pitch.

With runners on first and second - and the Cardinals down to their last out - Pujols stepped into the batter's box.  After getting burned by Albert in last season's NLCS, Lidge had only faced his nemesis two times in '06 prior to this particular at bat.  On both occasions, Pujols was retired on fly balls to deep center.

Not this time.  Pujols lined a Lidge fastball down the left field line - into the corner.  Spiezio got a great jump off first base - and was already rounding third - heading for home - by the time the left fielder had retrieved the ball.  A jubilant Skip Schumaker - who scored the tying run - motioned for Spiezio to slide - and he did - with the winning run.

The significance of this win wouldn't be determined until the final week of the season.  But this was the kind of thing Pujols did so often, Cardinal fans may have started taking it for granted.  The truth of the matter is, without him, those eleven seasons (2001 - 2011) would have been nowhere near as exciting as they turned out to be.  And there's no way the Cardinals would have even qualified for postseason play - let alone win the World Series - in '06 or '11.

August 23, 1968 - 11-Inning Walk-Off Winner Over Pirates

Friday, August 23, 1968 - At Busch Stadium (Ray Washburn - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Pittsburgh Pirates (Bob Veale - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  34,845

Welcome to The Year of the Pitcher.

Phil Gagliano's eleventh-inning two-out triple scored Mike Shannon from first base to give the Cardinals a 3-2 walk-off win over the Pirates.  Losing pitcher Ron Kline (10-3) hit Shannon with a pitch - enabling him to score the winning run when Gagliano's line drive happened to find the gap.

Meanwhile, in the second game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees played to a 3-3 tie through nineteen innings - at which point, everybody had to go home on account of some curfew law.  They'd have to try again with a much earlier starting time.

Runs were a rare commodity in 1968.  The two runs the Pirates scored in this game came as a direct result of two separate errors by the usually reliable second baseman - Julian Javier.  Otherwise, this game would have ended in regulation - with a 2-0 Cardinal win - and Ray Washburn would have had a complete game shutout.  Instead, he toiled for ten innings just to be rewarded with a "no decision".  Joe Hoerner (6-2) gets the win in relief with one inning of perfect work - striking out two - for style points.

Prior to Gagliano's game-winning three-bagger, the Cardinals got some offensive firepower from last year's NL MVP - Orlando Cepeda.  His seventh-inning two-out two-run home run off Bob Veale tied the game at two runs apiece.  It was only fitting that Javier would find some measure of redemption by drawing a base on balls prior to the two-run blast.

In the grand scheme of things, this game had little significance on the pennant race.  After all, the Cardinals had already eliminated any doubt about the ultimate outcome of the National League championship.  After tonight's game, St Louis (82-47) held a thirteen game advantage over second-place San Francisco.  It would take a major Cardinals collapse coupled with an equally major Giants surge to make baseball history.  Of course, that didn't happen.

Strangely enough, on this same date, back in 1964, the Cardinals were in fourth-place - eleven games behind the Philadelphia Phillies - and we all know what happened.

Of course, there was 2011.  On this same date, just three years ago, the Cardinals trailed the Atlanta Braves by 10.5 games in the wild card race - and we all know what happened.

In 1968, the Cardinals advanced to the World Series with such ease, it may have given their fans a false sense of security that they were invincible.  Reality usually lies somewhere between the perception of invincibility and hopeless ineptitude.

We just never know what's going to happen in major league baseball from one day to the next - so it's best to simply enjoy the ride.

2014 St Louis Cardinals Preview

Last season, the St Louis Cardinals posted the best record in the National League (97-65), then cruised through the NLDS and NLCS before eventually losing a six game World Series to the Boston Red Sox.  To better understand what may be in store for St Louis in 2014, here's a brief overview of last season's hitting, pitching, and fielding statistics (NL rank in parenthesis):

RUN DIFFERENTIAL +187 (1)

BA .269 (2) - OBP .332 (1) - SLG .401 (3)

RUNS 783 (1) - 2B 322 (1) - 3B 20 (12) - HR 125 (13) - SB 45 (15)

ERA 3.43 (5) - SO 1254 (5) - SV 44 (5)

FLD % .988 (1) - ERRORS 75 (1) - DP 177 (1) - DEF EFFICIENCY .691 (14) - RUNS SV -37 (14)

This is a very good team that in all likelihood, got even better during the offseason by addressing four areas of weakness:

(1) Offensive production at shortstop - featuring a .222 BA (second lowest in NL) and .307 OBP (third lowest in NL).  The fiscally responsible John Mozeliak signed free agent shortstop Jhonny Peralta to a four-year $53 million deal, just a couple of months after Peralta served a 50 game PED suspension as a member of the Detroit Tigers.  After doing his time, the well rested and clean Jhonny was welcomed back by his teammates just in time for the postseason, which didn't end the way Detroit would have liked; although the future Redbird hit well for his former mates; something that didn't go unnoticed by either the Cardinals' front office or JP's agent (presumably).  Peralta's track record has been good the last three seasons, averaging .278 BA and .438 SLG.  He should reach double digits in home runs for his new team and play above average defense.

(2) Speaking of defense, despite the high fielding percentage, the Cardinals were one of the worst teams in the NL in defensive efficiency - basic run prevention.  With rookie Kolton Wong projected to be the new starting second baseman, Matt Carpenter will move over to third base (his natural position).  Incumbent third baseman David Freese became the odd man out after an injury hampered season which produced just 9 home runs, .381 SLG, no speed on the bases, and limited range on defense.  He and reliever Fernando Salas were shipped to the LA Angels of Anaheim in exchange for Peter Bourjos and 22-year old outfield prospect Randal Grichuk.  When healthy, Bourjos is one of the best defensive centerfielders in the game, and will more than likely get the bulk of the playing time over Jon Jay, who had numerous misadventures on defense last season.  Thus, in one fell swoop, the Cardinals will be heading into the 2014 season significantly better defensively at three positions.  The extra bonus in the deal is Grichuk, who may develop into a bona-fide power hitter in the not-too-distant future.

 (3) Aside from Clayton Kershaw (go figure), the Cardinals had great difficulty winning against left handed pitching last season.  They signed former Dodger free agent second baseman Mark Ellis - a right handed batter who hits well against lefties - to a one year $5.25 million deal.  Ellis will be a solid defensive insurance policy in case Wong has trouble making the adjustment to major league pitching.  The previously mentioned additions of Jhonny Peralta and Peter Bourjos - both right handed hitters - should help the team fare better against southpaws this season.

(4) Team speed - or lack thereof - resulted in the Cardinals swiping a NL low 45 bases last season; plus a less than desirable defensive efficiency (previously mentioned).  The Cardinals proved that they can win despite these shortcomings.  However, with two new additions to the lineup - Bourjos and Wong - the stolen base will become a legitimate offensive weapon; and it's a good bet the team's defensive efficiency will be vastly improved as well.

PITCHING - Heading into the new season, the Cardinals pitching seems to be significantly stronger than the staff that posted the fifth lowest ERA (3.43) in the NL in 2013.  With Chris Carpenter permanently out of action, Kyle Lohse gone via free agency, and Jaime Garcia sidelined for most of the year (only 55 IP) with recurring shoulder problems, St Louis had to heavily rely on rookies or second year pitchers to eat up innings, along with veteran Jake Westbrook who was effective early in the season but had shoulder issues of his own as the season wore on.  The bullpen was especially shaky for much of the season, with a host of underperforming relievers not getting the job done on a consistent basis.  Edward Mujica became the closer by default, and to his credit, pitched admirably until the last month or so of the season when he either ran out of gas or simply lost his skills.  He became a free agent and somehow convinced the Red Sox to sign him.

This season, the Cardinals are loaded with young power arms that will either win spots in the five-man starting rotation or provide manager Mike Matheny with significantly better options out of the bullpen than he had for most of last year.  In fact, between the now departed Mitchell Boggs and the previously mentioned Fernando Salas (to Halos in Freese - Bourjos trade), six games that could easily have been won last year, were blown by this pair.

Barring injury, the St Louis bullpen will be a major strength - not a liability - this season.  In all likelihood, the left-handers coming out of the pen will include Randy Choate, Tyler Lyons, and Kevin Siegrist (50 SO in 39.2 IP to go with a ridiculous 0.45 ERA).

Two pitchers trying to return from injury - Jaime Garcia and Jason Motte - are still questionable for a healthy return to duty; any contributions from either of them will be a luxury.

Right-handed options out of the bullpen include Seth Maness and the young power-arms of setup man Carlos Martinez and closer Trevor Rosenthal (108 regular season SO in 75.1 IP).  The blown saves that plagued the Cardinals last year should be a thing of the past in 2014.

HITTING - Last season, the Cardinals led the National League with 783 runs scored despite hitting fewer home runs than all but two other NL teams.  They did it by hitting a MLB-record .330 with RISP, by grinding out a league high .332 OBP and by hitting more doubles than any other NL team - 322 (the sixth highest total in franchise history).  Matt Carpenter's 55 doubles not only led MLB, it was the most by a left-handed hitter in franchise history (breaking Stan Musial's record).  Yadier Molina's 44 two-base hits were the most by a catcher since Pudge Rodriguez hit 47 in 1996.

The type of relentless offensive attack the Cardinals put together last season may be unsustainable in 2014.  However, the team should be significantly better defensively and more consistent with their pitching; overall, a more balanced team, still able to maintain a favorable run differential over the course of the regular season.

The Opening Day lineup should look something like this:

Matt Carpenter - third base (led MLB with 126 runs scored last season)

Peter Bourjos - centerfield (led AL with 11 triples in 2012)

Matt Holliday - leftfield (22 home runs last season)

Allen Craig - rightfield (97 RBIs despite missing most of Sept last season)

Matt Adams - first base (17 home runs and team-leading .503 SLG last season)

Yadier Molina - catcher (career high 80 RBIs last season)

Jhonny Peralta - shortstop (significant offensive upgrade)

Kolten Wong - second base (must prove he can hit like he did in minors)

Waiting in the wings is the highly rated prospect, Oscar Taveras - a left-handed power hitting outfielder.  He may well slug his way into the lineup, forcing manager Mike Matheny to juggle Matt Adams and Allen Craig around to make room for the rookie.

The projected starting rotation:

Adam Wainwright (NL-leading 241.2 IP last season)

Michael Wacha (NLCS MVP as a rookie last season)

Shelby Miller (3.06 ERA as a rookie last season)

Lance Lynn (198 SO in 201.2 IP last season)

Joe Kelly (2.69 ERA in 124 IP last season)

Jaime Garcia may prove healthy enough to slide into the rotation, but any sustained work from him seems unlikely, given his history of shoulder trouble.  Tyler Lyons, a promising 24-year old lefty may earn a spot in the rotation, if any of the above have performance or injury issues over the course of the season.

PROGNOSIS - The Cardinals should be able to repeat as NL Central champions.  In fact, barring injury, they may prove to be even better than they were last year.  Many baseball analysts now rate them as the number one team in MLB, based on how much they improved their roster this off season.  

If all goes as expected, St Louis will be playing postseason baseball once again in 2014 - for the fourth straight year - a feat they have never accomplished in franchise history.  Of course, there's a first time for everything.
 

May 3, 1942: 9 Unearned Runs Helps Redbirds Sweep Doubleheader Over Brooklyn Dodgers

May 3, 1942:  When the Brooklyn Dodgers (14-5) arrived in St Louis prior to a three-game series with the Cardinals, they were scuffling a bit; having just lost two straight in Pittsburgh against a mediocre Pirates team.  Still, they held a comfortable 4.5 game lead over the Redbirds (8-8), who were scuffling more than just a bit, themselves. 

The first two games of this series were played on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Sportsman's Park - a doubleheader that would ultimately control the destiny for both teams.  As it played out, the Redbirds were able to win both games over the Dodgers (14-10 and 4-2) en route to a franchise-best 106-48 (.688) record.  The Dodgers would finish in second-place with their franchise-best 104-50 (.675) record - usually good enough to win a pennant; just not this year.  From a historical perspective, from 1901 to 1941, there were only twelve MLB league champions (out of 82) that had won 104 or more games, and no National League team had done it since the 1910 Chicago Cubs; so, it's easy to understand the frustration the Dodgers must have felt when they came up just a couple games short that year; especially if they think about the first game of this doubleheader - the one that got away.

The doubleheader sweep by the Cardinals didn't seem like such a big deal at the time (the second game was rained-out after six-innings, as Max Lanier picked up the win).  Sure, the Cards picked up a couple of games in the standings, but the season had a long way to go, and Brooklyn managed to salvage the series finale the next day by a 3-1 score.  Still, when a pennant is decided by such a slim margin, it's very easy to pinpoint one or two plays in a single game that changed the destinies for the two teams fighting it out.

Such was the case in the first game of the doubleheader.  The box score reveals the twists and turns this game took.  St Louis scored 14 runs on 11 hits and no errors; Brooklyn scored 10 runs on 15 hits and committed two errors.  Normally, a couple of errors doesn't change the entire outcome of a game.  In this case, it most certainly did.  As a result, it changed the entire outcome of the NL pennant race.  Instead of winning 106 games, the Cardinals would have only won 105 games had the Dodgers played error-free ball on May 3.  Coincidentally, the Dodgers would have won 105 games, as well, resulting in a first-place tie; resulting in a three-game playoff for the NL pennant.

Here's what happened:  Brooklyn's starting pitcher, Whit Wyatt (a 19 game winner in '42) was only able to get two guys out in the bottom of the first-inning, after yielding five runs on two walks and three hits - one of those hits was a home run.  He did manage to strike out one batter, so he probably had decent stuff that day.  He was victimized by an infield fielding miscue by none other than future Hall of Fame shortstop Peewee Reese.  Instead of getting the third out of the inning with no runs scoring, backup catcher Ken O'Dea was allowed to hit with the bases loaded - the result:  Grand Salami (which capped off the scoring)!.  Because of the error, all five runs were unearned.  Still, Wyatt's day was over before he really had a chance to get going, as reliever Ed Head was brought in to restore order. 

Instead, Head only put gasoline on the fire:  2 IP - 6 Hits - 5 Runs (All Earned) - 2 BB - 2 SO

The score after three innings:  Cardinals 10 - Dodgers 2

After a five-run fourth and a three-run fifth, the Dodgers had come back to tie the score, 10-10!  The culprits who blew the eight-run lead the Cardinals once held:

Harry Gumbert (3.2 IP - 6 Hits - 7 Runs [All Earned] - 2 BB - 2 SO) 

Johnny Beazley (1 IP - 4 Hits - 3 Runs [All Earned] - 0 BB - 1 SO)

The game remained deadlocked until the Cardinals scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh-inning on two hits five walks and an error by Dodgers' second baseman Billy Herman - another normally sure-handed infielder.

Cards' reliever Ernie White prevented any further Brooklyn scoring, with 4.1 innings of shutout pitching.

All told, of the 14 runs the Cardinals pushed across in this game - 9 were unearned.  All 10 of the runs the Dodgers scored were earned.  Of course, errors are a part of the game; in this particular instance a very big part of the game. 

It not only impacted the result of the first game of this doubleheader; it may have completely altered the course of MLB history.  Had there been a three-game playoff to decide the NL pennant winner, which team would have prevailed?  Would there have been a dramatic come-from-behind ninth-inning pennant-winning home run which would pre-date the Shot Heard 'Round the World by nine years?  With a possibly depleted pitching staff in the aftermath of a possible three-game playoff for the pennant, would either team have been able to handle the Yankees in the World Series?

Now that I think about it, Peewee Reese, Billy Herman, and Ken O'Dea were meant to do what they did 71 years ago today.

Musial: The Greatest Ever?

It has been one week since St Louis Cardinals icon Stan Musial passed away.  In that brief period of time, Stan the Man has received more media attention and adulation in death than he ever experienced over his entire 22-year Hall of Fame career.  It's nice that he's finally getting some publicity, along with some well-deserved recognition for his greatness; not only as a baseball player, but as a human being.

Musial always seemed to be overshadowed by the likes of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio early in his career, despite being the best player in the National League; at least until Willie Mays came along in the early '50s.  As Musial's career reached its peak by the mid '50s, Mays' and Mickey Mantle's were rapidly ascending -  and grabbing all the headlines.  By the time Musial retired in 1963, he had quietly compiled a Hall of Fame career that was worthy of a first ballot induction at Cooperstown in 1969, with 93.2% of the vote.  What's puzzling to me is how 6.8% of the voters could justify excluding him from baseball's highest fraternity.  Go figure.

Recently, when MLB Network's sabermetric-obsessed expert Brian Kenny compared the career production of Stan Musial to the likes of Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Henry Aaron, his conclusion may surprise the vast majority of baseball fans outside of St Louis:  "Saying Stan Musial was among the greatest to ever play the game is probably selling him short.  He may very well have been the greatest all-round player in major league history."

Not to mention its most under-rated superstar, by far.

He was certainly under-rated back in 1999, when MLB decided to let fans vote for the players they felt worthy to be on the All-Century Team.  The top nine vote getters among the outfielders would make the squad (100 total candidates were previously selected by a panel of experts).  Musial finished eleventh in the fan voting, behind Pete Rose - the guy with the most hits in the history of MLB, as well as the guy who made the most outs.  It took a special veteran's committee to add Musial and some other all-time greats who played so long ago nobody had ever heard of them.  Honus Wagner?  Who's he?  (Arguably, the greatest shortstop of all-time)  Warren Spahn?  Never heard of him. (The winningest left-handed pitcher of all-time with 363)

A couple of years after the All-Century Team was chosen, the Godfather of Sabermetrics - Bill James - did a little independent research of his own, and concluded that Stan Musial was the second-best left-fielder to ever play the game (behind Ted Williams) - and the tenth-best player, overall; even better than Pete Rose. 

As early as Musial's first full season (1942), it seemed as though this humble 21-year-old kid with the unique batting stance was destined for greatness.  He played on three World Championship teams for the Cardinals in the '40s - just before the Television Age brought the Fall Classics into millions of homes from coast to coast.  He also won seven batting titles and three Most Valuable Player Awards - the last coming in his greatest season - 1948.  Unfortunately for Musial and his team, St Louis barely missed winning another NL pennant that year; or any other year for the rest of his career, for that matter.  While his destiny for greatness had already been realized, his accomplishments were almost taken for granted; destined to be overlooked by the casual fan.

Case in point:  In 1948, Musial led the National League in every major offensive category, except home runs.  Perhaps Mother Nature is to blame for Stan the Man coming up just one home run short of winning the Triple Crown.  Officially, he is credited with 39 home runs.  Unofficially, he hit 40, but one of those came in a game that was eventually rained-out; so it didn't count.

Just for the sake of argument, let's suppose those rain clouds never materialized; let's suppose all of Musial's 40 home runs counted that year.  With that minor revision to baseball history, add in his .376 batting average (with a .450 OBP) and 131 RBI which also topped the Senior Circuit, and he'd have that coveted Triple Crown.  But he was just getting started.  Musial also led the NL with 133 runs scored, 46 doubles and 18 triples (He led the NL in triples five times in his career).  This combination of pure hitting, remarkable plate selection, power and speed has really never been matched in MLB history.  In fact, no other Triple Crown winner has ever taken the triple crown, as well.

Even minus that extra home run, Stan the Man racked up an astounding 429 total bases while becoming the first National League player since 1930 to have a slugging percentage over .700 (.702 SLG to be exact); a feat that wouldn't happen in the NL again until 1997.

Getting back to reality; Musial's incredible 1948 season is often mentioned merely as a footnote to his storied career accomplishments.  Thanks to some lousy weather, he not only was deprived of a home run title and a Triple Crown of historic significance, he was also deprived of a much higher level of adulation from fans, in general.  Of course, all that stuff didn't matter to him; in fact, he seemed a bit embarrassed when people noticed his greatness.  In 1952, the irascible and brutally honest Ty Cobb created a bit of a stir when he was quoted in a Time Magazine article, "Stan Musial is better than Joe DiMaggio."  Deep down inside, Stan the Man may have agreed with the Georgia Peach's bold assessment, although he modestly replied, "I don't think I've ever been as good as DiMaggio."

Many people would beg to differ, taking into consideration the total package that Musial brought to the ballpark on a daily basis; the key components that made him so great.  Not only was he an elite hitter who rarely struck out; he was incredibly durable - rarely missing a game until the tail end of his career - and he was able to sustain a high level of performance for well over two decades.  Those attributes are rare enough; added to the mix was Musial's genuine humility, his kindness towards everyone he came in contact with, and his unwavering positive attitude.  Essentially, he was a truly great person in all facets of life. 

MLB Network analyst Brian Kenny's closing comment says it all:  "If you had to choose one player in the history of  major league baseball you'd want to be on your team for twenty years - you'd want Stan Musial." 

Millions of grateful Cardinals fans who will always cherish the Musial legacy, agree wholeheartedly.

Postseason "Wild Ride" Nothing New for Cardinals

A little over two weeks ago, Barry Zito - an unlikely hero - pitched the San Francisco Giants back into the National League Championship Series, winning Game Five over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, and sending the two teams back to San Francisco for the final two blowouts.  Zito's surprising win over the Redbirds was the first of seven consecutive postseason victories San Francisco would compile en route to their second World Championship in the last three seasons.

For the Cardinals, it was a bitter disappointment; ending their postseason dream of successfully defending a World Championship which nobody outside of the St Louis organization thought possible to begin with.  Just when so many of the naysayers finally jumped on the Redbirds' bandwagon, those magical bats - which carried them past Atlanta, then Washington DC, and through the early contests with San Francisco - were abruptly neutralized by the Giants' three hottest pitchers:  the aforementioned Zito, then Vogelsong and Cain.  All pitched brilliantly in the NLCS, and carried that momentum into a World Series four-game sweep of a Detroit Tigers team most baseball analysts predicted would do the "sweeping".  They were wrong again (See:  2006 World Series).

Meanwhile, back in Cardinal Nation, the frustration of getting within one win from an eighteenth World Series appearance - and four wins away from their 12th World Championship - had players and fans alike shaking their heads in disbelief.  Perhaps many of those disheartened souls don't remember what happened in 1968; or 1985; maybe not even 1996?  Perhaps they just remember the last time the Cardinals held a three games to one postseason advantage - over the Detroit Tigers, in the 2006 World Series.  Of course, that story had a happy ending, with St Louis taking care of business at home, winning three straight to clinch their 10th World Championship in just five games.  Believe it or not, I never felt comfortable about that favorable outcome until that last out was recorded in Game Five.  Here's why:

The Cardinals have actually blown more 3 games to 1 postseason leads than not; and more than any other MLB team.  After their most recent meltdown against the newly crowned World Champions - the Redbirds, in their long and glorious history - have now blown four, while only winning three, after holding that seemingly insurmountable three games to one postseason advantage.  To get a better understanding of what went wrong, let's examine the crime scenes:

1968 WORLD SERIES VS DETROIT TIGERS - Strangely enough, it was the Detroit Tigers who trailed Bob Gibson and the St Louis Cardinals in the 1968 World Series, three games to one, but proceeded to win the final three games of that Fall Classic; including the Game Seven shocker, when Mickey Lolich out-dueled the Great Gibson in front of 54,692 stunned Cardinals' fans at Busch Stadium.  As I skipped a day of drudgery from Kirkwood High School to watch what was surely going to be another Gibson triumph on national television; in a little more than two hours, had  evolved into a numbing defeat; the first of its kind for Cardinal fans:

*This was the first time in franchise history the team had ever coughed up a three games to one advantage in the World Series to lose.

*This was the first time in Bob Gibson's history that he had ever lost a World Series - Game Seven.  He prevailed in 1964 over the mighty New York Yankees; and three years later, pitched brilliantly and even hit a home run to beat the Boston Red Sox by a score of 7-2 at Fenway Park, in front of 35,188 stunned fans.  With Game Seven in '68 being played at Busch Stadium, the thought of losing never even crossed my mind; nor the minds of most other Redbird fans, for that matter.

1985 WORLD SERIES VS KANSAS CITY ROYALS - If anything, blowing a three games to one World Series advantage in the cross-state I-70 showdown with the Royals seemed even more improbable than what had occurred seventeen years earlier; especially after St Louis won the first two games on the road.  Until that time, no team in World Series history had ever lost the first two games at home, and then gone on to win it all; of course, that's exactly what happened.  When the Royals won two out of three at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals were forced into a return trip to KC to capture title number ten; but we all know what happened in Games Six and Seven.  Kansas City won their first World Championship instead, while St Louis would have to wait another 21 years to get that tenth title.

1996 NLCS VS ATLANTA BRAVES - In Tony LaRussa's first year as manager, the NL Central champion Cardinals somehow grabbed a quick three games to one NLCS advantage over the defending World Champion Braves.  Coming off an exciting comeback win in Game Four didn't give the Cardinals enough momentum to overcome a clearly superior Atlanta pitching staff, which allowed just one run over those last three games.  Nor could they stop an offense that put crooked numbers on the scoreboard at an alarming rate; the Braves scored 32 runs in that span, featuring a 15-0 annihilation in that final debacle.  Although this setback was a disappointment, it came as no big surprise.  After all, the Cards fell to three future Hall of Fame hurlers - Smoltz, Maddux and Glavine - and a ferocious lineup that seemed to be able to score at will.  The over-matched Redbirds were fortunate to have extended the series for the full seven games.

2012 NLCS VS SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS - Well, at least the Cardinals made a bit of progress, as rookie manager Mike Matheny led his Wild Card team into the postseason, all the way to the NLCS; this time losing those final three games of the series by a composite 20-1 margin; a twelve-run improvement!  Still, the last three "Game Sevens" produced no runs for the Redbirds; lots of runs for their opponents; thirty-nine, to be exact.  All told, St Louis was outscored 93-9 in Games 5-6-7 by the postseason quartet of Detroit/Kansas City/Atlanta/San Francisco.  If someone is going to draw up a blueprint for blowing a three-games-to-one postseason lead, getting outscored 93-9 by four teams works quite well.

So much for rehashing epic collapses.  How about some remarkable postseason comebacks?  No, the Cardinals have never been down three games to one and successfully overcome that deficit to win a best-of-seven postseason series; but they've perfected the art of coming back when trailing three games to TWO.  And that ain't bad.  Here's a quick summary of how things played out (and where Series ended) when the Redbirds faced a three games to two postseason series deficit (They've had a lot of experience in these situations - 9 different times):

1926 vs New York Yankees - STL Wins Series (Home)
1930 vs Philadelphia Athletics - STL Loses Series in 6 Games (Away)
1934 vs Detroit Tigers - STL Wins Series (Away)
1946 vs Boston Red Sox - STL Wins Series (Home)
1982 vs Milwaukee Brewers - STL Wins Series (Home)
1987 vs San Francisco Giants - STL Wins Series (Home)
2004 vs Houston Astros - STL Wins Series (Home)
2005 vs Houston Astros - STL Loses Series in 6 Games (Home)
2011 vs Texas Rangers - STL Wins Series (Home)

From their very first World Championship in 1926 to their most recent title in 2011 - and five other times in between - the Cardinals have managed to overcome seven out of nine 3-games-to-2 deficits; six out of seven comebacks were finished off at home for Games Six and Seven.  That's a pretty impressive postseason resume for St Louis, after all.

If this kind of stuff fascinates you as much as me, check out my two books on Cards' trivia (below).

http://www.amazon.com/St-Louis-Cardinals-IQ-Ultimate/dp/0982675933/ref=cm_pdp_books_itm_title_4


http://www.amazon.com/St-Louis-Cardinals-IQ-Ultimate/dp/0983792259/ref=cm_pdp_books_itm_title_5

Wild Cards Trumped by Resilient Giants

Sooner or later, something had to give.  Both teams in this year's National League Championship Series - the St Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants - faced nearly insurmountable odds when they survived the first round of the postseason - the best of five-game-NLDS - in historic fashion.  In the end, it was the resilient Giants overcoming a three-games-to-one NLCS deficit to a Cardinals team that simply seemed to run out of gas over those last three agonizing games.

San Francisco's stunning first round three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark just goes to show that simply because it's "never been done before", doesn't mean it will never happen.  No team had ever lost the first two games at home in a divisional series, then go on to win the next three on the road; but it happened.  The Reds had never lost three straight games at home all season; but it happened - in the postseason.

Meanwhile, as the giddy-but-weary Giants were patiently waiting at the airport to determine whether they would be going all the way home to take on the Cardinals in the second round of the playoffs, or make the quick jaunt to Washington DC to take on the Nationals; it seemed to be a slam-dunk that they would be heading to our nation's Capitol.  Early scoring updates indicated a rout was in the making:  6-0 after three-innings, with the home team comfortably ahead of an apparently overwhelmed Redbirds team.

In postseason history, no team had ever trailed by five or more runs in an elimination game to go on and win the game.  Suddenly, the lead was cut in half:  6-3.  As the Redbirds clawed back to make the score 6-5 in the top of the eighth-inning, the Nats answered back with a run of their own:  7-5 heading into the ninth-inning.

As the stunned patrons at National's Park witnessed the unprecedented Redbirds rally, which saw the Wild Cards on their usual brink of elimination on several different occasions, new heroes emerged for St Louis - Daniel Descalso and Pete Kozma - who drove in the tying and winning runs, respectively.

Final score:  Wild Cards 9 - Nats 7.  Cardinal Nation was delirious; the rest of the nation either in awe or bitter dismay, depending on the locale and the opinion of adding that second Wild Card to begin with.  The St Louis Wild Cards had already drawn the wrath of every Atlanta Braves fan on earth by having the audacity to beat another ("superior") Wild Card team with a better won-loss record; aided by a questionable call by an umpire, but more importantly, aided by Atlanta's own fielding miscues, led by retiring folk-hero Chipper Jones' throwing error on what should have been an easy double play.  Hey, that's not the Wild Cards' fault; don't be mad at them!

The Cardinals had not only escaped that first elimination game in a hostile environment, facing a pitcher who was considered "unbeatable", they ultimately escaped what seemed to be certain elimination in that epic Game Five NLDS shocker over the Nationals.

With the adreniline flowing all the way to San Francisco, the Redbirds put up a quick six spot of their own in Game One of the NLCS against the Giants, and held on to win, 6-4.  Clearly, the Giants were as undaunted by a six-run deficit as the Cardinals were; however, the St Louis bullpen did what the Washington bullpen failed to do:  Preserve the lead.

After the Giants came back to easily win Game Two, it almost seemed a foregone conclusion this series would probably go six or seven games.  The Cardinals headed home, at least somewhat satisfied with splitting the two games at AT&T Park; no easy feat.  Yet, barring a sweep of the next three games at Busch Stadium,  they would have to endure another trip to the City by the Bay.

However, after the Cardinals won the first two games at the friendly confines of Busch Stadium, to take a that commanding three games to one lead with one more to be played at home, it was obvious that winning Game Five became Priority Number One for St Louis.  After the easy 8-3 win in Game Four, it seemed as though all the pundits were proclaiming the Wild Cards National League Champions.  The post-game interviews with some of the players seemed a bit too giddy; almost as if it was a foregone conclusion the Giants would roll over and go home after losing Game Five.  David Freese inadvertently gave a little sound bite which I'm sure was used to motivate the West division champions:

"San Francisco's a beautiful city, but we don't want to go back there.  We want to win it here, tomorrow!"

Of course he wanted to wrap things up at home; Freese was just being honest.  Naturally, this sentiment was probably shared by everyone on the team.  Of course, the national media repeatedly mentioned this whenever possible; by the time of the revolting loss in Game Five, the Cards were being depicted as a team backpedaling now; no longer brash and confident; now reluctant and unsure of its abilities and unsure of what lies ahead in the hostile environment of AT&T Park.

By the time Game Seven rolled around, I tried to kid myself into believing the Cardinals could win at will; that they always play their best when the stakes are highest.  I tried to kid myself into thinking the Giants could never win a Game Seven, simply because they never had in their long history; as if that mattered what would happen in 2012.

I had never been so unsettled prior to a Game Seven since the 1985 World Series.  Game Six had been a disaster for Whitey Herzog's squad; jump-started by a bad call at first base by umpire Don Denkinger.
Cleary, St Louis didn't want to play that last game in Kansas City, and the proof is in the 11-0 final score.

Game Seven of the 2012 NLCS had a similar outcome for the Redbirds:  9-0.  A season that had been pretty good; perhaps a bit inconsistent, but at least good enough to grab that new second Wild Card the Commissioner was kind enough to add; suddenly ended in sloppy and fundamentally unsound baseball; a sad way to end an exciting season.  

Going into the postseason, I felt this team was much better than most people gave them credit for; saber-metrically they were the third best team in baseball, trailing only Washington and the New York Yankees.  Of course, the impressive "run differential" the Cardinals finished the regular season with doesn't automatically translate into wins and losses.  But it does reflect a team with a lot of talent; especially from a hitting perspective.

In the end, the Cardinals added a fourth postseason epic failure - blowing a MLB-record three games to one lead - to the previous MLB-record-breaking list:  1968 World Series vs the Detroit Tigers; 1985 World Series vs the Kansas City Royals; and 1996 NLCS vs the Atlanta Braves.  It's ironic that Tony LaRussa's first year in St Louis was in 1996; and Mike Matheny's first year as the Cardinals manager ended up in the same fashion as the legend he replaced.  Oh well; that's pretty good company.

On a positive note, 2012 was the first season since the advent of divisional play that St Louis managed to return to the postseason after winning the World Series the previous year; of course, they only had two shots at it - in 1983 and 2007 - but really didn't come close.  Only two other World Championship St Louis Cardinals teams made it to the Fall Classic the following season - 1942 and 1967.  The franchise has never won back-to-back World Championships, although they came painfully close in 1968; but we already know that.

Although winning that 12th World Series (12 in '13?) will have to wait at least one more year, Mike Matheny's resilient bunch made a good run at it, giving Cardinals' fans another dream to hold onto for an extended postseason run.  Still, I have to wonder what happened to the team that stormed into San Francisco, fresh off that wild and wonderful conquest of the Nationals, to take Game One so decisively?
The team that showed up for Games Six and Seven, simply didn't "show up".  The words of David Freese still echo in my head:  "We don't want to go back to San Francisco."

What should Freese have said instead of the truth?  Maybe something like this:

"Sure, it's nice to get the win tonight, but we've got our work cut out for us to get that next one.  The Giants are a great team, and you know they're not just going to roll over for us tomorrow.  Look what they did to the Reds.  Won three straight in Cincinnati after losing the first two at home!  That shows a lot of character.  You know, those guys are a lot like us; neither team gives up.  That's why they're here instead of Cincinnati.

Sure, we'd like to come out on top tomorrow and end it right away; but if we worry about trying "not to lose" the game, we'll never win it.  So, we'll come out and play hard and so will they; we'll see what happens.  Hey, if we have to go back to San Francisco, so be it.  I know I speak for every guy on this team when I say we'd gladly travel to China to finish this thing off.  We don't care; we just play hard, every inning of every game.  May the best team win.  There's nothing more we want in this world than another shot at the World Series.  Once you've got that first ring; that first trophy; you want to keep that winning tradition going - for the fans, for ownership, for Carlos Beltran.  He's like the greatest postseason player ever.  If he doesn't deserve a World Series ring, nobody does!"

Would that approach to the challenge of winning that fourth NLCS game changed anything?  Probably not.  But it wouldn't have hurt.  All I know is, the Cardinals didn't play those games in San Francisco like they had any business being on the field.  I'm sure the Giants could sense their vulnerability; they did what good teams do in situations like that:  They took it to them, and punched their own ticket to the World Series.






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