Cardinals Nation: We are not done yet and it will go back to Busch!

[Journeyman]

I noticed Mabry hesitated a split second out of the box, that cost them.

 

[coconutman]

Yanks and Boston got eliminated, that's when the baseball season ended.



Houston deserves it more than St.L

 

[Kojak]

Jman,

He did hesitate out of the box. The play for me in that situation was to pinchhit Luna and squeeze the run in. Larussa being thrown out and bench coach taking over probably missed it or they took view that Mabry had success day before vs Lidge and thought hit was best shot. Also felt like we could have stolen that base with Sanders to avoid double play all together as they likely would not have thrown threw in fear of guy taking off from third base. Couple coaching blunders imo. In regards to everyone blaming the umpires (Cards fans), I am one that won't. They were horrible yes, but it your job to adjust to the strike zone being called. We didn't . HP umpiring was unprofessional yesterday and same game was not being called both ways but you have to overcome. In my first year managing about 10 years ago I had a similar situation but worse in a playoff game. We were up 10-2 when ump behind plate missed a call and my fans got all over him. There were 2 guys on and 2 outs at the time. This umpire from that point on never called another strike for several batters. Score became 10-7 with bases loaded when I changed pitchers and brought my fireballer in. He threw mid 70's at 14 so threw ball well. Instead of getting mad this is what I did. I had pitcher throw first 2 pitches about shoulder height on batter right at umpire. I told catcher to miss first 2 pitches. Umpire was nailed 2 straight times. From that point on, his right hand went up 3 straight times to end game. Not exactly sportsmanlike towards umpire but did not create scene by getting onto him and he could not prove anything as catcher apologized both times for missing ball. One hit him in the mask and the other near his nuts. Not saying Cards should do this but they need to combat umps differently.

 

[Kojak]

<TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR title="Post 2253589" vAlign=top><TD class=alt1 align=middle width=125>coconutman</TD><TD class=alt2>Yanks and Boston got eliminated, that's when the baseball season ended.



Houston deserves it more than St.L</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



This is a ridiculous statement. Houston deserved to win 3 games as they played a little better in key situations but no nobody deserves anything. It must be earned and last time I checked it takes 4 games to win series. If they win 4th game, they earned it but not deserved it. That is the attitude that will bring down the Stros ship. Hope all fans supporting Stros have this attitude including the team. Cards will win tonight and I think it will be my more than 1 run.

 

[coconutman]

Kojak... you expect Houston to hit a slump and lose 3 in a row? You can only hope Kojak, deep inside you know Cards will be watching Houston/WS at home.

 

[Kojak]

coconutman,

i will tell you this. We will have to agree to disagree. Your astros may win series but your reasons are horrible. They have not hit any better than the Cardinals have and in fact have hit worse than Cards with runners in scoring position. It would be different if Cards had not dominated this team in regular season and not beaten these pitchers all in a row before. All I can say to you is what Pujols said in postgame press conference about feeling pressure and must win Game 5 and that is "we will show you tomorrow."

 

[Journeyman]

Changing subject slightly and to give props to this Astros team, this is truly remarkable...

This team lost two MVP calibur players and another guy who has hit 450 homeruns now off steroids, they couldn't score a run on the road for a month, let alone win a road game, they road record was incredible, what was it 1-17 o some ridiculous start?!

Roger Clemens came back to a team with nothing on offense, and it sure looked like he would be playing his final season on horrible team...

I wonder if Kent and Beltran are happy about leaving now?
They could probably care less, both playing in large markets for underachieving teams...

Just like running the ball in football ,pitching still wins in the end, almost 100% of the time.

 

[Journeyman]

In Kojak's defense I will say this, the Astros are the type of team who could lose 3 very easily, the combination is there for a '3 game tank job' , the games have been close and if they get it back to Busch we all know what happened last year.

The Astros with that team, COULD lose 3 straight more than most teams in this spot, even with the great pitchers...

I still believe in the end this Cards team was not as good oiffensively and that is where its hurt them, Renteria ans Rolen, two huge clutch bats, it was Rolen who won game 7 last year...

Clemens was nearly perfect in that game 7 last yr, he might have made two mistake pitches the entire game one to Albert and one to Rolen and that was all they needed, it unraveled quickly from there.

 

[coconutman]

Kojak i'm not even a big baseball fan, not even close to being a Houston fan. I will enjoy the Houston win more than anything. Trust me whoever wins tonight wont take affect on my life.

 

[Kojak]

Cards are not as good offensively due to age and injuries and believe that Jocketty should have gotten another bat at trade deadline but still their offense is better than either White Sox or Astros. I also feel that if Cards won 3 in a row that Sox pitchers don't know Cards hitters very well and that perfect pitches will not be thrown. If Cards comeback to win this series, they will win it all. Uphill battle but perfect example of what oddsmakers think is Cards are favorite tonight and still being down 3-1 for series only a +444 dog. Angels were a +1500 last night in same situation. I would not be surprised if they win tonight if series price moves to even or cards favorite. Cards will get it done tonight!

 

[JimmyHoffa]

Houston leads this series 3-1 now. And of the 69 previous teams to find themselves in a situation like that in any best-of-seven postseason series, 59 went on to win. That's 85%, tough number to overcome...

That being said, tough not to like Carpenter tonight. I'll be laying off tonight or a small play to the Cardinals.

 

[mrhognuts]

tony laloser & his cardinals look like bullies who have just had somebody stand up & coldcock them,they're ready to cry,,card fans (great fans) have got to be embarrassed.

 

[Kojak]

CARDINAL BILLBOARD MATERIAL FOR TONIGHT AND REST OF SERIES!


``For us, it's the best one out of three right now. It doesn't get any easier,'' manager Phil Garner said.

 

[Kojak]

Cardinals Should Also Be Pissed About How Astros Acted Like They Won World Series In Game 4. More Motivation.

 

[Kojak]

Stats For Tonight:

Chris Carpenter Has Never Lost At Minute Maid Going 3-0 With Less Than 1era In Minute Maid. He Says It Is Favorite Park To Pitch In.

Walker And Sanders Combined Batting Over .500 With 3 Home Runs Vs Pettitte.

Notes:

Win Or Lose This Game Tonight, I Hope Cards And Astros Get The Same Fair Umpiring. Let The Game Be Decided 100% On The Field. Believe Selig Needs To Step And Remove Cuzzi From The Series And Future Postseason Umping Jobs.

 

[Journeyman]

Cards are favorite tonight and still being down 3-1 for series only a +444 dog. Angels were a +1500 last night in same situation.

Because it was going back to Chicago where as if STL wins its going home...

It almost sounds like you're trying to talk yoursef into this Kojak.

 

[D2bets]

Cardinals Should Also Be Pissed About How Astros Acted Like They Won World Series In Game 4. More Motivation.

If being down 3-1 isn't all the motivation in itself one could possibly need then the series might as well be over already.

 

[Journeyman]

and on the flipsode if STL goes out in 5 , you have to take a serious look at LaRussa's record of choke jobs and teams that didn't show up for the biggest series

A's vs Reds
A's vs Dodgers
Cards vs Sox
Cards vs Astros???

Complete no shows

 

[Kojak]

The Series This Most Resemble Imo Is The 96 Nlcs Between Cards And Braves. Cards Up 3-1 With Game 5 In Stl. Braves Came Back In Commanding Fashion To Win Series.my Predictions For Games 5,6,and 7.


Cardinals 14 Astros 0
Cardinals 3 Astros 1
Cardinals 15 Astros 0

Lol But Think Cards Win 3 In A Row!

Cards Will Not Choke This Time. Nothing To Base It On Except Simply Feel It. Stros Don't Win Tonight They Don't Win Again!

 

[D2bets]

Houston +130 is ridiculous price inflation. This game is a tossup if there ever was one. People just wanna be on STL because they're backs are against the wall, but quite honestly I don't believe that makes a team more or less likely to win. Ask the Angels. Or ask St. Louis in the WS last year. Oddsmakers always do this and it presents great opportunities. But with the pitching matchup and the way the series is going I'm going to look to play Hou +1.5 at a nice price of -130 or better.