Carpenter versus Pettitte...with the Cards' backs against the wall.

 

Currently bottom 1...Cards put the first 2 on in the top of the first but couldn't score. Stros have Biggio on 2nd, Berkman on first, 1 out.

Both pitchers got 2 men on in the first inning and pitched around it. 0-0 in the 2nd.

2nd and 3rd, 0 outs for the Stros int he 2nd.

 

Now 1 gone, pitcher coming up.

2 good pitchers going but these offenses do both appear to be struggling as well. Nice play by Molina to keep the game scoreless.

The winner of this series plays..........who?

Astros take a 1-0 lead on a 2 out single by Biggio. Going to the 3rd.

La Russa blew the game. He left Carpenter in too long. 4-2 Astros.

Looks like it'll be Houston.

I would have left him in. He's your ace. It's not like there is a 7th inning guy better off to face switch-hitting Berkman

Well, looks like the effects of long rest will be equal between us and the 'stros.

I would have left him in. He's your ace. It's not like there is a 7th inning guy better off to face switch-hitting Berkman

 

AGreed. Cardinals bullpen is garbage. That short porch is garbage. Wish MLB would make these parks be at least 330 down the lines.

The biggest choke in this series was the Cards bats.

The biggest choke in this series was the Cards bats.

 

Vlad-esque.

I would have left him in. He's your ace. It's not like there is a 7th inning guy better off to face switch-hitting Berkman

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119 pitches in the 7th inning with only a 1-run lead? It was a very poor decision by La Russa and I bet he regrets it.

Edited October 18, 200520 yr by SSH2005

Pitch counts don't mena that much in the postseason. We've extended guys to that point plenty

The sucky thing about getting the Astros is that Jeff Bagwell will be able to DH when we play at the Cell.

Pitch counts don't mena that much in the postseason. We've extended guys to that point plenty

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None of our pitchers finished with 119 pitches and they were also already into the 9th with more than a 1-run lead. The risk was far smaller for our pitchers than for Carpenter pitching with a high pitch count in the 7th inning with only a 1-run lead.

Edited October 18, 200520 yr by SSH2005

Who did you want to bring in that would be a better pitcher than Carpenter? Really, who?

It is unbelievable to me that St. Louis is going to go down in five games.

 

2 outs remain.

Eckstein at first, 2 out, Edmonds up.

Eckstein is a gutsy ballplayer. What a kid he is. Cardinals have life.

C'mon Jim. Hit one out of there.

Pujols gets a chance to be the hero.

It all comes down to this...

 

Lidge vs. Pujols

Lidge has certainly made these last three games interesting. Let's see what Pujols can do here.