Bottom of the 2nd in TEJAS

Michael Young leads it off...

Fouls it past 3rd base...

Michael Young is the poor, racist white man's Derek Jeter, according to Fox Sports.

Michael Young is still batting. Good. Keeps him from running for congress. Furcal throws him out EASILY.

Here is St. Beltre...one scary MFer if he ain't on your team.

A crowd of Sellouts down here in Arlington Texas.

Lohse throws one in the dirt. Theriot is playing him to pull...to San Francisco...

Line drive base hit to RIGHT FIELD...Beltre gets a one out single.

How will Lohse work now from the stretch?

"Is there such a thing as the same simultaneously?" Shannon

"There is now" John ROoney

Thank god I'm listening to the radio feed..apparently AJ Pierzynski is talking now on Fox

2-2 on cruz one out beltre on first


outside full count...start the runner?

walked him

Napoli up...takes a beauty for strike one...

Lohse is dialed in for now... strike two in at the knees

Lohse is from Chico

next pitch in the dirt...beltre taking a big lead down at second...

Napoli pops out to Jay? in Right?

I'll get back to you on that...means Berkman is DH and Craig is playing center, right?

And there's old man Torre...

Murphy grounds out to Albert unassisted...Judas...

TOPPS of the 2nd game 3

Freese is even at 1-1


LCS MVP ... What will he do in the WS?

2-2 on Freese...

Waaaaaaaaaaaaay high and outside, full count...

Chases one for strike 3...change up...

Neck Tattoo looking for his first world series hit...he tattoos it to Beltre...the saintly one...two away

Jon Jay the Federalist to face Matt Harrison who is 6 4 240 and lives in Durham, NC

Quicl=k=y o and tooooo on jj

A beauty on the outside corner is an automatic ball one...but then he swings and misses on the next pitch...

inning over!

Game 3 - Lohse of the 1st

What is a Lohse? A number 3 starter in the WS?

Kinsler leads it off in home whites...

Lohse throws an off speed peetch..steeerike one...

Ball one

Strike on the inside corner.. .89 mph fastball

Lohse gets Kinsler swings on an offspeeed deleivereeeeeeeeeee!

Lohse is from Chico, y'all.

McCarver is showing us how to throw a curve but nobody's listening. John and Mike are telling tall tales about Bob Gibson, the legend...

1-1 on ....2-1 on...Andrus... 3-1 on the SS

3-2...strike 3 called and Lohse has fanned the first two!!!

Hamilton is gattling...gatlin gun...2-1 on Hamilton...CRAIG HOMERED IN THE 1st!!!

Hamilton grounds to Albert... 3up and 3down...

Game 3 - Top O' the First GO CARDS!

There is the sweet voice of John Rooney telling us how much Matt Harrison weighs and that he lives in North Carolina.

Big league record of 30 up and 19 down. A fawn in the field. A little Bambi...

"They wouldn't mind having to go back to St. Louis for Game 6" Rooney says

Just about set to go...Catcher throws to 2nd... 81 degrees at game time. Dirk Nowitzki threw out the first pitch...

Rafael Furcal, right handed, bats first...

THERE'S MIKE...

Furcal's heart is beating fast...first pitch is a fastball strike one...

Craig is in the line up...as DH...HELL YEAH!

Furcal grounds out to NAPOLI? AT FIRST? one out...

Here is Allen Craig...and here are the two Allen Craig highlights from game one and two...

"There are deep for Craig" - Mike Shannon

Strike one...

Craig homers in the 1st!!! HELL YEAH! "Just sneaked into the corner" - Mike "I hate irregular verbs" Shannon...

First pitch to Judas...outside strike one...

Judas takes strike two looking

Judas grounds out to Beltre (St. Viator) at 3rd.

Here is Matt Holliday with two out.

Fastball low outside, ball one

Theriot puts his arm around Craig and Craig rolls his eyes...

Another for Holliday and the count goes 2-1

Holliday singles to right!

Allen Craig made the same swing in Games 1 & 2, but his wing in Game 3 was a bit different...it was a MER FIN HR!!!

Berkman bats...Freese on deck

Matt Harrison has Berkman on the ropes!

Berkman swings and fouls it back...

Berkman shoots a fly ball to Hamilton in center and the Cards lead on Craig's HR 1-0

Game 3 From Arlington -

I've been reading the Buddy Holly wikipedia entry and listening to John Fahey. Now here is Joe buck and Tim McCarver and they look drunk and stupid. I'm gonna try and get the Shannon/Rooney KMOX audio for this one...Big things happen in this game...Like Alexi Ogando gets face surgery. This is sick. I played baseball today and that was sick. Jesse Rimler kicks ass. Willie Nelson is singing "City Of New Orleans" in place of the national anthem...and now here is Mike and John...

Bottom of the 9th Game 2, see you in Arlington, Babe and Reggie...

Replays show that the Game 2 loss is all Albert Pujols' fault.


Yadi leads it off...ball one from Neftali (No Cerrado) Feliz

Feliz can't find the strike zone.

three and oh.

Takes strike one.

Leadoff walk to Molina, handed out by Feliz.

I like where this is going. Do you pinch run Theriot? No, Gerald Laird.

Punto batting, will obviously bunt. Only Theriot left on the bench.

Punto bunts in the air back to the backstop.

Punto bunts foul for strike two. This sucks. Oquendo is giving the signs, but to what end?

Punto strikes out on a 99 mph fastball.

Here is Schumacker...oy vey...

Fouls off strike one...

way high a ball and a strike

1-1 inside at 98 is ball two

McCarver says some shit...and Schumacker swings and misses 2-2

Skip strikes out swinging so now it is up to Rafael Furcal.

Furcal in the hole oh and two

Ball one outside...

Pitcher of record is Motte (loss)

Furcal calls time, Feliz makes dumbass cocky face.

Inside 2-2 .

Furcal flies out to right, Cruz catches it in right...

and this series is tied at a game apiece...

Game 3 up next...stay tuned... ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN, Cubs fans.

Top of the 9th = Ranger Danger

18th WS games for the Cardinals franchise... 107th postseason game...

Motte works Kinsler 0-2 with the quickness... and just as quick it is 2-2...


Kinsler flares a base hit between Holliday and Furcal...the Cards' Achilles heel if there is ever a spot on the field...

Tying run on..with no one out...and here is where Tony feels he lost the game. The coaches are timing Motte's delivery to the plate... 1.2 or 1.4? Steal or out? Pick off play to first.

1-0 on Andrus and there's a strike ... 1-1

Arthur Rhodes loosening for the Cards.

THERE GOES KINSLER...HUGE JUMP>>>Yadi makes a brilliant throw but Kinlser is in there by a horse's mane...

Molina did what he could, Mottte's time to the plate was too long...And the game is essentially over. Texas wins.


Andrus fouls off and it is still 1-2.


SO much going on right now, even though the cards have conceded the key runner. THis is where the game is like Chess. It will happen again. Playng to a stale mate.

Andrus base hit to Center. Knsler is held at 3rd, but Pujols tips the ball and Andrus takes second...should be an error on Pujols (he lost this game too, along with LaRussa)

Nobody out, 2nd and 3rd. This is how you win a close game.

Here is Hamilton. All you really need is 2 sac flies...

LaRussa is gonna go to Rhodes for the matchup...a dumb move according to LaRussa haters...lets talk again after Game 7.

Hamilton rips one into right that will tie the ballgame...runners move up...

1-1 on a sac fly by Hamilton. Andrus makes third ahead of a great throw from right. Pujols allowing Andrus to get to second looms large now.

Lance Lynn against Michael young.

First pitch ball one down and away. The next two pitches are balls too. A 3-0 slider for a strike...

Young fouls it off for a full count...

Young flies out to center and the Rangers go up 2=1.

Young delivers with an out.

Rangers lead 2-1, their first lead of the world series.

Neftali Feliz gets loose for Molina, Punto and Schumaker...

Beltre grounds out to Descalso at 3rd. HORRIBLE INNING OVER

Bottom o' the 8th

Pitching and batting 9th is Mike Adams

Jon Jay flies out to centter (one pitch one out)

Replay of Craig's hit.

Here is Pujols. You broke my heart, my baseball heart. I'll get over it when STL wins a championship again.

Pujols slashes the second pitch down the line. 1-1

Mantle hit his final WS home run off of Bob Gibson (3 run shot) in the '64 series.

The 1-1 is launched and Nelson Cruz catches this one at the fence.

TWO OUT...Pujols will do alot of that in the thick air of Anaheim.



Berkman up, Allen Craig wearing a sweatshirt? What's wrong with that picture. He's our 1B of the future...

Berkman fouls the 2-1 away...2-2

Berkman singles past Kinsler...goes under his glove...

One on, two out for Holliday...

Holliday works the 2-0. This is a terribly close game...

Takes a ball called a strike on the inside corner, 2-1

Strike two was a good pitch.

Mike Adams throws ball 3 for a full count.

Payoff pitch...

Berkman runs on ball four. 1st and 2nd two out...

Here comes Greg's brother again to give the Descalso scouting report.

Mike Adams does a little fakeout pickoffdance...

And strike one on a big descalso swing.

Descalso grounds out to Kinsler on the right side...out 3 that sets it up for the Ninth...here comes Motteeeeee....

Top of the 8th

Descalso takes over at 3rd

Salas works Napoli to 1-2

Salas makes Napoli look foolish...He got away with one, McCarver says, but maybe Cards pitchers shoulda got away with more? It was nice to see Napoli strike out there. He was one strike away from being WS MVP...

Here is Rzepczyinski...Scrabble

Dotel getting loose. Beltre bats.
Fastbal fouled off the end of the bat.

Strike 2 on the swing. And this is Torrealba actually. McCarver sounds drunk when he says Rzepczynksi. Future starter, former Blue Jay, gets Torrealba, two out.

Fausto Carmona is no more. His name is Juan Carlos HEredia. Fausto is a fucking awesome name. I am so disappointed.

Tonay La Russay is os dizope.

Groundball to first. 34 has been hue. 1-0 bottom of the 8th.

Bottom of the 7th

Holliday leads it off. Lewis throws him ball one that somehow gets him off the plate.

Next pitch is a called strike on the outside corner.
Mattswings and misses on a breaking all low.

Oganddo getting loose in case AllenbCraig comes up and the rangers need to give up a hit.

Holliday gets a piece of it but Napoli hangs on. SO one out...Catchers are so key.

Freese singles to center, has extended his hit streak to 12 straight games (since Game 2 in Phillly)

Molina drives it deep but catches Molina's fly to deep left.

Here's Punto. Pitcher's spot next? Punto has only hit One HR all year...STRIKE ONE

Lewis throws strike 2 looking to Punto, Allen Craig in the on deck circle.

Punto singles off of Young's glove at first...first and third and now Allen Craig is coming up!

Bring on Ogando, Wash! (For the second night in a row it will be Craig vs. Ogando with the game on the line. And I thought this was it.)

REMATCH

First pitch: fouled off to the right side

Second pitch: SINGLES TO RIGHT. CRAIG HAS DONE IT AGAIN! FREESE SCORES! 1-0 cards in the 7th!

Same pitch! Same one as last night. Craig hit it better tonight.

Are you kidding me?

Ogando missed his spot and now it is Furcal.

Nasty pitch down and in gets Furcal to 1-2

Furcal pulls it foul, and McGwire gets a little credit for Craig's success...You hear that, BBWAA?

Outside 2-2

Furcal chops it to Beltre and Punto goes out of the baseline...inning over...let's finish this game...

Washington hangs his head...

Top of the 7th

Garcia still out there. I forgot how good he was. Looking forward to Carpenter, Wainwright, Garcia next year. That will go deep in the post season.

Garcia strikes out Hamilton (his 7th K!) He was great in this game. Tony lost this one...


Michael Young steps in. Hamilton is looking forward to warmer weather in Texas, Tim McCarver says.

Young grounds out to Punto. 2 out.

Now Adrian Beltre. Strike one.

Hard hit. Base hit. Under the glove of Furcal. JAY makes a nice play to hold it to a single.

Lance Lynn gets Loose and Loopy Leaders lean left!

Garcia trying to pitch around a two out single. Ball two to Cruz.

Napoli on deck.

Molina is gonna go out and talk to Garcia.

Dave Duncan and Tony LaRussa are still managing this team. Damn they were good.

Cruz flies to Berkman in Right and Garcia has pitched 7 shutout innings...

Bottom of the 6th

Jon Jay is 0-2

Ogando is warming in the 'pen

Jay takes the 0-2 just inside, ball one.

Jay into right center, Gentry tracks it down with a good jump ONE OUT

Here is the 0 fer 2 Pujols coming to the plate.

2-1...haven't been typing, watching the greatest player of my lifetime hit.

Fouls it down the 3B line... 2-2 (enjoy Angels fans. You are all assholes.)

Lewis got in on him and Albert grounds out to Beltre at 3rd. He is human.

Berkman is working Lewis...2-2 on the Puma.

Berkman strikes out on a questionable swing call...

six scoreless in game 2

Top of the 6th - P vs. P

so the tables are turned...

Lewis leads it off versus Garica...strike one!

Strike two called.

Strike 3 swinging...but all we really talked about was Elvis' defense. How about a little less conversation Joe and Tim?

Here's Kinsler. And he takes a strike like a Nancy.

And then fouls a high fastball in on the hands back and out of play.

A base hit past Freese, who is decidedly no Rolen at 3rd.

Elvis grounds into a DP that looks pretty, 6-4-3 Furcal-Punto-Pujols...

bottom of the 5th...

Freese leads off and works itt 2-0...

Then they show his little league photos from STL...

Then he gets under one and skies it to left,

He just got under it.

Here is Molina who fouls it away strike one.

Freese is 28 in this WS. He just missed on that flyout. Colby Lewis can be nasty.

As shown by his strike two painted on the corner at the knees (McCarver)

Molina grounds out to Kinsler, two out...

Lotsa 0-fers for the cards...so far the FUrcal hit is it...the Berkman hit was ruled an error.

In at the knees strike one on Punto...3 times in 10 years in the World Series, 04, 06, 11 (2 for 3)

Base hit for punto to right..second cards hit of the night which brings Garcia to the plate.

Garcia can hit because he takes big league rips and fouls it off...

AND he can work a full count!

Payoff pitch...(15 HRs hit by pitchers in WS history...stays that way after '11 in my recollection)

Let's read Mark Twain's Autobiography while we wait for Colby Lewis to walk Garcia...

WALK

And now, an appearance from the Maddux family...is that Greg? No? Mike? nevermind...

Here's Furcal with two on and two out...

Furcal fouls the 1-0 off down the line.

I'm glad he's coming back.

Dave McKay, currrent Cub, gives adive at first.

Andrus makes a great play in the hole and saves a run.

End of inning after an "Unbelievable play by Elvis!"

Scoreless after 5.

Top of the Fifth...Sailing along...

Garcia works the count full on Cruz and then strikes him out so foolishly, Cruz throws his bat into the stands. Cruz is a WS choker.

Then the next guy flies out to Berkman in right with a stutter step.

Then Garcia strikes out Napoli.

Quick inning. Cards looking good. The bottom of the inning should be the Cards breakout...

Bottom the Figgidy Fourth (that last half was preeeeeeeety pretty pretty good)

Some overpaid veteran takes strike one and then lines out to another overpaid veteran at third...one out in the bottom of the 4th.

Berkman works an INFIELD SINGLE! WHAT!?!?!?

Kinsler can't handle it!

Here is Matt Holliday...I wonder if he will ever be an angel?

Or an American Idol?

COlby LEwis throws a deep slider. That's gross. Strike one and then two...

FREESE ON DECK

Andrus and kinsler turn a beautiful double play that literally made Joe Buck ejaculate...phrases of vigor!

GOOD NICHT ACHTUNG

Go Fourth and watch the next 3 scoreless innings...DRAMA!

The lady is out with another dude's lady grabbin' a cocktail...a perfect opportunity to be a total fucking dork. YES!

I do this well...

First up...Some dude who plays for Texas...(OK, I'm not actually watching yet. I'm listening to Johnny Cash break his rusty cage and the wee bairn kinda wake up a little bit...shhhhhhhh...) OK, i can pause Sonic Youth's Carpenter's cover (Which is so much better than the original)

OK, I'll listen to it, but then I swear, I will watch the top of the Fourth of Game 2 of the Greatest World Series of all time. This game was a semi-low point (not as bad as game 5)

All life is suffering...David Eckstein said that.

So it's Ian Kinsler up. And Chris Carpenter is talking about how great it was he didn't get stepped on in Game 1 when he dove into the base. Why didn't the runner step on his hand? A classic image from this World Series (and why didn't Charlie Manuel Just let the Braves win? Conspiracy?)

Carpenter talks about how he loves to induce ground balls.

Kinsler is somehow on first. I was mesmerized by Carp's groundball rates.

Andrus has a 1-1 count and Joe Buck has informed me that Kinsler walked.

Garcia is tough to bunt against. Kinsler is timing EVERYTHING. Stay tuned to this...

Molina behind the plate. 1-2. What is Kinsler thinking?

No one scouted the Cards at the end of the season.

2-2 on Andrus. And just how fast is Garcia to the plate? 1.2? 1.4? Steal on?

Andrus flies to Berkman who covers RF beautifully. He says 1B would be harder on his knees...Uh-OH 2012...

Garcia throws ball one to Josh Hamilton who has not been able to avoid being talked about by announcers who talk about what he has not been able to do because he has a sports hernia from a leftover crack deposit (grooooan...I went there as hamilton flipped it into left and the glove off...is that Allen Craig? No. Not yet. That was Holliday)

2 outs

And some Texas doucher is batting...o rite it b mike yng...wut wut

Slow it down, Jaime, so Joe Buck can talk about how these gus were o for 16...

Damn, Michael Young singles and now it is first and third wit h2 out...Jay plays it on the hop...the right thing to do, Jay.

And now Adrian Beltre will somehow blow this clutch chance.

He wacks a laser just foul down the 3rd base line that gets Kinsler on the shoulder in foul territory. Kinsler brushes it off his shoulder and Fox shows the replay of that from different angles. Do you think Kinsler has a hot dumb girlfriend?

Beltre 2-1 is ball 3 and Joe reminds us that Clutchdaddy Nelson Cruz is on deck.

So Garcia throws a swinging strike and Beltre just can't keep his head in there.

And Garcia srikes him out on the 3-2. That was beautiful. Beltre has that look and the bat boys are coming out to the batter's box to collect his things. YA BEEEEEEEEEEEYOOOOOOOO!

Game 2 - Bottom o' the Third

Punto leads it off, the former Twin - A younger Gardenhire...Punto a MGR someday?

2-1 on Punto...shit will come to a head here...ball 3 JUST in

Punto grounds the 3-1 to second...ONE OUT

ANd here is Greg Maddux's brother talking about pitching. Whatever. Let's talk to Keith Richard's brother about playing guitar or taking heroin...Or like, Bill Clinton's brother about scoring with chicks...

Sorry..that was bad, but the pitcher is up. 1-2 he's about to SO...NO! He didn't go...2-2...and then Jaime takes a big cut and fouls it off...

Garcia makes Hamilton chase one down...two out...

Here's Furcal. No hits yet.

Furcal takes a nasty breaking ball for a strike...and now a ball...1-1

FIRST HIT OF THE GAME! Furcal doubles down the first base line. I love this guy!

Nice rip, Rafael.

Here's Jon Jay.

THERE'S DUNCAN! THE GROUND BALL PROPHET!

Speaking of ground balls, Jay grounds out to first...INNING OVER!

GOod night.

Game 2 -Top of the 3rd THERE's THE ARCH!

They waited till the 3rd to show the arch. Saarinen magic!

1-1 on Napoli.

Bounces in ball two. I went up in the Arch with my Granny when they had a weird elevater to the top.

Hard hit, RIGHT AT FREESE! ONE OUT!

Craig Gentry, the other David Murphy, steps up.

Ball one...Ball two...Ball three...

Come on Jaime...strike on the inside corner...

3-1...Gentry taps to Fresse, TWO OUT!

Pitcher comin' up...let's talk about St. Louis!

The ARCH is the tallest man made structure qualified by something...

And more bbq sauce is consumed in St. Louis than anywhere! WOOT!

Ground out to Furcal!

AND THERE's THE CLYDESDALES!

To the bottom of the 3rd...

Game 2 - Bottom of the 2nd

Berkman leads off..not Berman...

Strike one looking, strike two foul...

Berkman from the left side is pretty...fouls it out of play down the left field line.

Lance. Fucking. Berkman.

Out in front, hooks another one foul. He's swinging like a teenager. HE LOVES THIS GAME!

Holliday on deck.

Rips another foul down the first base line.

"He's a funny man" - Tim

"He nicknamed himself big puma" - Joe

I nicknamed myself Hambone.

Colby throws a good nasty pitch down and in and Big Hambone Puma Jughead goes down swinging.

Holliday steps in hitting .407 since the start of the LCS...

Takes ball one. And ball two..."ball in" the ump can be heard saying...and he walks on four straight...

HOLLIDAY IS GAME 2's first baserunner.

And here comes the hometown hero, from Wildwood...the prodigal son, come home to his destiny. HE was frat boy at Mizzou! Not playing baseball! HE was almost a JOURNALIST! He flies out to center on the first pitch. Will he ever get a clutch hit this world series?

Yadi up. He didn't come to Winter Warm Up. Cards Nation is worried he wants to become an angel too. Gross.

1-1 on Yadi.

Strike 2 on the outside corner. Holliday takes a lead off first.

The Neck tattoos are new for 2011 according to Joe Buck. Those neck Tattoos may have made all the difference in 2011. THey are musical notes as a tribute to his late father. The catcher breeder.

Throw to first, Holliday back...DAVE MCKAY SIGHTING (He's a shitty Cub now)

Molina chases up and away, Holliday stranded...INNING OVER

Game 2 - Top o' the Second

Garcia back to work, strike one to Young called

Strike 2 called...Garcia goes on these runs when he is DEALING.

(Then it falls apart...around the 4th?)

Ball one.

Young spoils ball 2, 1-2.

Strikes out swinging on a cutter up!

Here's Beltre...

Strike one looking, Jaime looking good.

Strike two swinging (big Beltre cut with his head looking into the 3rd base stands)

STRIKE THREE SWINGING ON A CHANGE UP NASTY! two out

With two out Nelson Cruz is up (the quiet assassin...)

Works it 2-0

Hitters count...

Strike one looking, down the middle

Napoli on deck.

Nelson Cruz hammers strike two out of the park...FOUL

2-2

Yadi calls it...up and in...full count...I LOVE A FULL COUNT

Here it is...broke his bat...pops out to Punto at 2nd...

A Beautiful inning, Jaime

Game 2 - Bottom of the First

Furcal to face Lewis.

I like Lewis (in hindsight). Josh Brolin should play him in the movie.

Furcal will be played by Furcal. One of a kind. Such energy. Tries a Ty Cobb hit on the first pitch but fouls it off. After a couple more pitches he flies out to center.

The Federalist, Jon Jay, steps to the plate. Used to be #15. Now wears #19. I think he should keep that and make it his own. Albert Pujols, still a Cardinal, on deck.

Jay lays down a beautiful bunt that doesn't go foul for 87 feet (thanks for the measurement, Tim).

1-2 to Jay...fouled away...

Next one skips in there to even the count.

Jay grounds out to Michael Young at 1st. 2 away...and now here's the Colby Lewis travel map...Hiroshima! Back to Texas after that...really?

Here's Albert, former great baseball player...We'll see...

Albert flies out to right center...END OF INNING (each pitcher a perfect first)

Game 2 - Top o' the 1st "Live" from Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

PLAY BALL!

This one will be a nailbiter for sure...

"Power c-an be mesmerizing" - Tim McCarver

"It is not as cold as last night" Joe Buck

Jaime Garcia vs. Colby Lewis

There's the Slo-Mo Clydesdales! Where's the damn arch dammit?

Jaime Garcia looks kinda like Joel Pineiro...who just signed a minor league contract with Philadelphia - Where's Dave Duncan when you need him? In the dugout for this game...not for the 2012 season. That man will be missed in Cardinal Nation.

The umps are all white guys.

Ian Kinsler, also a white guy, leads it off. He will factor hugely later...stay tuned.

First pitch in there for a strike. Garcia has a beautiful lefty delivery.. Grounder to Furcal who charges picks it up and throws all in one fluid motion. I'm gonna love that for another season.

THis is a team, dangit. Jaime Garcia is the second Mexican born pitcher to start a WS game...the first? FERNANDO!

Dodgers beat the Yanks in '81.

Garcia deals strike on to Andrus (called) after ball one.

Albert, an absolutely gorgeous ball player, takes it himself. Two out.

I'll miss you Albert. But your baseball career is now dead to me. Appropriately enough, you are now an angel. Gross.

Josh Hamilton digs in with two out and nobody on. Good stuff.

2-1 after a funky lookin' swing from an obviously injured J-Ham.

Garcia breaks Hamilton's bat, a little floater to Freese - over to first...inning over.

Motte in the 9th, Game 1

Motte fires strike one...

And gets a comebacker from Young...ONE OUT!

And BELTRE DOES THE FOUL BALL OFF HIS FOOT! OUT 2 OUT!

Show the FOX Heat Cam! Show it!

You are still out!

Beltre and Wash out to protest...here is the hot spot...that ball nicked him...

Here is Nelson Cruz with two out...

1-1 fouls the second pitch off...a nasty inside pitch...

Ball 2 outside

Strike 2 away from Cruz, swinging...

OUTSIDE!?!?! full count...

3-2 pitch, Napoli on deck...Fouled back...just...missed, Nelly...gonna do that again this series?

Nellie hangs one up to Holliday and "THAT'S A WINNER!" - Jack not Joe


And the Cardinals win Game 1, 3-2...now on to the hard part..watching and blogging Game 2...Game 3 shall be my reward...So long for just awhile...

Dotel on for the 8th...

He takes care of Kinsler with a comebacker...he threw two sliders to start it...ONE OUT...

Here is Elvis Andrus...do no harm, Elvis...

Strike one from Dotel...

Strike two from Dotel...

Strike THREE...DOTEL WAS SO NASTY THIS POSTSEASON! Gonna miss that, too...but see, I have the DVDs and that is what we are watching right now.

Here comes Arthur Rhodes into his FIRST WORLD SERIES! His first opponent...Hosh Jamilton...Joe Buck said that. Arthur Rhodes lost a 5 year old son. Tragedy is everywhere people. Tim Tebow is not special.

Does a player like Rhodes or Bengie Molina get both a WS share from the winner and the loser? That seems unfair...

Rhodes has worked the count full on Hamilton...this is still a one run game...this is huge...

Hamilton hits it one handed into center...And he cards 'pen does it again...

Inning OVER!

Bottom of the 8th.

Berkman to lead off. He's still got it.

Berkman tests Kinsler...and THERE's THE ARCH AGAIN (Sighting #2? That's it?)...AND BERKMAN can still dig out an infield hit!!!

Descalso, our 2Bman next season...

bunts Berkman over...it is perfect. These are guys who can execute, when properly managed.

Heeeeeeeere's YADI!

Fouls away strike one...takes ball two...

Broken bat ground out moves Berkman to 3rd...

Punto up with 2 down...Motte warming in the 'pen to face Young, Beltre and Cruz...

Strike one swinging on Punto on a wicked slider...Feldman still in there...big run at 3rd with 2 out...

Feldman works from the windup...high ball one...

Punto Rakes it FOUL down the line...strike two...

inside 2-2...slowing down...

ball 3

Schumacker on deck...

Punto strikes out looking...good work by Feldman...


ON TO THE NINTH!

7th Inning...Cards up 3-2

Salas to face Beltre Cruz and Napoli...

It is only game 1 after all. Beltre has taken "two grown men swings" - thanks McCarver...I spend saturdays giving a little girl swings. But I am a grown man. Even though I don't make millions clubbing the ball recklessly like Adrian Beltre. Pujols has never succumbed to the recklessness belttre exhibits...I will miss that...Beltre grounds out to Punto. One out.

A strength for each side - the bullpen. But not the bullpen phone.

Good night, Tony. It's been a great ride.

OOh wait...it's only game one. And he tying run is on with one out in the seventh. Cruz singles to center. And here's the replay of Nellie Cruz missing Craig's go-ahead single....

ROAR! Says Craig at firs base. ROAR! I am a golden bear god!

I live in Berkeley. Rzezpcynski gets loose...Did I spell that right on the first try?

Salas deals to Napoli and they show his 2 run jack from back in the fifth. Napli kinda looks like Tebow. Only he plays a grown man sport.

Grown ass man.

Salas goes 3-0 on Napoli, and I'm like what? We had a great bullpen in the playoffs?
Walked him.

LaRussa is thinking...he takes his glasses off...Scrabble on to face Gentry...Rzezpcynski...Damn, I'm good...

Zep looks like a Kid in the Hall...Toronto will do that to you, COlby.

Over but low. Ball one. Dotel up. That guy is great. I will miss him, too.

Scrabble looks Nellie Cruz back. He's got great posture.

Strike one. Great mechanics.

Scrabble strikes Gentry out looking. It's been Rzepczynski this whole time. Rzepczynski! WTF. The Poles live a hardSCRABBLE life.

It's not Torrealba, Texas fans. It is ESTEBAN GERMAN! LOOK OUT!

The cards have one more reliever than the Rangers. His name is Arthur Jason Mark Octavio Fernando Lance.

Scrabble works him 0=2... Busch to it's feet!

STRIKE OUT?
STRIKE OUT!!!! Inning over. Scrabble K's two...and K is a 10 point tile. Time to stretch in Game One.


Bottom of the 7th.

Hamilton moves from Center to Left.

Mike Gonzalez on...shaking his head like a Buster. With that wind up, he could be injured on any pitch...any pitch now...Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are playing SCRABBLE. Tim McCarver didn't know Strike had 6 letters...K is 10 pt tile...

Feldman coming on. Future journeyman. He gives up the key hits!

He's been outstanding so far this postseason, says Joe Buck

He faces Pujols. See you next year out west, Albert! You and Feldman will break bread...or matzo...together. Point to the sky, men!

Feldman works Albert 0-2. He's got good stuff...Then throws 3 straight where Albert is like, "I'm too smart for those." And he is.. Will miss that pitch selection. Squares up on one to Center...Gentry slips...but recovers for out #2...

Here's Matt Holliday...the face of the franchise...

It is starting to Mist in Beautiful St. Louis...breathe deeply, roll river...smell that Big Muddy...

0-2 on Holliday...Feldman looks nasty. Feldman bounces the 0-2.

A waste pitch. Holliday didn't bite.

The one two nibbles...outside...even count 2-2

Holliday floats one to Kinser and the inning is over..

Game 1 - The Pivotal 6th Inning

One inning tonight. Our friend is hanging on. Things are looking up. Miracles can happen. I want to fast forward to the happy ending, but I shouldn't. That is not why we have signed up for the seven DVD set...actually - eight - we want the bonus material...but first, these games gotta be close. It wouldn't be any fun without the drama...

TOP O' the SIXTH (what crazy shit will Joe Buck and Tim McCarver say?_

Kinsler flares one to right on a 1-1 count. McCarver whatns to slow it down. He is a SILVER FOX! HOW DOES HE DO IT! HE IS THE RHIANNA BRAUN OF color commentating! I don't wan the holidays to end.

Carp playoff beard.

Andrus sacrifice bunts are good ones, Kinsler to second ONE OUT

J HAM SPAM A LAMB A LAMB NAM DAM DAMN SPAM VIETNAM!


bole one.

CRUSHED LIGHTLY INTO CENTER...Kinsler tags...TWO OUTS RUNNER AT THIRD

Michael Old Gold English 800 Young has a 2 out RBI Chance. Again. lets go texas...blah blah blah blah...we choked again blaaaaaaaaaaaaah

Good pitch in on the hands strike two. BUSCH III ERUPTS, CALLING FOR THE BLOOD OF THE STRIEK OUT.

Pujols makes the kind of beautiful play, robbing a double, that I am gonna miss. All around player. Special. INNING OVER

Berkan leads off the bottom of the 6th. Takes ball one, takes strike one...

Berkman argues the swing, foul tip call...that was a ball!!! strike?

1-2 on Berkman and now 2-2

Goat Freese on deck

Flaired into Kinsler's glove. One out.

Here comes he goat..I'm craving some toasted ravioli.

McCarver says Texas pitchers are underrated. They remain so to this day.

Freese fights one off, strike two...

Freese flies one to right, NELSON CRUZ GLIDES BACK...

FREESE SPLITS THE GAP...man on 2nd, one out...

YADI YADI YADI

Action starts in the bullpen (an over ARCH ing theme -thx jwtp)

Molina fouls away strike one...that's the POINT on deck...

CJ Wilson leads a purpose driven life I am sure.

Another patented Yadi Molina foul ball. Joe Buck mentions that Mark Lowe is a righthander in Washington's bullpen. Wonder if he gets into any of these games?

BALL SKIPS AWAY FREESE TO 3rd!

Molina has a real RBI chance on 1-2, racehorse outta the mule...

fouled off by that stubborn field captain...and again a foul..still 1-2. Who is that on deck?
Punto.

Molina strikes out, chasing some high heat. Some really high heat...that's the chink in his armor.

Punto up, Carpenter on deck...who would hit for Carp?

Ball 1 to Punto. Ball 2 nicely blocked by Napoli. Ball 3. UH-OH TEJAX!

BALL FOUR LOOKING! Carp is knocked out... ALLEN CRAIG will come off the BENCH AND HIT FOR ST LOUIS.

Wash is gonna pull CJ. I can feel it. He's gonna be an Angel next year. Wash knows it.

Jennie-O wants to remind you to switch to Turkey, boozy.

Ogando to face ALLEN CRAIG.

Ball one outside 97.

Wilson goes 5.2

CRAIG TAKES A MIGHTY SWING! WHIFF!

91

Salas warms

Chased it up, 97 strike 2...OGANDO LOOKS NASTY.

Here we go...THAT IS INTO RIGHT
CRUZ...WILL...DROP IT!

Allen Craig delivers off the bench in the 6th. That just may be the game. Some bullpen work to watch though. But not tonight.

Hit Cruz's foot. A bad break but a good break for the Rangers? Really, Tim?

Here's Furcal, Strike one from Ogando

Wash is awesome. He deserves a ring.

Furcal launches one to the track but NELSON CRUZ TRACKS IT DOWN>>>

INNING OVER