i'm bouncing off the walls

The answer is infallibly...NO

Coming in to the playoffs, we were the weakest of the playoff teams by this formula, mostly b/c we were 2nd to last in baseball in K/9 and had Izzy as our closer for most of the year.  Who would have predicted we'd be in this position w/ our rotation and a closer w/ what, 3 career saves?  Minnesota was ranked 1st overall and the Mets (w/ Pedro and El Duque) were 1st in the NL.  It seems to have gotten all backwards this postseason. It also seems as though our experience is really paying off and the Tigers' youth has really been a detriment (to this point).  Maybe it'll make for interesting discussion.

TONIGHT, if not for a certain diminutive shortstop, would have been his night. I know he amassed 150 ribbies one year in Denver, but he'd cash em all in for that one, sweet, go-ahead single in the 7th inning. Beyond huge against flamethrower Rodney.

And some great leather in left as well.

Let's all tip our caps!

looking at radar, i think that the game will be played

but i live in jersey so what do i know

Good karma all around.

I believe.

I'm just trying not to get too high TONIGHT, as sweet as this victory is. There's still work to be done. And while it does appear that the Tigers are a little psyched out, they are a team that can win three in a row.

Signed,
Mr. Wet Blanket

Let's do it again tomorrow night...hopefully.

I hope I can sleep...how will I work tomorrow?

The most monotone mother f'er in the land.

Granted his job is FAR from easy, but does this guy have a freakin pulse?

I kid I kid

We've had big stuff from Eck, Gooch, Preston, Yadi, Albert, Jimmy, Scotty, Miles, Duncan.  

The only guys who haven't really contributed offensively are Spiezio, Belliard, Juan and Bennett.

Ah well, just win.

Not sure if that was already pointed out, but he's always worth listening to. He wrote of Craig Monroe and Juan Encarnacion in the past few days as well.

So Adam won Looper-style--a blown save wiped out by a comeback. Looper had I think 9 wins this year, and how many of them were following blown saves?

Anyway....AW still got 5 outs in a row, so hey.

Tonights game was not played as well as most games they played so far in October. SUP just didn't have his A game. But just like SUP, he did not give in. He could have given up 7or8 runs easily tonight. But he did not. He bore down and held the damage to the bare minimun till the offence played catch up. And oh how they caught up. Doubles by a always hustling Scotty Rolen. And a rip past the diving 3rd baseman for YADDA YADDA YADDA. Seriously YADDA is killing the ball. Finally his hard hits are finding the holes that eluded him all season. A rutine fly ball to center that the wet turf somehow tuned into a double. Another wild throw by a young pitcher trying too hard to make a perfect play. A unlikly base hit from a player left for dead on the waver wire. And then again one inning later after the bullpen bent, but did not break, a part timer who has allready looked death in the face, and death blinked, beat out a sure rally killing double play. And then, the smallest man on the field once agin steped to the plate and showed the world just how big time he really is by grabing destiny by the throat once again and claiming it as his birthright. Shorted up with his pesky swing, and shot a rocket to left center. That on any other night would have been just a loud out. But on this night, this fatefull night, it too foud green salavation in the wet outfield grass. Just out of reach of a diving for his life leftfielder. And then our newest star continued his march to immortality by disposing of the high power detroit middle of the order batters.

Yes folks, this truly is a Red October Miracle. There is simply no other plausible explination for the level of play this team is at right now. All the right breaks are falling for this team. All the right moves are being made by Tony. It seams like finally the worm has turned for our beloved Cardinals. And now, under the brightest lights, our team is the shining star. All glory and praise should be given to the Almight GOD. Because this is truly his handy work.

THANK

YOU

GOD

But tomorrow is a new day. The tigers will not go down without a fight. Leyland knows us all to well. He will not allow his team to loose without first throwing everything they have at our Cardinals. Verlander is a hard throwing, take no prisoners, young, wet behind the ears pitcher. He can carve up our lineup faster than a fat guy carves a turkey on Turkey Day. Their lineup is filled with bats that at any given moment can put up crooked number and crooked number. Dream Weaver has his work cut out for him. Odds once again our not in his favor. He is pitching at home, against a power hitting aggressive team. In order to win he needs to have pinpoint accuracy, and control of all his pitches. Move the ball in and out from the hitters. Keep them guesssing and off balance. If he can do that, and our hitters can rattle young Verlander early. The corks will be a poppin in the grand ol'e town of St. Louis, and all over Cardinal nation tomorrow night. But if not, if our bats go silent once again. If Dream Weaver has a relapse. We head to cold detroit, were are championship winning hopes lay on the equally young, but capable shoulders of one Anthony Reyes. Facing a dirty foe who they call kenny rogers. A soft tossing lefty pitcher if there ever was one. Capable of cutting threw are lineup like a knife threw butter.

But what it comes down to now is, our guys have put themselves in a heck of a good spot. Up 3 games to 1. Playing at home. With all the muched hyped Momentum. With a chance to close out one of the more improable WS championships EVER. And that is as great of a spot as any team could ever hope for.

I do not believe what I am seeing. It defies all known logic. It proves all the experts wrong. It's stunning in it's simplicity. One more win for the ultimate prize. One more win for greatness. One more win. That's all any of us could ever,EVER hope for. One more win is all everyone one of us is asking for.

After 24 heartbreaking years, sweet glorious victory is within reach. But we have all been here many times before. We know what can happen. Most of us have seen what can go wrong from here on out. Victory is not yet ours. The long hard fight is not over. There lies before us a minefield filled with bloop hits, untimely strike outs, too many runners left on base. And bone crushing heart breaking losses. Or sweet glorious VICTORY. It is ours for the taking. Can they do it? Will a miracle happen tomorrow night? Will destiny be ours? Are they up to the challenge? Can they finish the fight and make all theirs, and ours dream come true? Are they ready?

Are you ready?

As the legen himself once said,

"We'll see you, tomorrow night."

Good night VEB.

Go get'em guys.

Keep making us all so very proud to say we are St. Louis Cardinals Fans.

Go down swinging.

And most importantly,

GO CARDINALS