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[sdcforever]

^I just don't like the way this team has been playing for the past month.  They have the talent to go deep into October, but momentum matters.  Sure they turned it around after a dismal September in 2006, but circumstances were different.  In 2006 they were decimated by injuries and got key players back for the postseason.  This year injuries are not a problem.  Hence, my concern.

As for the Cy Young Award, Wainwright, Carp, and Lincecum are all deserving.  They're pretty deadlocked in all the major categories.  I'd hate to see Wainwright and Carp lose out because they're pulling votes from each other.

[sdcforever]

Well, we certainly ended the season with a resounding THUD!   I'm glad I wasn't able to watch the last three games; if so, I would've seen the Brewers untuck at Busch Stadium three days in a row.  Terrible!  At least the Dodgers are struggling as much as we are, and their playoff rotation is up in the air still due to poor performances and injuries.  Ours is only set for the first three games:  Carp, Wainwright, and Pineiro.  Past that, who knows?  Here's the schedule, just released by MLB:

    Game 1 at LA … Wed, 8:37 p.m. St. Louis time

    Game 2 at LA … Thurs, 5:07 p.m. St. Louis time

    Game 3 at STL … Sat, 5:07 p.m. St. Louis time

    Game 4 at STL … Sun, TBA

    Game 5 at LA … Tues., TBA

The one catch to the above schedule is if the New York Yankees select to start their series Thursday instead of Wednesday. (Which … why? I mean why?) If the Yankees do that (the unthinkable) then the Cardinals would play late Thursday night as well — with a game time set for 8:37 p.m. St. Louis time.  All games are on TBS.

[Zephon]

Yes, thank goodness, that's over.  I only got to see the end of today's game, and I was sorry I did.  You can't give it away any easier than that.  I hope the incentive of playing for something again is enough to inspire them.

Then I switched over to watch a bit of the Rams game, and I must say...I've never seen a sorrier excuse for a team than that.  They couldn't beat a high school team.

[sdcforever]

^Yeah, I watched some of the Rams game.  Sports writer Bernie Miklasz of the Post-Dispatch says the 2009 Rams are the worst non-expansion NFL team he's ever seen.  After losing 35-0 today historical ineptitude was reached.  The Rams haven't been shut out twice in a season since 1942 and haven't been blanked twice in their first four games since 1937 — the first year of the franchise.  So this is the worst Rams team after playing four games in a season since the first year of the franchise!

The Rams won't provide much entertainment in the coming weeks, so I hope the Cards can pick it up now that they have something to play for...

[KBCraig]

Latest news is that Rush Limbaugh is trying to buy the Rams.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9B5OF6O0&show_article=1

[sdcforever]

All right, time for postseason play!

October 1 was last Thursday, but for me, today is when October really begins!

Pitching matchup tonight is Carp vs. Wolf (this comes as somewhat of a surprise, since I expected Kershaw; perhaps Kershaw is still ailing a bit).  Wolf is a lefty, but in the one game we played against him (a 6-1 win for Carp, but we only got 2 runs off of Wolf) we hit .292 as a team.  I'm going to just throw a few things out there before giving a prediction.  I think we are definitely armed for this series, but the question is will we hit?  Everything hinges on if we can get our starters some run support.  If we can do that I think we win this series; we'll face Wolf and Kershaw the first two games (two lefties).  Our pitchers will keep it close, I think, so our hitters need to drive in some runs to put us over the top.  I have some reservations, but I'm keepin' the faith:  Cards win in 4!

[sdcforever]

I'm tired of going over the "what ifs" of game 1 (and there are a lot of them).  This is all I have to say:  Since 1996 (LaRussa's first year as Cards manager), the Cardinals are 1-5 in playoff series when they lose the first game.  The only series they won after losing the first game is the 2006 NLCS over the Mets 4 games to 3.  I would think it would've happened more often than that.  History is not on our side, and my prediction is in jeopardy.

[Zephon]

Well, I don't have much to say about game 1 other than...lack of execution and sound fundamentals offensively as well as defensively cost us the game.  Carp was not the pitcher he was through most of the summer.  But then, he hasn't been sharp in many of his last 4 or 5 starts.  The hitting woes of September continue.

That said, I think Wainwright will be sharp tonight.  He hasn't lost his edge.  Just hope he can get some run support.

He has looked good so far, and a HR by Holliday helps.  1-0 Cards early.

GO CARDINALS!!!

[KBCraig]

The way the bullpen has been performing lately, it scared me when they didn't let Waino finish the game.

Franklin scares the crap out of me in general, but especially with a 1 run lead in the bottom of the 9th.

And this is why. 

[sdcforever]

The way the bullpen has been performing lately, it scared me when they didn't let Waino finish the game.

Franklin scares the crap out of me in general, but especially with a 1 run lead in the bottom of the 9th.

And this is why. 

Also, some blame falls on Holliday for the error on the fly ball that would've ended the game.

Obviously, my "Cards win in 4" prediction is not going to come true.  I predict we lose the series in 4.  We scratch out a win Saturday night with Pineiro vs. Padilla, partly due to playing at home and partly because Padilla is a righthander.  Sunday will be Smoltz vs. Billingsley, and I think the Dodgers will get to Smoltz.  Of course, it's not over until it's over, but we have no momentum right now.  You can't win games if you make silly mistakes and leave so many runners on base.  We have a total of 21 hits in the series but only 5 runs to show for it.  Pathetic!   In fact the Dodgers only had 5 hits tonight and we had 10!

[KBCraig]

Part of LaRussa's success is that he sticks to the formula: he plays the statistical probability. He never makes emotional decisions.

But every now and then, particularly when you've got some slumping players, you need to go with your gut and shake things up.

[sdcforever]

If we do scratch out a win tomorrow things could get interesting.  I could see LaRussa starting Carp in game 4 on three days rest, then (if it comes to it) Wainwright on three days rest in game 5.

[Swoosh]

I'm really sick of pulling a "Cubs" thus far in the playoffs.  shesh, talking about going cold as a ballteam

[Zephon]

Yup...we let one slip through our fingers last night (pun intended).  And that makes the road ahead extremely difficult...but it's possible.  Think Red Sox against Yanks in 04.

[KBCraig]

I can't hate on Holliday. One error in 63 regular season games, and that was his second since joining the team.

Yeah, it was critical. Yeah, it sucks to be him. But I still can't hate on him for playing his best, especially since he's one of the key players who got us to the post-season.