NLCS Game 5 Open Thread: October 17, 2005

by lboros on Oct 17, 2005 5:44 PM EDT in St. Louis Cardinals News

carp pettitte
21-5, 2.83 17-9, 2.39

per miklasz, the cards will line up this way:

eckstein ss
edmonds cf
pujols 1b
sanders lf
walker rf
grud'k 2b
molina c
luna 3b
carpenter p

hou lineup not available yet.

john donovan of sports illustrated isn't buying the fire-em-up spin on la russa's game 4 meltdown.

david pinto sees game 5 this way:

"You can't really blame the Cardinals starters in this series. They've allowed 7 earned runs in 25 1/3 innings for a 2.49 ERA. My feeling coming into the series was that if the Cardinals starters were able to stay with the Houston starters, the St. Louis offense would win out. But Pujols and Nunez are the only two players to get on base consistently, and they're far apart in the lineup (especially if Nunez can't play). If the Cardinals can't put together three hits in a row a few times tonight, they'll never see Busch Stadium again."

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Comments

I was really hoping Rodriguez would get the start

Walker doesn't seem to know where he is when he is at the plate.

by bailorg on Oct 17, 2005 6:32 PM EDT reply actions

It seems the fates

are against STL this year. Walker needs to find the ball, and Edmonds needs to do more so Albert isn't the Cards' only hope. I expect Carpenter to be Carpenter, but I hope the bullpen is also Carpenter.

Here's to getting back to Busch.

by bourgeois_rage on Oct 17, 2005 6:59 PM EDT reply actions

STAND AND FIGHT!!

In about 4 1/2 hours they'll either be heading home to St.Lou with another chance to pull this thing out...or to pack their stuff and watch the White Sox cream the Stros on TV. All our second guessing and arguing and stats and predictions and everything else now come down to one question: How bad do THEY want it?

by rockin redbird on Oct 17, 2005 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

doing my part

I have my lucky Cardinals shirt on and a sixer of Busch Beer.

The Cardinals can't lose.

matty fred is a weblog.

by matty fred on Oct 17, 2005 7:16 PM EDT reply actions

For the Second...

...straight night, I am "otherwise occupied."

Please cheer extra hard on my behalf. Go Carp! Go Cards!!

I might be home in time to catch the last couple of innings...fingers crossed.

by glennrwordman on Oct 17, 2005 7:33 PM EDT reply actions

Hooray for internet baseball

I'm working late tonight so it's KMOX radio over fiber for me.

Cmon Cardinals.

by josh @ Viva El Birdos on Oct 17, 2005 8:01 PM EDT reply actions

Move Edmonds down

I agree with Pinto and wish LaRussa would put someone else in the 2nd spot. In this series it's critical that there are men on base when the heart of the lineup comes up and Edmonds isn't getting it done. If Nunez isn't available, then put Molina in there.

I'd also like to see Rodriguez see more at-bats, because pitchers seem to be afraid of throwing the fastball to him. Rodriguez seems to thrive against big-name pitchers by removing their fastball pitch.

by rob is back on Oct 17, 2005 8:03 PM EDT reply actions

Wow

I can't decide which is worse: That you want Molina to bat second or that I agree with you.

by josh @ Viva El Birdos on Oct 17, 2005 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions

wow

From KMOX: Cuzzi threatened to toss Pujols in the first yesterday.

by josh @ Viva El Birdos on Oct 17, 2005 8:15 PM EDT reply actions

I don't remember

Was Pujols arguing the strike zone in the first?

by calico30 on Oct 17, 2005 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Ugly top of first

Eck and Jed get on, only to watch Pujols and Sanders hit pop ups on the first pitch. Then Walker hit an infield out.

Could be another long night. Someone just doesn't want STL to win.

by bourgeois_rage on Oct 17, 2005 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, come on

Needed to cash in there...another long night?

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

Whoa

Great minds...

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

In a nutshell

that's the storyline of this series... popup, flyout, dribbler.

by Matt @ Viva El Birdos on Oct 17, 2005 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

I feel another cheap HR

coming on :(

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 8:39 PM EDT reply actions

Scrap Iron

playing for scraps... he thinks one run will win this.

by Matt @ Viva El Birdos on Oct 17, 2005 8:41 PM EDT reply actions

Exhale

slowly...

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 8:48 PM EDT reply actions

Holy crap

Luna!... even Rolen can appreciate!

by Matt @ Viva El Birdos on Oct 17, 2005 8:48 PM EDT reply actions

Redemption for Luna

What a throw!

by Suzanne on Oct 17, 2005 8:48 PM EDT reply actions

What a throw

by Nunez. I thought there was no way it would get there, but that throw was spot on.

by bourgeois_rage on Oct 17, 2005 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

sorry

I was only half watching. Luna gets the praise.

by bourgeois_rage on Oct 17, 2005 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Are these guys...

Taking ANY pitches? It seems like they're hacking at everything Pettit throws.

by calico30 on Oct 17, 2005 8:58 PM EDT reply actions

Defense

bailing out Carp.

by Matt @ Viva El Birdos on Oct 17, 2005 9:09 PM EDT reply actions

Poor

Yadi...he better be OK...

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 9:12 PM EDT reply actions

Poor

Eck...he better be OK...

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 9:18 PM EDT reply actions

I hate these announcers

I am going to see about turning on KMOX instead. Idiots are driving me insane...

by Suzanne on Oct 17, 2005 9:28 PM EDT reply actions

Doesn't work

KMOX feed is ahead a few seconds...

by Suzanne on Oct 17, 2005 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

About friggin' time

someone got a clutch hit

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 9:36 PM EDT reply actions

Grudz

Did I see that right? Did he get a hit?

by sdangler on Oct 17, 2005 9:36 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, Thank God!

Way to go, Grud!

by calico30 on Oct 17, 2005 9:36 PM EDT reply actions

Only bad thing about that

Is the number of pitches Pettit threw. The longer he's in this game, the better for us, I think.

by calico30 on Oct 17, 2005 9:40 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

We needed to cash in everything we could off Pettite while we had the chance

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

We still have more chances; I mean that we needed more out of that one

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice

inning there

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

I guess I should have said, "one of the bad things..."

by calico30 on Oct 17, 2005 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

Was Luna

running as hard as he could there? I thought he was kinda fast, and Ensberg had time to stumble around and still make the play

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 9:51 PM EDT reply actions

Carpenter's slider

Looks vicious

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 9:56 PM EDT reply actions

Has anyone else noticed

that the bottom of their line-up is killing us?

So says, The Dude

by Titus Pullo on Oct 17, 2005 10:00 PM EDT reply actions

It was also

The bottom of our line-up that got the job done for us

by calico30 on Oct 17, 2005 10:02 PM EDT reply actions

Seems like our pitchers are letting up

a little on the bottom of their lineup.

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes!

And he didn't hurt himself!

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:03 PM EDT reply actions

Hehe

I thought of that too

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 10:03 PM EDT reply actions

Haha

That guy has a white sock on his poster! How clever! Tune in this Saturday to watch the Astros and White Sox, only on FOX!

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 10:07 PM EDT reply actions

Huh.

Who knew the Astros played in Alaska?

by Robb on Oct 17, 2005 10:07 PM EDT reply actions

Albert's snear

Has it gotten more ... snearly?

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:09 PM EDT reply actions

Good

observation

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Bullpen should get started

Carpenter all of a sudden is getting his pitches up

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

Nevermind

He's fine

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions

But they won't

till it's too late...our ace has given up one run, and it's only the 5th...how would that look?

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 10:20 PM EDT reply actions

That was close

Not

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:24 PM EDT reply actions

If Carp gets a 1-2-3 here

Perhaps Garner could be persuaded to send Pettite back out

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 10:28 PM EDT reply actions

Honestly can't decide

whether that would be a good thing or not

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

The cameraman

really played that flyout like it was going to be a HR

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 10:32 PM EDT reply actions

So who's

it gonna be? Pettite or Qualls?

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

One way or another...

we need some insurance here... season's on the line.

by Matt @ Viva El Birdos on Oct 17, 2005 10:37 PM EDT reply actions

Stuck with PETITE

I'll be

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

Eck is locked in

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

Yes!

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

Did you see what Eckstein said?

"Come on...that's a balk"

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 10:42 PM EDT reply actions

Brenley pretty much said it as well

Without actually using the "B" word

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Time for Pujols to break out

He has not looked good tonight.

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:44 PM EDT reply actions

They really have to praise the umps

When they actually make a good call.

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:48 PM EDT reply actions

My roommate

just asked me if I was on heart medication

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 10:50 PM EDT reply actions

Ask your doctor

If Bud Light might be right for you.

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Will they bring Lidge

In the eighth?

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:50 PM EDT reply actions

The same question applies

to Izzy

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Anyone know

How many pitches Carp has thrown?

by calico30 on Oct 17, 2005 10:55 PM EDT reply actions

Third base has been a killer

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:56 PM EDT reply actions

that was going foul!

Why did Yadi pick it up?

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 10:57 PM EDT reply actions

The 99th

was the Molina brainfart

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 10:57 PM EDT reply actions

Who's up in the pen?

Anybody?

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:01 PM EDT reply actions

Typical

Would it be October without Tony leaving his starter in too long with no one up in the pen in a key game?

by Robb on Oct 17, 2005 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

Great bullpen management

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 11:04 PM EDT reply actions

A cheap home run over that godforsaken fence

has been the difference in every game so far

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:04 PM EDT reply actions

Just watched that homer again

It was a flick off the end of the bat. So friggin' cheap.

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions

And when you think about

Pujols's Game 3 flyout to the 404 sign, and JRod's blast yesterday, the madness sets in...

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions

We need a lefty

Like King (04 edition) to come in for Berkman

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 11:06 PM EDT reply actions

Even King '04

had to warm up

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:07 PM EDT reply actions

Park

Joke park or not, the Cardinals have scored a grand total of 4 runs in almost 3 games. Both teams do get to bat...

by Robb on Oct 17, 2005 11:08 PM EDT reply actions

6 runs

4-3, 2-1, 4-2...3+1+2=6

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions

OK, 6

I stand corrected. Still not pretty, though. How do Pujols, Sanders, and Edmonds not have a single home run in this park? Let alone the entire roster.

by Robb on Oct 17, 2005 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I concur.

It's been brutal.

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

But 2 were on sac flies

Think of it - 4 runs scored on hits

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

Weren't 3 on sac flies?

Yesterday's run, and the first 2 runs of game 3?

And anyway, that wasn't the original statement.

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:15 PM EDT reply actions

I feel like the Cards are 3 outs away

From becoming the Atlanta Braves.

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

That's because

we are.

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

I could understand

all this Astro history talk a little more if it was a 7-run game or something.

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

A flicker of positive talk

About the Cardinals. Fair and balanced.

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

57 outs away

from winning the pennant.

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:26 PM EDT reply actions

That's the spirit

You're a good American

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

But Eck let drive a single

To the wonderment of all

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

c'mon Jim

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 11:36 PM EDT reply actions

And the much-despised Jedmonds

Took a pass on the fourth ball

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:36 PM EDT reply actions

OK,

maybe not quite much-despised...

by Nate811 on Oct 17, 2005 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Albert will come through

I guarantee.

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 11:37 PM EDT reply actions

GUARANTEE!

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 11:38 PM EDT reply actions

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

by Mad Lithuanian on Oct 17, 2005 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

Hmmm

Don't I remember some worrying on this blog earlier this year about Albert not performing in clutch situations? Nah, must have been my imagination :)

by mikedallas23 @ Viva El Birdos on Oct 17, 2005 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions

pujols?

choker

by lboros on Oct 18, 2005 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions

and they were reading the redbirds' eulogy!

by Mad Lithuanian on Oct 17, 2005 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

Screw Fox

by elijahP on Oct 17, 2005 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

Except for Brenley, because I think he's a pretty good guy. The other two needed to lay their cards on the table and swear their allegiance to the Astros.

by rob is back on Oct 17, 2005 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions