Ok, so I’ve been a bit neglectful of the ol’ journal lately… I’ll try to improve but I am not making any promises. 

So, a lot has gone on since my last entry!  So much that I don’t even know where to begin.  So, I guess I’ll start with the most recent and in this case time-sensitive topic.  BASEBALL!

If you haven’t figured out already… I’m a St. Louis Cardinals fan.  It’s no coincidence I made three trips to St. Louis this year and went to more Cardinals than Detroit Tigers games.

Anyway, to the point… How about them Cards???

Game 5 of the NLCS against the Houston Astros has to be the most exciting game I have ever witnessed!  So if you don’t like baseball, are bored with what happened, are a fan of the Astros, or you’re just not in the mood to read more than a few paragraphs, I suggest you read no further.  So please indulge me as I gush about my favorite game and my favorite team.

On a side note, also please excuse my use of the word “we” I know I’m not on the team but I mean it in the loosest of terms.

So let’s start at the beginning…

I have paid close attention to this year's team and following every game since before spring training.  Like most St. Louis fans we were incredibly disappointed by the World Series sweep conducted by the Boston Red Sox.  While everyone rooted for the Sox to end their so-called curse, we St. Louis fans were cursing that our 105 win team just couldn’t seem to show up. 

The beginning of this season seemed incredibly hopeful. We had managed to obtain a veteran pitcher with playoff experience.  More importantly we also had our Ace, Chris Carpentar, who had missed the playoffs last year because of injury. 

Aside from having solid pitching, which was sorely lacking from the previous year we also began the year a solid lineup.  One that, it was hoped would strike fear into the heart of our opponents.  Starting with our returning players…How can you not fear Scott Rolen?  He’s not only a great bat he’s also perhaps the best defensive 3^rd baseman in the league.  Then we’ve got the diving Jimmy Edmonds in centerfield.  In left we had Reggie Sanders and in right, the former star of the Colorado Rockies, Larry Walker.  And of course, there is Albert Pujols.  Often described as the best “pure hitter” in baseball, the 25-year-old first baseman is dreaded by opposing pitchers all over the league.  And with the bats of the previously mentioned players how can they not fear him?  They wouldn’t be able to walk him because the rest of our lineup was just as intimidating, they’d HAVE to pitch to him.

We did have a few new guys join the team.  This year we had feisty, young catcher Yadier Molina as starter.  We had recruited David Eckstein, formerly of the 2002 World Series Champ Los Angles Angels of Anaheim… or whatever the heck their called!   We also had a solid second baseman in the form of Mark Grudzelanic who had played for long time rival the Chicago Cubs.

Yes, indeed this was going to be a good year!  And in those first few months we swept through our division like it was child’s play.  Pretty soon we were up by 15 games in the Central division.  And this being the final season for Busch Stadium II, it seemed only fitting that this team would be sure to give it a proper send off.  Indeed, one couldn’t help but think that redemption was just around the corner and the World Series would surely be ours.

But then Scott Rolen got hurt…Jim Edmonds showed signs that he wasn’t feeling so great.  His numbers were down and at one point he even broke a couple lribs.  Worry set in, but we kept winning.  Then Larry Walker whom had said this would be his last year, started hurting so bad that he was put on the disabled list.  Another bench player was called up… And somehow we kept winning…  Around the All-Star break the “on-fire” Molina got hit by a pitch and broke his hand.  Yet another bench player was called up… Shortly after Reggie Sanders, our solid left fielder collided with Jim Edmonds and in a freak accident broke his leg.    Yet, somehow we kept winning.  Sure we weren’t overpowering our opponents, but with 4 of our starters on the disabled list our bench players were able to scrap together wins any way they could.  Even more heartening…the big bats would soon be back!  Scott Rolen, Reggie, Molina, and even Larry Walker were on the mend and would soon be back helping the team reach the post season. 

But it was not to be… Scott Rolen tried to come back but was in so much pain he was soon placed back on the disabled list and scheduled for season ending surgery on his shoulder.  We all kept our chins up however, because everyone knew this team had heart! We were still winning, still 15 games ahead of the 2^nd place Houston Astros.  By the end of September things looked good.  Reggie was back, Walker had taken a 4^th cortizone shot to a herniated disk in his neck and returned with his reliable bat.  There was every reason to feel optimistic about our inevitable return to the post season.  Two weeks before the end of the regular season we officially clinched the Central Division.

Our first match up against the Western Division Champs the San Diego Padres was a quick three game series.  We dominated that team.  They out hit us but we out scored them by playing the same we had all year.  We bunted, we took advantage of their mistakes, and they didn’t stand a chance.

The National League Championship Series was next… I think everyone hoped it would be the Atlanta Braves but the Houston Astros fought hard and in an incredible 18-inning game they beat the Braves and we were set for a rematch of last year.  

Although, we had beat Houston 11 times through the regular season all the sports pundits seemed to pick the Astros as the team to beat.  And listening to all the talk of the ‘big 3’ it certainly set that little seed of doubt in the hearts of some fans.  But I wasn’t worried.  I figured that “my team,” the one that had overcome so many obstacles the entire season would prevail in a hard fight.  It wasn’t going to be easy, that Houston team had been hot the last half of the season but unlike the year before, we had Chris Carpenter a 21 games winner and CY Young candidate.  And behind him we had 4 other solid starting pitchers and a bullpen with the lowest ERA in the league.  Although losing our best reliever, Al Reyes, right before playoffs was disappointing I figured our bullpen and starting rotation would be able to hold off the offensively sluggish Astros.

Game 1@ Busch Stadium—Chris Carpentar vs. Andy Pettitte. 

Pettitte, one of the most experienced post-season pitchers in baseball was always tough but we managed to chase him off the field.  Our relief pitchers gave up a run or two but we had enough of a lead to hold on to the win.  The team looked sharp!  Reggie Sanders, the hero of the NLDS came through with another game winning multi-run home run.  The crowd erupted in chants of “Reggie! Reggie!”  Bring on Game 2!

Game 2 @ Busch Stadium—Mark Mulder vs. Roy Oswalt.

Oswalt shut us down.  We left men on base.  Every rally seemed to end with an inning ending ground out or strikeout.  Mulder pitched a great game and only allowed one earned run but Houston played better, smarter, and scored enough runs to take a win.  And a bit scary for us… Reggie Sanders, our hottest bat in the post-season fell on his back in an attempt to make a leaping catch, leaving the game.  Not good.  Also disappointing was the silence of our bats… nothing seemed to work against Oswalt. So it was on to Houston.

Game 3@ Houston – Matt Morris vs. Roger Clemens.

Houston left St. Louis high as a kite.  It was even reported in the Houston paper that an Astros’ official had told a reporter during game 2… “You’re witnessing the last game at Busch Stadium.”  Clemens pitched well but he was not un-hittable.  But against the sometimes-shakey veteran Matt Morris he didn’t need to be.  And with our silent bats and defensive errors Houston once again took the game.  But St. Louis still held hope.  We were down, but not out! Surely we would take Game 4!

 Game 4@ Houston – Jeff Suppan vs. Brandon Backe.

Surely this would be our game!  We had batted Backe around all year.  Tonight was the night that our bats would come alive!  Of course, for that to happen you also have to know where the strike zone is…  It seemed that for this particular umpire it was an ever-changing box for both teams.  And when our skipper had finally had enough and went out to protest he was ejected.  We were only down by one run but frustration continued to mount.  How can anyone have a fair shot if you have umpires who insist on making themselves the center of the game? 

In the 7^th, Jim Edmonds was up… As usual he tried to be patient with the pitcher, working the count.  Then a high and inside pitch, which he had to move out of the way for was called a strike.  Visibly annoyed he turned to the Umpire to ask just where the strike zone is.  Next thing you know he too is ejected!  Unheard of during the playoffs!  Cardinal fans and the team were in uproar, but in the end we just couldn’t win.  There was hope though… the untouchable closing pitcher, Brad Lidge, showed that he wasn’t so untouchable.  We managed to get a couple hits and nearly mounted a comeback.  The end of the game resulted in the Astros celebrating on the field, almost as if they had won the whole series. 

Game 5 – Elimination Game— Chris Carpentar vs.Pettitte

So this was it… Houston seemed assured of a victory.  Their fans, and the team, seemed confident that tonight the team that has dashed their post-season plans of last year would be done with.  After all, the Cardinals had yet to win a post-season game at the domed Minute Maid Park.  But the Cards and their fans held out hope.  After all, we have our Ace, the untouchable Carp on the mound!  Sure Pettitte is tough but so are we!  And through the first 7 innings things looked good.  The game was a close 2-1 but Carp looked strong and we had already chased Pettitte off the mound in the last inning.  With two men on, Carp pitched to Lance Berkman—the one player that had seemed to figure him out.  And in one pitch Berkman hit a pitch that in any other park would be a fly out for a 3-run home run.  Suddenly the optimism that I had held for the team to pull out a victory started to wane.  The Houston crowd roared to life, coming to their feet and remaining there with each Cardinal out in the 8^th inning.  I can’t imagine what that park sounded like.  Judging from the television perhaps the closest would be to liken it to the sound of a jetliner, flying overhead.

Things looked bad for the Cardinals.  A disappointing ending to an extraordinary season.  Both my brother and I slumped in our seats, the flame of hope slowly dying.  We began to question, what the heck happened to this team? The team that always played a hard nine and always seemed to come through?? 

With the dominating Lidge on the mound a comeback wasn’t going to be easy.  John Rodriguez and then John Maybry both went out swinging.  So with two outs David Eckstein came up to bat.  Described as pesky, scrappy, Tony LaRussa has described him as “the toughest player” on the team.  A guy who fights for every hit, every play, and every pitch.  Lidge pitched to him… strike one, then another—strike two!

The crowd, still on their feet continued to roar with excitement.  The players in Houston could hardly contain their excitement as the unflappable Cardinal Killer, Brad Lidge, stood on the mound for the ninth inning. One more strike and they were finally going to the World Series.  They could be seen giving each other high-fives, hugs, and even dancing in the dugout.  With exception of the veteran players Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Clemens, and Pettitte, the Astros seemed to forget something about this Cardinals team.  They hadn’t lost four in a row since the 2004 World Series.  All year they had the motto, “Always play a hard nine”, always play to the last out, and they had 37 comeback wins under their belt this season.

On the next pitch Eckstein blooped a single into left field.  I sat up in my seat! Way to come through Eck!  The crowd in Houston quieted just a little.  Then Jim Edmonds came to the plate… He had been hitting the ball well today.  With incredible patience he worked the count, taking only one swing against Lidge, drawing a walk.  That previously flickering flame of hope grew stronger as the Mighty Albert Pujols (pictured above) came up to bat (sorry, can’t resist!).

Pujols was 0-4 on the night, and had left several men stranded.  So neither the Astros nor their fans seemed too worried.  The first pitch was a slider down and away.  Pujols took a monster swing and missed.  On the edge of my seat both my brother and I prayed for a hit, just a single or double to tie up the game, or even better yet, how about a homerun?  Lidge took a deep breath, the crowd still on their feet, still cheering their team.  Another slider, but this one seemed to hang right over the plate, and with one big swing Pujols made contact sending the ball soaring into left field, above the Crawford boxes, above the train tracks, crashing into the metal beams and glass windows of the closed stadium roof.

In an instant my brother and I jumped from our seats screaming, jumping up and down with excitement.  High-fives, hugs, our hearts beating so fast that it almost felt like I had actually hit that home run.  Our team is still alive!  Our team is winning!  The team that had done this all year came through again, just when things looked dire, just when we were all about to end the season with another big disappointment! 

While Cardinal fans all over the country erupted in a roar of their own, a hushed silence fell over the crowd in Houston.  As one writer wrote the next day, “It was so quiet you could hear a pennant drop.”  People could be seen with their heads in their hands, Andy Pettitte was seen in the dugout mouthing the words, “Oh my Gosh*”, as Albert’s rocket blasted out of the field and was only confined by the closed stadium roof!  Indeed the only cheers in Minute Maid came from the Cardinal dugout as “El Hombre”, “Prince Albert,” the “amazing Pujols” rounded the bases having put a hold on the World Series dreams.

Tonight, it’s back to St. Louis.  Sure we’re down 3-2 in the series, facing the wicked arm of Roy Oswalt, but we’ve been there before.  Take your finger off of that demolition button Houston—there will be at least one more game at Busch Stadium…

The first thing my brother said to me the next morning as we both grinned at each other, “Pujols is awe-SOME!”  With that amazing comeback, and the game back at Busch Stadium full of rabid Cardinal fans how can one not be optimistic about our chances?

Well, if you’ve made it this far, thanks for indulging my gushing over this team.  I, much like the Astros, am still blown away by that amazing ninth-inning comeback. 

Now excuse me… I have a game to watch!

And, oh yeah….GO CARDS!

*The edited version, obviously.

EDIT:  GAME 6: Mulder vs. Oswalt

We Lose...   Thanks for another great year Cards.  See ya in the spring.