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Okay, I've been meaning to post my thoughts on the baseball playoffs for awhile but haven't had the opportunity to. So, for a majority of you out there this post is meaningless, since you probably don't care about my thoughts on baseball. Though Porter and Mike might read. Anyway, it's more for my own benefit so yeah, have fun.
ALDS: BoSox vs. White Sox
The BoSox got swept!! YAY! Only part of me wishes that the Cardinals had been the ones to do it. However, I am very glad that if the Cards return to the World Series that the road to victory will NOT be through Fenway. Thank God.
Not sure how I feel about the White Sox. They looked good in the series. Although I do have to say if the White Sox and Cards end up in the World Series it probably would be the better away stadium for the Cards to play in. Only because Chicago is so close to StL that there would probably be more Cards fans in Chicago than Anaheim or New York.
ALDS: Yanks vs. Angels
Speaking of the Yanks, they sucked it up too. The Angels surprised me. Although it would have been kind of fun to see a Yanks-Cards matchup I wouldn't mind facing the Angels either. I say that now though, if it actually ends up that way I'll probably want to rip the Rally Monkey into shreds. But, we'll see. I'm not disappointed that the Yanks lost.
NLDS: Houston vs. Atlanta
This series was hard. The winner plays the Cards, and it is really hard to say if there was a team that I'd prefer the Cards to play. They did not play Atlanta a lot in the regular season, but they were 11-5 against Houston, with Carpenter and Mulder both having outstanding outings against them, both at Busch and in Houston. But, we'll get to that later.
18 innings!!!! Good Lord I thought that game would never end. It's nice to see that Atlanta tried so hard, but games like that make me nervous. Since the BoSox miraculous comeback against the Yanks will long games I don't particularly think that's a hindrence. If anything, I think it boosts the teams morale and gives them an excited energy that can be dangerous.
However, Houston won and it's over and it's bye bye Atlanta.
NLDS: Cardinals vs. Padres
Can we say SWEPT?! Not really surprising though, the Padres didn't really have a chance. They were just lucky to be there, since their division was pitiful this year.
I liked that Carpenter, Mulder and Morris all came out pretty strong. What I did not like was our bull pen. Hideous. If they want to win the NLCS the bull pen can't allow that many runs. I hope, that by putting Marquis in as a reliever and giving Suppan the starting role that it might help in the NLCS. The Cards are really missing Al Reyes right now.
ALCS: White Sox vs. Angels
I'm loving this series only because I don't have any sort of hatred towards these teams. Now if the Cards make it to the World Series, that may change. We'll see. I'm trying not to pick any team in particular here to root for, since last year I rooted for the BoSox and we all know what happened there. So, I'm just enjoying the series. The White Sox need to win tonight at home before they go to LA, otherwise they might be in trouble.
NLCS: Cardinals vs. Astros
Well, it's last year all over again. Only the Cardinals have better pitching (Carpenter, Mulder) and The Astros don't have Beltran, who killed us last year. I think it goes without saying that this series will definitely be tough. Houston scares the crap out of me.
I also question LaRussa putting Morris in the 3rd spot of the rotation. I have a lot of respect for Matty Mo, and he had a great season this year but...Morris pitching a potential game 7? Possibly pitching against Clemens? I don't know about that.
But...I like Carpenter against Pettite. I think Carp will pull a win for us tonight. I think Oswalt is probably Houston's best starter, so Mulder against him, that's probably a good idea. I believe that Carpenter and Mulder can pitch the next two games well enough that the Cards will enter Houston up 2-0. However, the Cardinals hitting needs to not freeze up. I think they will be fine, Eckstein has been a fabulous lead off man he hardly ever strikes out and if he can get the ball rolling for Pujols, WAlker and Sanders they're bound to score at some point.
When the Cards get to Houston I'm not sure. It's really hard to say what will happen. I don't think the Cards will sweep this series. As I mentioned before, the Cardinals bull pen is scary right now. Every time Ray King has come in this season when I've been watching I cringe. I just don't think he's all that effective.
The good thing is, that the starters are strong enough to last several innings. If this series goes to 7 games, I like the fact that we have Carpenter and Mulder pitching twice.
So, I'll make my prediction: Cardinals win it in 6.
ALDS: BoSox vs. White Sox
The BoSox got swept!! YAY! Only part of me wishes that the Cardinals had been the ones to do it. However, I am very glad that if the Cards return to the World Series that the road to victory will NOT be through Fenway. Thank God.
Not sure how I feel about the White Sox. They looked good in the series. Although I do have to say if the White Sox and Cards end up in the World Series it probably would be the better away stadium for the Cards to play in. Only because Chicago is so close to StL that there would probably be more Cards fans in Chicago than Anaheim or New York.
ALDS: Yanks vs. Angels
Speaking of the Yanks, they sucked it up too. The Angels surprised me. Although it would have been kind of fun to see a Yanks-Cards matchup I wouldn't mind facing the Angels either. I say that now though, if it actually ends up that way I'll probably want to rip the Rally Monkey into shreds. But, we'll see. I'm not disappointed that the Yanks lost.
NLDS: Houston vs. Atlanta
This series was hard. The winner plays the Cards, and it is really hard to say if there was a team that I'd prefer the Cards to play. They did not play Atlanta a lot in the regular season, but they were 11-5 against Houston, with Carpenter and Mulder both having outstanding outings against them, both at Busch and in Houston. But, we'll get to that later.
18 innings!!!! Good Lord I thought that game would never end. It's nice to see that Atlanta tried so hard, but games like that make me nervous. Since the BoSox miraculous comeback against the Yanks will long games I don't particularly think that's a hindrence. If anything, I think it boosts the teams morale and gives them an excited energy that can be dangerous.
However, Houston won and it's over and it's bye bye Atlanta.
NLDS: Cardinals vs. Padres
Can we say SWEPT?! Not really surprising though, the Padres didn't really have a chance. They were just lucky to be there, since their division was pitiful this year.
I liked that Carpenter, Mulder and Morris all came out pretty strong. What I did not like was our bull pen. Hideous. If they want to win the NLCS the bull pen can't allow that many runs. I hope, that by putting Marquis in as a reliever and giving Suppan the starting role that it might help in the NLCS. The Cards are really missing Al Reyes right now.
ALCS: White Sox vs. Angels
I'm loving this series only because I don't have any sort of hatred towards these teams. Now if the Cards make it to the World Series, that may change. We'll see. I'm trying not to pick any team in particular here to root for, since last year I rooted for the BoSox and we all know what happened there. So, I'm just enjoying the series. The White Sox need to win tonight at home before they go to LA, otherwise they might be in trouble.
NLCS: Cardinals vs. Astros
Well, it's last year all over again. Only the Cardinals have better pitching (Carpenter, Mulder) and The Astros don't have Beltran, who killed us last year. I think it goes without saying that this series will definitely be tough. Houston scares the crap out of me.
I also question LaRussa putting Morris in the 3rd spot of the rotation. I have a lot of respect for Matty Mo, and he had a great season this year but...Morris pitching a potential game 7? Possibly pitching against Clemens? I don't know about that.
But...I like Carpenter against Pettite. I think Carp will pull a win for us tonight. I think Oswalt is probably Houston's best starter, so Mulder against him, that's probably a good idea. I believe that Carpenter and Mulder can pitch the next two games well enough that the Cards will enter Houston up 2-0. However, the Cardinals hitting needs to not freeze up. I think they will be fine, Eckstein has been a fabulous lead off man he hardly ever strikes out and if he can get the ball rolling for Pujols, WAlker and Sanders they're bound to score at some point.
When the Cards get to Houston I'm not sure. It's really hard to say what will happen. I don't think the Cards will sweep this series. As I mentioned before, the Cardinals bull pen is scary right now. Every time Ray King has come in this season when I've been watching I cringe. I just don't think he's all that effective.
The good thing is, that the starters are strong enough to last several innings. If this series goes to 7 games, I like the fact that we have Carpenter and Mulder pitching twice.
So, I'll make my prediction: Cardinals win it in 6.