Bleed Cubbie Blue

I heard on the radio today that if the Rangers win tonight it would be the first time the visiting team has won game 7 of the series since 1978

So even if they hadn’t had the epic collapse last night, winning tonight would be an uphill battle.

No comparison to 2003 NLCS. This feels more like the 1975 World Series to me.

The Reds lost a heartbreaker to the Red Sox in Game 6 and, to this day, the Carlton Fisk highlight gets more play than the Game 7 final out. Even Johnny Bench commented recently that the Red Sox won that World Series 3 games to 4. And Boston got off to a good start early in Game 7, but Cincinnati came back to tie it up 3-3 and then take the lead 4-3 on Joe Morgan’s bloop single in the top of the 9th. Championship teams rise to the occasion and if Texas is a championship team, they’ll find a way to win it tonight.

Bowa and Williams predict Rangers will win

I sure hope they’re right.

Yikes, horrible baserunning...

that was a Theriot like gaffe

Welp, they kind of made up for it. Will be interesting to see if that would be run will come back to bite them.

Agreed...

if it’s like last night the Rangers can’t get enough runs. The baserunning play reminded me of when we had Theriot.

Me too.

and that’s apparently the second time this series Molina has picked off Kinsler.

reminded me of the baserunning we had with theriot

sorry for repeat

site is being funny on my account tonight

I thought rosters were set before a series started

How is it that Cardinals were able to replace Holliday?

I believe if the player you are removing is injured it's allowed.

The Tigers were able to change their series rosters for the same reason I believe

Yes, Holliday was placed on the DL

I believe that the same rules apply as the regular season. Holliday wouldn’t be able to play for 15 days.

FYI, the '85 Cardinals did without Jack Clark & Vince Coleman and couldn't replace them on the roster.

Even more impressive how far St. Louis got into the ‘85 World Series against the Royals without their leadoff hitter that year (Coleman) and the only true power hitter they had (Clark). They had a great bench that year and those guys were able to step up. This is one of many reasons why I don’t buy the injuries excuse that I hear every year. Sure, it makes it harder for a team to win, but it doesn’t make it impossible.

Hamilton should've stopped at first.

Then we could regale Cardinal fans for years about that time Elvis “Country” Andrus scored all the way from first on a single…

More please

Just as long as I don't have to hear McCarver make some lame "Elvis has left the building" reference

Carpenter is toast

LT - October 28, 2011 reply

If I were LaRussa, I'd have somebody warming up in my bullpen right now...

And make sure that it is the right guy this time.

Good Start!

Brian Rosenthal breaks all the big stories

you mean Pee Wee Rosenthal, right?

Theriot batting leadoff makes me happy.

It means he will get more at bats than anyone assuming he isn’t removed.

That's the Theriot I remember

I look at this Cardinals roster and it just amazes me they are in the World Series

let alone one win away from winning the championship.

They're better than the 2006 Cardinals. That team was probably the worst team to win a World Series in my lifetime.

We're off to a good start (Texas)

In other news, I am having chinese food with my girlfriend, watching the world series…Life can’t get much better

MMA42 - October 28, 2011 reply

She could be doing naughty things to you while eating chinese food and watching the World Series

And the Cubs got Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer...this could be a great week heading into the weekend!

Hmm...do you think the Rangers were pitching around Albert Pujols?

I think that is a mistake facing Berkman now. Berkman has traditionally hit left-handers better in his career than right-handers.

I think he just missed.

Really? He's gonna pull this crap with two out?

Just throw strikes you turd

If Freese hits a homerun here, the Cardinals will win this game.

C'mon, Harrison! Don't make Freese a hero. Again.

Squeeze play by the ump on that one

THROW A GODDAMN STRIKE!

I feel like I’m watching the Cubs again

How many people have their TVs on mute right now?

Wow. I thought he was gonna put that 2-1 pitch in the seats

If I was Ron Washington, I'd have somebody warming up in my bullpen if Freese walks.

what if he hits a gapper?

Do it.

If I was Ron Washington I'd want to punch my entire pitching staff in the nuts.

They have choked BIG time in this series

I think Nolan Ryan might do that or he might just grab one of them in a headlock.

shit

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Goddamnit

Yep. Cards are winning this one.

You’re up 2-0, with two out and all of the sudden you can’t find the strike zone.

Carp was also shaky. You never know.

I think this team is about to choke HARD

We'll see how Carp does in the 2nd inning.

Blech

jesus tapdancing christ

This is going to be a high scoring game tonight me thinks

Thank god I don’t work tomorrow

MMA42 - October 28, 2011 reply

Eff you Harrison

You choad.

This is why walks are important.

Somewhere, Rudy Jaramillo is shaking his head no.

Which is why Rudy Jaramillo is sitting at home watching the World Series.

Can't he be sitting at home, licking stamps and sending out his resume?

Pretty please?

Notice that the Rangers didn't advance this far when he was their hitting coach.

I'm not sure there's a real correlation there

Their pitching staff is much better than when he was there. Their problem wasn’t offense.

HOWEVER, their offense hasn’t really struggled since he left.

whew, close

And apparently a guy who knew nothing about baseball wins a million dollars

Crane Kenney got a raise?

haha nice!

There goes the next Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

Every pitch was a low and away slider. I’m not surprised.

Also figures it was against the Astros.

yeah he kinda stacked the deck

What I found the funniest was he had to look up how to get BILL HALL out.

BILL HALL was his toughest out?

he was talking like he was tony gwynn..

“if you miss, the guy hits it”

"back to the pitcher"

is the part he left out

Who wants to bet when this game will be over?

I’m going to say 11:50PM

11:50PM EST

10:56 PM CST

Ok seriously, maybe it's because this is the first time I've really sat down and watched a World Series game.

Get a leadoff man on, he erases himself. (That run is looking huge right now)

Maybe it’s because I’m jinxing them, but the Rangers are reminding me an awful lot of the Cubs right now. Get a 2-0 lead, your starter can’t throw strikes.

Get another leadoff man on, immediately ground back to the pitcher.

They look TIGHT

It's early in the game. Hopefully they can bring a run or two in here and the pitching can shut down the Cardinals hitters.

Just because the pitcher has struggled doesn’t mean the offense is “tight”

They’ve scored two runs.

I think the team looks tight. Had they been able to hold that 2-0 lead I think they could have relaxed and just played

But the way Hamilton caught that long fly ball in the first tells me the team is sort of expecting bad things to happen.

I thought Hamilton made a good play on the fly ball. That was a very well-hit ball and he made a nice catch.

He only had to make a nice catch because he ran an awkward route to the ball.

yep

I was typing up pretty much that same thing.

I was just being long winded.

Bring 'em home, Kinsler!

Let's see if a walk comes back to bite them

Betcha 1 BCB buck it doesn;t

Using common sense I can't take that bet...

unless freese was up apparently

damn it

Nice heads-up baserunning there by the Rangers!

Jesus Kinsler, learn your damn lesson alright

I'm all for aggressive baserunning, but I would not try to steal off Molina unless it's late in the game and a close score.

Yadier has a cannon behind the plate and he is one of the best catchers.

Yeah much too early in the game to take risky baserunning chances

Especially when you've already been nailed twice in the series

Look for Schumaker to bunt here.

Wow. I am so glad to be wrong for once!

with the pitcher up next?

I thought maybe he might try to bunt for a base hit.

there we go

Nice double play turned there by the Rangers.

yep

Texas needs to get some runs, stop stealing bases until late in the game and stop being afraid to pitch to Pujols.

agreed...

I don’t advocate pitching to pujols often, but last night was one time they should have

not to mention cruz with that bad play in right...

I think he could have caught it. Even if he couldn’t, he should have played the carom. Might have had a play at the plate, at the very least only 1 run scores

I agree with all of this, except maybe the basestealing

It is a big part of their game, they just need to be smarter about it. And not have Yadier behind the plate…

I disagree. Early in the game, Texas should be letting the big bats swing. Late in the game, if it's close, then you unleash the rabbits.

you mean like this?

look at the bones!!!

mrtobby - October 28, 2011 reply

C'mon, Josh! If there was ever a time to hit one out, it is now.

I love the directly behind the catcher camera angle.

I like that angle a lot, too. I wish they'd show it more.

Carp looked good against Young.

That’s not good.

Right on que he lets one get away to Beltre.

And he gets Beltre out. Inning over.

Damn. Carpenter looks a lot better this inning. Hopefully this is only temporary.

Ruh Roh Rangers. Carpenter is settling in

Am I the only one that tunes out McCarver so much, I absolutely have no idea what he was talking about there

apparently it was “unbelievable” And worth a “how about that?!?!?!?” but I honestly have no idea what his story was

I have him and Buck tuned out because my TV is on mute.

If it weren’t for the crowd noises and ridiculous rally towels, i would think I was watching game number 74 of the regular season.

Hopefully the bullpen will be able to hear with all of the crowd noise...

Wouldn’t it be funny if they brought in the wrong pitcher tonight and lost the game?

because the phone incorrectly mis-pronounces names?

They got a defective model - instead of "Siri", it uses "Sori"

that would suck when routine fly balls are hit out to left

Didn't the Rangers get Nelson Cruz from the Brewers for Francisco Cordero?

yep

July 28, 2006: Traded by the Milwaukee Brewers with Carlos Lee to the Texas Rangers for Julian Cordero (minors), Francisco Cordero, Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix.

compliments of baseball-reference.com

Doug Melvin likes to acquire a lot of ex-Rangers, doesn't he?

Throw in a few Seals and a Marine behind the plate, and you'd have one helluva team

Its about time to get him off the bump.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

slcathena - October 28, 2011 reply

Do you think the Rangers miss Cliff Lee now?

Ughhh

Not good, but it's still a 1-run game. I have a feeling that it's going to be a seesaw battle again tonight.

Yeah, I can see that...

I think one of the Rangers still has a big homer in them. I am going with Cruz or Napoli

I don't. I don't think the Rangers score another run tonight.

Not the easiest catch but you have to make that play

"Hard hit, broken bat"

Contradicting himself a little there eh?

About time Berkman didn't get a break

C'mon, Napoli!

Okay, if you're the Rangers, do you let Harrison pitch in the bottom of the 4th?

Tough call...

there aren’t any more games so you don’t have to conserve your bullpen

I'd pinch-hit for him here. Call me crazy, but I'd have a pinch-hitter here and bring in a right-hander for the 4th.

Probably Feldman.

Yes but have someone start getting ready.

Carpenter settling in

He might go on a stretch here.

Yeah, that's what I am afraid of...

get another run or two in the first and it’s a different story. As someone said earlier it’s like watching the Cubs. Get a pitcher on the ropes and let him off…

So the other night Mike Quade inhabited the body of LaRussa and tonight he's inhabiting the body of Washington?

pretty much...

the only thing left to do is to come up with childish nicknames for every player

Or call out the young guys who make mistakes while excusing the veterans.

exactly...

an interesting fact i found the other night. Castro of course has lots of errors (as aramis did when he was younger). Jeter actually had 56 errors in one minor league season. That surprised me

I think Castro will get much better in the next few years

We forget how young Castro is.

Most 21 year old shortstops are in AA.

yep...

most 21 year olds are also giddy because they can legally drink. Castro plays in the best baseball league in the world. That certainly puts it in perspective.

I was considering going as Quade for Halloween

Shave my head, wear a Cubs jersey, walk around all night giving everyone nicknames

“Hey Steinsie” (clap clap)
“How’s the punch, Witchie?” (clap clap)
“Nice cape, Draco” (clap clap)

nice...

do you think quade has a nickname for HWSNBN too?

Wooey?

Seems likely

LOL. Too funny!

I’ll go as Larry Lucchino. I’ll be wearing two faces.

And I'll make the kids wait for their Halloween candy demanding compensation for it.

I'll go as John Henry

whenever the kids are about to get some candy I’ll step in and say it’s not acceptable. Then I’ll yell “Go Soccer!”

And then trash their costume as they leave your house.

Harrison needs to put up some goose eggs here.

He can’t afford to let St. Louis score any more runs.

Jim Edmonds got choked up and started crying?

No WAY!

Haha

rec

One more runner and Harrison has to get pulled

I would have taken him out the last inning for a pinch-hitter. I don't like the way he's throwing.

And I agree with you. One more runner and he’s outta there.

If Shu weren't a lefty

I think he would have been gone.

They're going to leave him in to face the left-hander.

Yeah that might work. Worked real well last night when Oliver faced the two left-handed hitters.

Get him out of there, he's lost it

Technically he never really had it.

He’s been shaky since the 1st

True...

Can’t believe no one is going out to talk to him tho

On second thought, this IS starting to feel like the 2003 NLCS all over again.

Ron Washington=Dusty Baker minus the toothpick.

At this point, what are you going to say to him?

Dude….stop sucking for a minute

Not that talking would help...

but would be a little break in the action at least. Ass jeffmills said, it’s like Dusty is in the dugout tonight

*as jeffmills

nah, you had it right the first time... :-)

Sometimes I can be. :)

Skippy wont do anything

Last night I had the feeling that the Rangers were going to win,

tonight I don’t have that same warm happy feeling. I want it to come back.

If Carpenter gets a hit here, I'm done with this game.

Too bad, ya gotta keep on watching.

Tyler Colvin just winced...

who the hell is allen craig

Ranger Killer

new broadcasting team for the next time Northwestern plays at Wrigley

Al (Yellon) Len (Kasper) Craig (James)

Hey Kinsler, let's not get picked off this time

2-1 count to Andrus. Do you hit and run here?

Now don't get picked off here Kinsler!

How many pitches has Carpenter thrown so far tonight?

Career-wise he’s given up 40 homeruns when he throws 46-60 pitches. That’s the most homeruns he gives up in his career for those number of pitches.

That was #65

Rangers gotta do something here

Hamilton is due for a big hit. Let's see it.

I hope so too

30 homeruns given up betwen 61-75 pitches.

Texas has to get something started this inning.

they must have microphones next to the Rangers fans

Seems kinda silly to bunt him over there

but what do I know

A hit-and-run would have been good if Molina didn't have the cannon he has and Kinsler wasn't getting picked off so much...

Hey T-Bone

Yea I agree, playing for one run in the 5th?

thats ol Ron for you

Crazy bastard he is

Jeez...

just enough room, it’s like everything is falling in the Cardinals favor…Young needs a big hit here.

SAVE US THEO

I hope this guy is warming up in the visitors' bullpen...

This game is in the bag for the Cards

Yep.

I gotta have hope.

Something will break the Rangers way.

Well Motte is half blind

so it could happen in the 9th

Man, I read that story and simply do not understand.

It’s not like Lasic Surgery is some kind of new concept. It’s also not like he couldn’t afford it. I had it done 15 years ago.

It did the first inning. They blew it.

with our luck

it will be hamilton’s wrist breaking

Rangers still have a potent offense, and Carp can't pitch forever

…right?

Exactly. If Feldman can hold the Cardinals here and the Rangers can score, they've got a chance.

Is it too much to ask for Theriot to cost the Cardinals a WS title?

At least he didn't become the hero tonight

yet

True

I would rather have him (or any Cardinal) be the goat tonight.

Ryan S. Gonzalez

Wonder if Albert will call his own hit and run tonight?

I doubt it.

He’ll be swinging.

Well, that's one way to take the bat out of Pujols's hands...

I guess.

they need a grounder from berkman...

not a fast runner

Unbelievable

You can’t hit him there.

yeah - should have been a little lower...

Get the bullpen warming up, Wash.

And Feldman, settle the heck down.

"whatever you say, master..."

Ballhawk, you got a beef with me or something?

nope - just a play on words (Feldman)

that’s Marty Feldman as Igor from Young Frankenstein

Love that movie. I think it is Mel Brooks's best.

Part of the "holy trinity" along with Blazing Saddles and The Producers

I gotta put "Slient Movie" in there as well

Feldman from bizzarro world??

LT - October 28, 2011 reply

from across the hall

This series has been full of Rangers fail

quite so

Do you walk Freese intentionally?

gotta come through here...

this could be the game

Apparently. Not sure I agree with this, considering Feldman has had control problems

If the Rangers end up losing this game

I am putting all of the blame on the Rangers bullpen. They continue to falter.

That was strike 3....

I agree.

It just caught the corner.

Yep....

right on the black, call could have gone either way and it went against the Rangers

Seems to be a recurring theme

This WS is almost more frustrating to watch than the Cubs were

Agreed 100%

Sigh. Like I said, your pitcher had already walked and hit a guy.

Loading the bases intentionally was a bad idea.

Feldman has once again crapped his pants, nice job.

Really Rangers?

Really?

Ballgame

What the hell?

You suck Wilson, let the Nationals have him.

Agree...

please god theo don’t sign him

Who else would be better?

just about anyone on the FA list for pitchers after the 2012 season

Based on what criteria?

There is not much out there this off season.

based on how much you have to pay to get CJ.

That I would agree with, but for only that reason.

For the right price I would jump on him.

Price is my hold back...

if he really wants $100 million, then someone else can have him

I read somewhere that the Nats would be willing to offer him...

…80 million but I’m not sure about the years.

If Texas gets out of this inning down 3 runs and comes back to win this game, they deserve the World Series championship.

Sickening....

almost hit around and the ball hasn’t left the infield. Why can’t the Cubs ever get that?

...

baseballguru589 - October 28, 2011 reply

Really

Maybe this is the darkest time before the light comes, suffering through this to only benefit from the work Theo is going to do

this is really suffering

this has to be the most stunning world championship of all time, down 10.5 on Aug 25th, all the close call wins, going back to the Marmol blown save which would have left them three out with four to play. Unreal, i’m turning it off now. sickening.

Carpenter gets the calls

the Rangers don’t.

LMAO

That was a strike?

I hate the Cardinals.

TrueBlueM - October 28, 2011 reply

I hate Joe Buck

I hate brussel sprouts

I hate squirrels

Let's hope the Cardinals use all their good fortune up for the next 300 years

I will settle for the next 50 or so.

If they were to go into a tailspin then I could live with this. Otherwise please Texas get some runs.

Not that Sux Sports will do anything about it

but I have a really big problem with two blatant Cardinal homers calling this World Series.

Agreed...

it gets old very quickly

Yes, the Freese and Edmonds references were vomit-inducing.

And I had the TV on mute the whole time.

19 games worse than the world champs.

How many games can Theo make up with our team in one off season? I say 10.

This first offseason, probably close to nothing. To be honest.

I agree

MAYBE 5 games, but he’s improving the foundation of a crumbling house, we won’t see the prettyness for a while yet.

With just better managing we win at least 5-6 games.

I don't expect a huge increase...

4-5 games. Give it 2-3 years though…and shazam

c'mon, this isn't Kansas City or Pittsburgh

j/k NBF ;-)

Nice!

where is NBF tonight?

TJ11 will be here any time.

His cardinals are winning.

yikes!!!!!!

Auggie approves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

2.64545643536256236

LOL, I will take the over on that one.

I was thinking it'd be more like 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510

22/7

apple or pumpkin?

pumpkin

I'll have one of each.

Strawberry Rhubarb

pumpkin rhubarb?

a risk taker, i see

he could sign you some Crawford, or Lackey contracts

maybe put in a josh beckett for leadership…

There's a start

Lets hope they do something.

Arthur Rhodes, didn’t he pitch last night for Texas?

Arthur Rhodes

helped build the Colossus of Rhodes

you mean this Colossus of Rhodes?

I thought we were talking about Steve Rhodes...

Were they just playing Chelsea Dagger in St. Louis?

Because they couldn't play it in Carolina tonight

Blackhawks looked like doo-doo tonight

yeah, they didn't look too good

but I like the team this year.

The talented Brian Wilson is releasing the original SMiLE sessions next week

That's the Beach Boy, not the closer for the Giants.

like I said... the "talented" Brian Wilson

;-)

Hahaha.

I think Wilson is a good pitcher, but his antics got old pretty quickly for me.

Yep.

Contrived quirkiness wears thin, as Lady Gaga will find out in a couple years.

She'll also discover the effects of gravity, that won't be a pretty site.

Exactly...

In other news, I hate the antics of Jose Valverde

as do I, and I'm a Tigers fan

Gimme the days of Willie Hernandez and John Hiller, thank you very much.

Or Mike Henneman and Todd Jones.

Relief pitchers think that they've all got to have facial hair and wild antics.

Mariano Rivera does none of that. Calm, cool, collected and clean-shaven.

As did Trevor Hoffman, just do your job.

Of course those two are the all time best. The ones who act like idiots tend to flame out.

Tug McGraw is the only exception I can think of

Agreed...

a lot of relievers like the wild dances these days. If a batter hit a walk off against them and did that, they would be incredibly offended. But it’s ok when they do it to others.

I always liked Mike Marshall

Way too intelligent for the baseball landscape of the 1970s, and had no use for any of the traditions and customs of the game (including signing autographs and giving fluff interviews).

They ought to do a duet

Brian Wilson feat. Brian Wilson

That was a pretty bad album

Pet Sounds is where it’s at.

"Pet Sounds" is great, but "Smile" is in its own way, too.

SMiLE is a whole different animal

I get that it’s not a catchy sounding record upon first listen. It’s really meant to be listened to as a whole piece, or three long pieces a la Pink Floyd’s “Animals” album. But there’s really some beautiful and innovative music on it. My favorite section is the “Wonderful-Song For Children-Surf’s Up” medley.

It was a radical departure from the songs about surfing and cars.

And it was heavily influenced by drugs, which was not uncommon at the time.

Many (especially Mike Love) despised Van Dyke Parks' lyrics

He called it “acid alliteration” when he was being kind. I personally don’t mind them – they’re playful and colorful, just as the music is.

Speaking of Floyd

Have you ever heard the album “Obscured by Clouds”? One of their best, everyone likes to talk about Piper at the Gates or Animals but Obscured is incredible.

Actually I haven't

The earliest Floyd album I like is “Meddle”. Really not too keen on the Syd Barrett stuff, although a lot of other folks dig it.

If I were a closer, "One of These Days" would be my entrance song

awesome tune

Just for fun I like playing “San Tropez” and “Seamus” for friends and seeing if they can guess who the band is. They never come up with Pink Floyd.

the threat of mutiliation is sure to put fear into the hearts of the batters!

ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm - October 29, 2011 reply

One of these days I'm going to chop you into little pieces

love that line. Also love “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” and “Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict”.

It's not one of their more famous albums it was actually a collection of...

…songs recorded for the movie “The Valley” but it didn’t include Syd Barrett. I believe Obscured came out around ‘73. Tunes like "Wot’s….Uh, the deal", “Mudmen”, “Childhoods End”, really an awesome album.

Syd Barrett on the other hand, I once bought a box set of his and it sounded like a lunatic playing his guitar in a padded room. It was dreadful.

C'mon, Rhodes! Blow this lead!

Cardinal bullpen implosion in 3, 2, 1..

We hope.

What is this? The college of closers?

keep counting.

Rangers look like a beaten team

Not sure why that would be…

It doesn't look good, but they've got to keep on fighting back. Anything can still happen.

3 runs is not impossible to come back from with that offense. They’ve still got a chance to win this thing.

i miss basketball

I don't miss it.

So do I, I needs me some Bulls.

You're omnipotent...

Couldn’t you just watch some European League games?

College basketball- yes

NBA I don’t miss at all

LT - October 28, 2011 reply

You have Hamilton up next, and you try and jack a home run?

I don't.

Fuck!

… ryan theriot is 6 outs away from a ring

if there's one person who should never get a world series ring...

I wanna puke

maybe they'll make his an earring

if there's a God in heaven they'll misspell his name on the engraving

“Ryan Terrio”

As if my night couldn't have gotten any worse...

Well, at least I won't have to listen to Bud-bless-america anymore this season

Nothing like the monetization of patriotism, I always say

This blows.

dtpollitt - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

Are you referring to Occupy Busch?

Pujols Ks...

do not want

Man-oh-man... If anything can temper the announcements

of The Stat Pack…it’ll be StL winning the WS in the same year. We are not amused.

Maybe it will spawn a new strategy from Ricketts - if you can't beat 'em, sign 'em

Pujols – our new 3rd baseman
Fielder – our new 1st baseman

3rd baseman? that has disaster written all over it.

Yeah, people think Aramis was bad...

Ok, LF then

OK, that still could have disastrous consequences

“People thought Soriano was bad”

Ok, fine. Platoon him at 1B with Prince.

Happy now? ;-)

Well you know, Braun is in left, so how bad could Pujols be?

Put him in left.

Haha! Never thought of that! :]

/we’re gonna need a group-hug in about 40 mins…/

Look on the brightside, this might the Cardinals last chance now that the Cubs are...

…about to enter a period of crushing dominance.

Yikes! I hope you're right!

Apparently the outside part of the plate doesn't count as part of the strike zone anymore.

The umpires have been squeezing the Rangers all series

proof

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/cache/zoneplot.php-pitchSel=all&game=gid_2011_10_28_texmlb_slnmlb_1&sp_type=3&s_type=7.gif

link doesn't work

Copy the whole thing, it was confusing.

Too many squares and triangles.

yep

my bad

How do I read that?

It doesn’t tell me if they’re called for or against them. Just gives me a team.

Time to go green

Just switched off the TV

This is the worst.

I'm sure there's gotta be something worse that could happen.

Nope this is it.

Theo, Hoyer, McLeod wiped out in some sort of disaster.

theo, mcleod, and hoyer decide to go to the heat

what a bunch of a-holes

I'm pretty sure this is much worse

than what kids in Africa go through.

Keep it local.

Haven't been around these parts in a while

I dig the new sig

Thanks, one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes

George abstains from sex and suddenly becomes a genius.

2011 World Series MVP - Ryan Theriot

that was below the belt

Naw, Carlos Marmol and Prince Fielder share it.

A new Adam Sandler movie coming out in two weeks

That looks like a steaming pile of crap. And I kind of like some of his movies.

Yeah it does look pretty bad....

what was the last good Sandler movie?

Happy Gilmore

there was one?

sorry guys, I’m just not a fan.

Grown Ups had its moments.

Gotta say Happy Gilmore too

The Waterboy

I'm disgusted, although seeing the Birds win it all before has built up some scar tissue

If only marmol coulda finished that 1-0 shutout

If only he could have finished any of his what three blown saves

against the Cardinals this year?

Or instead chosen to suck one of the times we beat Atlanta

Given the regular season and Cardinals impending championship, I’m pretty sure this is rock bottom for the Chicago Cubs. There’s nowhere to go but up!

dtpollitt - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

YAY 2006 ALL OVER AGAIN

what's your opinion on signing soriano?

i think he will be a monster for many years to come!

I hope McDonough is willing to go behind Hendry's back to get the deal done!

2007 and 2008 are our years!

What a small window!

But if we win, it will have all been worth it! Who cares about the consequences in 2011, that’s five years away!

i think it would be cool if theo epstein took over at some point

but that will never happen, the red sox will be a powerhouse over the next 4 years!

Doubt it.

I think they’ll be pretty bad this upcoming season!

pedroia's overrated

I hear this Nick Adenhart prospect is going to be a good one for the Angels

I can’t wait to see him for years to come

That was just wrong

Easy Ed - October 28, 2011 reply

Rich Hill will lead us to the promised land!

minus the awesome next season part

Holy crap, the dad in the Pizza Hut commercial is whiter than me!

The best thing about this playoffs is the McRibb.

dtpollitt - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

I haven't munched on the first of the season yet...

(What the heck are they thinking with the “pickle n pork” combo tho???)

Your palette is so unrefined, jeff.

LOL!!!

I see...Thank You. :]

The McRib is like Brett Farve

every time it comes back, it’s shittier than ever

^this^

I thought I was the only one who noticed!

Yeah but the McRibb looks good naked.

dtpollitt - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

True that... :]

I don't know

that Bill Hall thing was pretty good

yeah apparently he is Ted Williams reincarnated

This'll be a LOOOOONG off-season for Rangers...

Much longer than last I fear

theyre gonna lose their ace pitcher again too

yabbut, they've already got two replacements waiting in the wings (Feliz and Ogando)

You wonder if they'll start to get the same "choke" reputation as the Braves and Bills

Dang - I forgot to apply the "Only 5 outs to go" curse on the Cards...

So this is all your fault...

What were the odds that the Rangers would win game 7 on the road

hasn’t been done in what 33 years?

baseballguru589 - October 28, 2011 reply

What were the odds of blowing 2 2-run leads with a chance to win the World Series?

good point.

2 2 out 2 strike 2 run leads no less

not even the Cubs have ever done that

Also this will be the first time this year that the Rangers lost back to back games.

Nah?!

First time in last 2 months I think…

I asked Siri

… even she didnt know

I was hoping tonite that the

law of averages would come into play. Not so much…

Theriot is batting .077

And is going to get a WS ring. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Cubskingdom - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

yep...

simply sickening

I turned off this garbage...

I can’t stomach to watch that little punk Ryan Theriot and the Cardinals win.

Boy, just once I hope so much it can be us watching the Cubs do that.

gawd, imagine wut the Rangers flight back to Dallas is gonna be like

I never thought I could come to actually appreciate David Eckstein. Thanks, Ryan Theriot.

dtpollitt - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

hey baseball gods

remember the 2003 NLCS? make that happen to the cards

I don't suppose Mike Maddux would join the Cubs?

I don't remember the Cubs having a pitching coach in 2011.

They had a pitching statue.

Often seen hiding behind Quade as if to say, you take the blame for this.

Seriously, how did that guy communicate?

Telepathy?

the mustache was bitten by a radioactive spider

Please flash "2011 World Series Champions" on the scoreboard in St. Louis.

What a fun baseball season it has been.

It pretty much went as expected. Cubs suck.

dtpollitt - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

True story.

Turned the game off a bit ago..

have a good night all, I can’t wait until Spring Training!

Off Season is here.

Get it done Theo.

I'll miss baseball, but I won't miss 2011 baseball.

I’d like to take a match to the 2011 calendar right now and burn it. So ready for 2012. Get it done, Theo!

sigh

I hate to say this, but congrats to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Texas had multiple opportunities to win this Series and they did not. St. Louis had to beat Philadelphia then Milwaukee and then Texas. Enjoy it while it lasts, St. Louis. Because the Cubs are coming and we’re going to build a dynasty here.

no offense

but the cardinals are laughing at that thought as am i right now…..it’s just depressing.

I don't think so.

I think they enjoy the moment, but by next week they will say. Holy Crap the Cubs have finally figured it out. No more bargain basement drafts, no more band aid fixes at the major league level. It may take a few years but I think they know we are coming.

I'd assume they're operating on an "I'll believe it when I see it" mindset.

Evidence shows that we are seeing it.

A great draft, finding International Talent, and hiring the Stat Pack shows the Ricketts want to win, just like they said they did.

Not on the major league field.

Not yet. No guarantees.

But just knowing that it is coming cannot sit well with the rest of the division.

honestly

and I dont mean to be rude or whatever because im a Cards fan, but no one is worrying about the Cubs.

I'd rather see a competitive Cubs team any year.

I love the Cardinals, but I love seeing a hard fought series just as much. I think we can all agree on one thing though – screw the Reds and Brewers.

Looking forward to many, many years of competitive games between the Cubs and Cards.

rencelas - October 28, 2011 reply

now you're talking!

Dynasty?

I wish, heck one world series seems too much to ask.

That's right. One isn't too much to ask, but I want the Cubs to win 3 in a row and then let's go for 3 more.

Wow. Now we're suddenly talking about a Cubs dynasty? Seriously?

See, it’s things like that that make people laugh at Cubs fans.

As for the Cardinals…yeah, I’m sure they’re quaking in their boots.

thank you!

we shall see with Theo can do without the aid of a 180 million dollar payroll!

game on guys!

cant wait to have Waino back next year ;-)

I wish Ryan Theriot and Yadier Molina were in the movie "Casino"

That way I could watch Joe Pesci hit them over the head with a pay phone.

...several times

The 2011 season is officially.

Out with the old and in with the new.

Cubs in 2012, baby.

neverAcquiesce - October 28, 2011 reply

B Jax and Vitters will become super stars

Or traded.

dtpollitt - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

For Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp!!!

I'll settle for stars.

Jackson and Castro as the offensive centerpieces for the next decade. Garza, Marshall, and Cashner on the mound. A team of stars, can easily beat a team with a couple of superstars surrounded by second rate talent. Right Dallas?

And now the long. long. long. long. wait for spring training.

Farewell 2011 baseball season. As a baseball fan its the best one I have experienced.

Baseball fan, sure...

As a Cub fan, entirely different story.

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - October 28, 2011 reply

Benefit to living in Pacific Time zone

I’d rather watch Maggie Q in Nikita right now.

And, I am.

Unleash the Hounds!!!

The NL would be wise to make way for Chicago in the next 2 years.

scottsdalecubs - October 28, 2011 reply

Congrats to the cards! They deserve it!

.. Fuck you tho Ryan theriot

I love that no one, not even here like this guy

Id rather be punched in the balls

By Tyson than have to go through that again

alabamacubbie - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

You were good, Nelson. But you cost them the WS.

lexmarklover - October 28, 2011 reply

for all the double cluthes, caught stealings, pasta dives at balls more than 7ft away from you put me through

this is how you repay me, ryan?

This is me right now

wait a sec

THIS is me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXJRw_IgkoE

Wow.

LaRussa brings up the Carlos Marmol blown save.

BASTARD!!

What an old bitch. 99% of baseball fans want to knock him out.

I’m first.

scottsdalecubs - October 28, 2011 reply

Two pivotal points in the season

1. Marmol giving us that win
2. Sweeping the Braves in early September

dan - October 28, 2011 reply

no doubt,

of course the next night where Albert pwned us didn’t help. YOU SUCK QUADE!!!

CLAP CLAP CLAP

Was that the same series?

I thought the Albert pwnage was in July with the back-to-back walk-offs. Wasn’t the Marmol game the last game of that series? I’m too drunk to recall. Sorry.

dan - October 28, 2011 reply

i'm not sure all I know is

Cubs pitchers should never pitch to Albert with the game on the line.

series in june

either way, we gave them 2 wins

on the bright side

quade may or may not have learned from it

Quade can't learn his way out of a wet paper bag

maybe if you used a super soaker on it first

it was a Friday night in early Sep

they beat that great Braves closer, lose that game and they are 8.5 down and out, they won it and swept them to get to 4.5 out. This might be the most incredible world series winner ever

Not one, but two blown saves.

Cardinals fans should be thanking Carlos Marmol right now.

maybe Marmol gets a ring?

He deserves it as much as Peyton Manning deserves the MVP Award this year.

Believe it or not, some sportswriters are actually considering voting for Manning as MVP this year.

no way, that would be insane

Not if they're

the same sportswriters who gave Karl Malone the MVP over Michael Jordan in 1997.

gauchodirk - October 28, 2011 reply

Vote him a playoff share!

what did he say exactly?

would love to have heard it

Well I don't have DVR here in UGA's dorm, so I don't know for sure.

But it was something along the lines of

“I remember a night here where Chicago was in town and we were down 0-1 in the ninth and we came back and won and that really set us in motion”

He then proceeded to thank the fans.

Selective memory

I guess he’s forgetting about the four run lead the Cards coughed up to the Mets two days before. Flip those results and you get the same outcome.

gauchodirk - October 28, 2011 reply

Al tried in that article to tell us the Cardinals should thank the Cubs....

TJ11 - October 28, 2011 reply

It is all about the Cubs!!!!!

TJ11 - October 28, 2011 reply

FYI, Ryne Sandberg will be interviewed by Bob Costas on MLB Network's series "Studio 42".

The episode was taped earlier this year, but should air either next month or December.

hopefully the postscript will be

Quade’s ass thrown out of Wrigley on Saturday after World Series, Press conference on Monday to announce Ryno as Cubs manager

Not going to happen that fast.

However, I do think that things are going to pick up now that the season is over.

Anyone see the "With all these rings we're gonna need more fingers" sign?

Boo that man.

From the "best fans in baseball", no less.

Man I hate the Cardinals.

TrueBlueM - October 28, 2011 reply

Do you think that Pujols re-signs with the Cardinals?

Wouldn’t it be funny if he goes to the Cubs?

No chance he does that now

Hometown discount.

I think he'll stay in STL

but not before hitting the open market just to see what $$$ are thrown at him.

I'd venture to guess that someone offers him 8 years at $35mm per year, perhaps front loaded.

St. Louis offers him 8 years at $22-25mm per and he takes it.

One of the two (Pujols or Fielder) will end up in Washington...

Just my guess.

I can give that fan one more finger.

Haha

Haha, very generous of you.

lol

And when's the last time the Cardinals repeated as champions?

You gotta go back to the Gashouse Gang for that, I think.

mattisnotfrench - October 29, 2011 reply

It's never happened.

They won 2 straight pennants in 1930-1931 but lost the WS in 1930. They won 3 straight pennants from 1942-1944 but lost the WS in 1943. They won 2 straight pennants in 1967-1968 but lost the WS to the Tigers in 1968.

I don’t think you guys have to worry about the Cardinals winning next year.

so we're going to have to deal with an even more arrogance

from the fans with the largest sense of entitlement in the league?

pb5689 - October 28, 2011 reply

"boast fans in baseball" is more like it

you guys might get a lot of it

but no one, and I mean no one boasted more than Cubs fans in 2003-2004 (before the season)
OMG you would think the Cubs were the US dream team basket ball…
lol

that stopped a couple months into 04

(at least win something before you talk trash)
thats a lesson Phillips and Morgan could learn too

good luck Cubbies, you have always been a great rivalry and baseball would be a lot less fun without you.

TONY PLUSH WAS TALKING, NOT MORGAN

jesus christos - October 29, 2011 reply

My apologies to Al

For repeatedly calling his “Marmol blown save” comments out as being stupid. LaRussa believes it therefore I stand corrected.

epsilon - October 28, 2011 reply

they don't make it without that win

they would have been three out with four to go.

This guy is the most awkward person ever

dan - October 28, 2011 reply

what is up withe the interviewers hair?

I'll tell you guys something though

The party in wrigleyville is going to crush this someday. The blackhawks party was incredible.

WHEN the Cubs win

it will be the most insane thing ever seen.

I sure hope we're all here to witness it.

Oh hell yeah!

The Cubs World Series celebration is going to look like the celebration on Endor at the end of “Return of the Jedi.”

Any ewoks around me will be kicked

between my tears and drunken stupidity

Lucas better not digitally insert Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman into the crowd

Wrigley is gonna sing for an hour.

Nobody will be able to hear the trophy presentation.

I hate baseball.

I can’t believe I have to suffer the ignominy of seeing the Deadbirds be World Series Champions for the second time in the last 6 years. This is a nightmare.

I hate baseball. Hate it.

owllover711 - October 28, 2011 reply

It's amazing that we come back year after year expecting the Cubs to finally put it all together...

Only to get pissed off again.

When the Cubs suck (which is way, way, way, too common) I unfortunately cannot enjoy the baseball season very much because I just get bitter watching other teams and their fans celebrate.

but one day. oh yes..one day...

I sure hope...

Words cannot express how badly I want that to happen.

I want Kerry Wood to be the one recording the final out with his 1998 slider.

I enjoyed watching the Red Sox win in 2004.

Winning their first WS since 1918 and sweeping the Cardinals? Can’t beat that.

And while we're at it. let's stop with the nonsense about this "great" rivalry we have...

…with the Cardinals. A rivalry implies some basic level of equality. That’s a true laugh. The Cardinals are ALWAYS competitive…win World Series, etc.

The Cubs are rarely competitive and, when they are, they always find a way to embarrass themselves.

Yeah, I hate the Cardinals. I hate their punk ass manager…they’re fans…their city…but I’m also incredibly jealous.

South Side Expat - October 28, 2011 reply

Look towards the future.

You have a hellava lot more to look forward to at this point than they do.

/See, I’m not always a “troll”

And to think, all we have to do is win nine World Series...

…to pull even.

South Side Expat - October 29, 2011 reply

The clock is always reset after game 7.

Do I think the Cubs are gonna be anything in 2012? No. Do I think the White Sox are still gonna have a better chance of the postseason in ‘12? Yes. That’s not saying much. If Theo comes in and does what he should and says he will, yeup, come 2014 and beyond, The Cubs will look mighty nice. /Again, I don’t always troll.

Would love to see the Cubs beat the Cardinals in the NLCS to advance to the World Series and have that game on FOX.

For once, Joe Buck would be speechless.

all he would do is talk about the 103 year drought

and bartman, and black cats, and goats, and curses, and any thing else he could blather out as opposed to the quality team that we had on the field.

Yes, but at that point none of us would care.

And winning the World Series would be the end of all of that stuff.

I love that fans of certain teams claim Buck is such a Cards homer…

then you read on the Cards boards about how he is trying to hard to distance himself from the home team thing and favoring the others.

I honestly believe its a case of you see what you want to see.

Except the Brewers announcer guy on TBS.
I hate the Brewers

Packers, All Blacks, Cardinals

What a horrible, horrible year in sporting history.

AussieCub - October 28, 2011 reply

the heat lost!

Then the NBA season was cancelled

great.

Final thoughts on the 2011 MLB season

I’m not happy that the Cardinals won the World Series either, but I tip my cap off to them. They came back to win the wild-card and defeated the Phillies and Brewers. Then they defeat the Rangers in one of the best World Series in a long time. For Cubs fans, this is a bitter pill to swallow. But help is on the way with Theo, Jed and, hopefully, soon a new manager. It may not happen overnight, but I would rather see the Cubs have long-term success than to win a World Series ring every 5 years. Let’s face it. The 2011 Cubs season was bad. I’m not happy the Cardinals won the World Series, but I’m not happy when anyone wins the World Series unless it’s the Chicago Cubs. Someday in the very near future it will be our turn as fans to cheer and dance in the streets when we win the World Series. We can all debate on who’s the best choice for manager or who we should sign for next year. But as Cubs fans I think that we can all agree that the future of this franchise is a lot better now than it was a year ago or even six months ago. The best is yet to come, Cubs fans. One step at a time, but when we get there it’ll be a lot of fun and so worth it.

Totally agree

we’re coming for that trophy!

Another nail in the coffin that is Bud's legacy - a wild-card team had home-field advantage

I'm actually curious, why is that bad?

Would we have complained had we been in the world series and the cubs won at home in 6 or 7? Not trying to be a wiseass, you’re super respected here, but from a serious perspective, I’m wondering about this.

Count me in the "best record should get home field advantage" camp

although I suppose it’s possible that the WC in one league might have a better record than a division winner in the other league.

I just think what Bud did with having the All-Star Game determining WS home-field advantage is absolute lunacy. “This time it counts”. Mule fritters!

And what makes it even more maddening is that the ASG still has the constraints of being an exhibition game, with the fan voting, and every team has to have a representative rules. If you’re going to make it count by assigning WS home field advantage to the victor, then let the leagues choose their best players.

I agree ballhawk...

…first order of business for the NEW commish in 2013 is to do away with the “now it means something” bullsh*t of the All Star Game.

Easy Ed - October 28, 2011 reply

It’s gonna be a long time til we have a loaded team with the likes of Pujols, Freese, Carp, Molina, Berkman, Holliday, Furcal, etc. Veteran leadership, youngins, role players. And Wainwright out. My God. Long road to go til we’re ready.

dtpollitt - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

And Wainwright out.

reading that depressed me

And Jon Jay. I love me some Jon Jay.

dtpollitt - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

too much alliteration

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/cubs-fans-will-need-patience/

dtpollitt - October 28, 2011 via mobile reply

I don't know if they're loaded. Theriot was their starting SS.

Definitely balanced, though.

Mulhollandmania - October 28, 2011 reply

Loaded?

Hardly. They got hot at the right time. $50 says they don’t make the playoffs next year.

LaRussa learned something from Pinella

remember that Sunday night game in 2009 versus the Cardinals when Pinella put Marshall in left field then brought him back to pitch. He said if he needed a lefty in the ninth he was gonna bring in his leftt Repto face the one hitter and move Motte to left or right field if he had to.

Whitey Herzog was famous for doing that in the 80's

I wonder who was the first to do such a move?