I'll take my chances with the Astros in St. Louis.  This loss is going to be tough for them to swallow.

Give Edmonds credit for drawing the walk and not swinging himself out of his socks.   2 of the pitches he took were strikes in his at bats yesterday.

the biggest homer in Cardinals history?

Tony is wearing a suit.

Pujols' tshirt says "Who's your daddy?"

Carpenter is wearing a LOT of ice. On his shoulder and apparently the forearm, not the elbow.

I think you guys might have heard me in St. Louis. That was the best thing I have ever seen. Ozzie's homerun was pretty good also. By the way hold those wrecking balls we are not ready to bring the house down yet.

that they didn't choke and they didn't give up. After the WS last year, this win is what many Cardinal fans needed to see.

"Ball in play.  Run scoring play."  That five second wait to see if it was simply a run-scoring single or the three-run homer I hoped for was tough.

Courtesy of www.retrosheet.org.

I remember JC taking the air out of the Dodgers during the memorable NLCS of 1985.

For those who have a long memory of the Cardinals of old, please remember.

St. Louis Cardinals 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 5

DayLeague Championship Series Game Played on Wednesday, October 16, 1985 (D) at Dodger Stadium

STL N    0  0  1    0  0  0    3  0  3  -   7 12  1
LA  N    1  1  0    0  2  0    0  1  0  -   5  8  0

BATTINGSt. Louis Cardinals   AB   R   H RBI      BB  SO      PO   A
McGee cf               5   2   3   2       0   0       4   0
Smith ss               4   1   2   1       1   1       0   3
Herr 2b                3   0   1   1       2   0       4   1
Clark 1b               5   1   2   3       0   1       6   0
Van Slyke rf           5   0   0   0       0   1       2   0
Pendleton 3b           4   0   0   0       0   0       1   2
Porter c               4   1   2   0       0   0       7   0
Landrum lf             4   1   1   0       0   0       3   0
Andujar p              2   1   1   0       0   0       0   0
  Braun ph             1   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Worrell p            0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Cedeno ph            1   0   0   0       0   1       0   0
  Dayley p             0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
Totals                38   7  12   7       3   4      27   6
FIELDING -
DP: 1.
E: Andujar (2).
BATTING -
2B: Andujar (1,off Hershiser).
3B: Smith (1,off Niedenfuer).
HR: Clark (1,9th inning off Niedenfuer 2 on, 2 out).
IBB: Herr (1,by Niedenfuer).
Team LOB: 7.
BASERUNNING -
SB: McGee (2,2nd base off Niedenfuer/Scioscia).
CS: McGee (3,2nd base by Hershiser/Scioscia).

Los Angeles Dodgers   AB   R   H RBI      BB  SO      PO   A
Duncan ss              5   2   3   1       0   1       2   6
Landreaux cf           4   0   0   0       0   0       2   0
  Cabell ph            1   0   0   0       0   1       0   0
Guerrero lf            3   0   0   1       1   0       1   0
Madlock 3b             4   1   2   2       0   1       0   2
  Anderson 3b          0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
Marshall rf            4   1   1   1       0   1       1   0
Scioscia c             3   0   1   0       1   0       5   1
Brock 1b               2   1   0   0       2   0      11   3
Sax 2b                 4   0   0   0       0   1       1   5
Hershiser p            3   0   1   0       0   1       2   1
  Niedenfuer p         1   0   0   0       0   1       2   0
Totals                34   5   8   5       4   7      27  18
BATTING -
2B: Duncan (2,off Andujar).
3B: Duncan (1,off Worrell).
HR: Madlock (3,5th inning off Andujar 0 on, 2 out); Marshall (1,8th inning
off Worrell 0 on, 0 out).
SF: Guerrero (1,off Andujar).
IBB: Guerrero (5,by Worrell).
Team LOB: 7.
BASERUNNING -
SB: Duncan (1,2nd base off Andujar/Porter).
PITCHINGSt. Louis Cardinals   IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR
Andujar                6     6   4   2   2   3   1
Worrell W(1-0)         2     2   1   1   2   2   1
Dayley SV(2)           1     0   0   0   0   2   0
Totals                 9     8   5   3   4   7   2
Los Angeles Dodgers   IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR
Hershiser              6.1   9   4   4   1   1   0
Niedenfuer L(0-2)      2.2   3   3   3   2   3   1
Totals                 9    12   7   7   3   4   1
IBB: Worrell (1,Guerrero); Niedenfuer (1,Herr).
Umpires: Jerry Crawford, Dick Stello, Bruce Froemming, John McSherry, Terry Tata, Paul Runge
Time of Game: 3:32   Attendance: 55208
Starting Lineups:

   St. Louis Cardinals           Los Angeles Dodgers      

1. McGee               cf        Duncan              ss
   
2. Smith               ss        Landreaux           cf
   
3. Herr                2b        Guerrero            lf
   
4. Clark               1b        Madlock             3b
   
5. Van Slyke           rf        Marshall            rf
   
6. Pendleton           3b        Scioscia            c
   
7. Porter              c         Brock               1b
   
8. Landrum             lf        Sax                 2b
   
9. Andujar             p         Hershiser           p

CARDINALS 1ST: McGee grounded out (shortstop to first); On a
bunt Smith singled; Herr forced Smith (second to shortstop);
Clark forced Herr (third to second); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Cardinals 0, Dodgers 0.

DODGERS 1ST: Duncan doubled; Landreaux made an out to left;
Guerrero popped to second; Madlock singled [Duncan scored];
Marshall was called out on strikes; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Cardinals 0, Dodgers 1.

CARDINALS 2ND: Van Slyke grounded out (second to first);
Pendleton grounded out (shortstop to first); Porter singled;
Landrum grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
 Cardinals 0, Dodgers 1.

DODGERS 2ND: Scioscia grounded out (first unassisted); Brock
walked; Sax made an out to right; Hershiser singled [Brock to
second]; Duncan singled [Brock scored, Hershiser to second];
Landreaux made an out to center; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.
Cardinals 0, Dodgers 2.

CARDINALS 3RD: Andujar doubled; McGee grounded out (shortstop to
first) [Andujar to third]; Smith struck out; Herr singled
[Andujar scored]; Clark singled [Herr to second]; Van Slyke made
an out to left; 1 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Cardinals 1, Dodgers 2.

DODGERS 3RD: Guerrero popped to third; Madlock struck out;
Marshall lined to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 1,
Dodgers 2.

CARDINALS 4TH: Pendleton grounded out (pitcher to first); Porter
made an out to center; Landrum grounded out (shortstop to
first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 1, Dodgers 2.

DODGERS 4TH: Scioscia singled; Brock made an out to center; Sax
grounded out (third to first) [Scioscia to second]; Hershiser
grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Cardinals
1, Dodgers 2.

CARDINALS 5TH: Andujar grounded out (third to first); McGee
singled; McGee was caught stealing second (catcher to
shortstop); Smith grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0
E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 1, Dodgers 2.

DODGERS 5TH: Duncan reached on an error by Andujar; Duncan stole
second; Landreaux grounded out (shortstop to first) [Duncan to
third]; Guerrero hit a sacrifice fly to center [Duncan scored
(unearned)]; Madlock homered (unearned); Marshall grounded out
(shortstop to first); 2 R, 1 H, 1 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 1,
Dodgers 4.

CARDINALS 6TH: Herr walked; Clark made an out to right; Van
Slyke grounded out (second to pitcher) [Herr to second];
Pendleton grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Cardinals 1, Dodgers 4.

DODGERS 6TH: Scioscia walked; Brock popped to second; Sax made
an out to left; Hershiser was called out on strikes; 0 R, 0 H, 0
E, 1 LOB.  Cardinals 1, Dodgers 4.

CARDINALS 7TH: Porter singled; Landrum singled [Porter to
second]; BRAUN BATTED FOR ANDUJAR; Braun grounded out (first to
pitcher) [Porter to third, Landrum to second]; McGee singled
[Porter scored, Landrum scored]; NIEDENFUER REPLACED HERSHISER
(PITCHING); Smith tripled [McGee scored]; Herr was walked
intentionally; Clark struck out; Van Slyke struck out; 3 R, 4 H,
0 E, 2 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Dodgers 4.

DODGERS 7TH: WORRELL REPLACED BRAUN (PITCHING); Duncan tripled;
Landreaux popped to second; Guerrero was walked intentionally;
Madlock grounded into a double play (shortstop to second to
first) [Guerrero out at second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Cardinals 4, Dodgers 4.

CARDINALS 8TH: Pendleton grounded out (second to first); Porter
grounded out (first to pitcher); Landrum made an out to center;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Dodgers 4.

DODGERS 8TH: Marshall homered; Scioscia made an out to right;
Brock walked; Sax struck out; Niedenfuer struck out; 1 R, 1 H, 0
E, 1 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Dodgers 5.

CARDINALS 9TH: ANDERSON REPLACED MADLOCK (PLAYING 3B); CEDENO
BATTED FOR WORRELL; Cedeno struck out; McGee singled; McGee
stole second; Smith walked; Herr grounded out (first to pitcher)
[McGee to third, Smith to second]; Clark homered [McGee scored,
Smith scored]; Van Slyke popped to catcher; 3 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Cardinals 7, Dodgers 5.

DODGERS 9TH: DAYLEY REPLACED CEDENO (PITCHING); Duncan was
called out on strikes; CABELL BATTED FOR LANDREAUX; Cabell was
called out on strikes; Guerrero made an out to center; 0 R, 0 H,
0 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 7, Dodgers 5.

Final Totals      R   H   E  LOB
 Cardinals        7  12   1    7
 Dodgers          5   8   0    7

Brian Gunn's post last year about the game in which the Cards came back in Wrigely.  "[T]here's one giant difference between the Cardinals and the Cubs: they don't have Pujols." Today, it looked like Pujols was going to carry his entire team to Game 6: hitting the blast, racing to the bag in the 9th to make the first two outs.....if he could of run down the ball that Taguchi caught, I think he would of.

But that was easily the most memorable game I have ever (and probably WILL ever) see!

Spectacular.... simply spectacular.

If we never play a postseason game in that sh*tty ballpark again I will be a happy man! The Astros scored some huge runs, on a couple of 320 ft. home runs while Johnny Rod and Pujols hit 2 balls over 400 feet with NOTHING to show for it. I seriosly despise that ball park.

Does anyone else feel a repeat of the 96 NLCS coming on - - this time with the right team playing the role of unstoppable brute force?

My girlfriend and I jumped up and down hugging and screaming.  I yelled "Get out!!!" when Pujols made contact and threw my rally cap across the room.

Unbelievable.  It's almost 1:30 here on the East Coast and I'm wired.  The only thing I missed was hearing how Jack would've called it.

Go crazy folks, go crazy!!!

oddly enough, i thought the same thing after that swing tonight: they don't have pujols.  we can analyze these games all we want, chop em up into little bits, turn em over and around, but sometimes it comes down to 'my guy is bigger than your guy.'  i'm still shaking.

And I have a paper due in the morning...good news/bad news...I'll be wide awake, but how on God's green earth am I supposed to concentrate on film critics' views of "Jean de Florette" for three pages?

worth mentioning: was that our Izzy finishing things up with nary a frayed nerve? If it's possible for something to be more than a homerun, well that's what Pujols hit. I think I yelled louder than when we wrapped up the LCS last year...

Unbelievable.  2:00 am ET and no one here is sleeping.  I have never prayed during a sporting event -- too lame, and I am not a huge believer anyway.  But I actually got on my knees when Pujols came up to bat and clapsed my hands.  There is just too much magic in this team, this organization, and this stadium to end in failure.  I believe.

Well, suffice it to say, it's in the double digits. And several people have had their ears blown out  (via my cell phone), as well.

I just got home from my neighborhood watering hole, which regulars here know is a hive of Flubfans, who are of course now rabid Stros fans (since the Chisox have sealed the AL, they gotta have SOMEBODY to root for, poor things), and I've been bearing up under a whole lotta ribbing these last few games. After Fatty's little porch homer, the place went nuts--youd've thought Derrick Lee hit the sucker. And just like the Stro players in their dugout, and just like the actual Strofans in their stadium, these fauxfans began celebrating the Stros first trip to the Series. "Jager shots for the house," one doofus in a Flub hat and Stro t-shirt yelled. I took mine and toasted the Stros while he and his buddies tried to come up with the $125.75 they had unwittingly just flushed down the toilet. Everybody but us three Birdfans drank their shots. We decided to let ours sit till the end of the game. Mostly to be jerks, but also because it wasn't over yet. Then finally Eck hits up the middle, Jed walks, and along comes Albie. "He aint hit shit all night," yells the now broke FlubStrofan. No sooner did those words leave his crusty lips then BAM!! Life suddenly became very sad for anyone not a Birdfan. The air was sucked right out into the street, and the big celebration became a funeral. After Izzy dispatched the last three Stros with incredible ease (for Izzy), we three Birdfans lifted our shots, drank them with relish, thanked our absolutely dumbfounded benefactors, and stumbled home highfiving and howling at the moon. Thank you, boys!! Thank you, Albie!! That was most satisfying moment I've ever spent in that bar. Even if this doesn't translate into another World Series (though I got an itch it might), THAT was a world-class crushing defeat I'll never forget. I want the boys to win more than anything I can think of at the moment, and I believe this DOES change things in a way we could never have expected. But even if they go down--if they go fighting like that, I'll live. What a game!!      

My neighbor Diane and I live in Kaneohe, HI, on the island of Oahu, in mirror image townhouses.  She has a GO CARDS sign in her window, and I put a teeshirt up in mine.  We watched the last few innings together and were deep in doldrums by the second out of the ninth inning, two strikes on Eck.  What a wonderful end to the game!  Absolutely.  We yelled so loudly we embarrassed our children.

Here's to two more in St. Louis!

that after last night, I don't care if the Cards move on (but I do). That was one of the coolest 9th innings I've ever witnessed. Jed and Eck on base with Albert at the plate. Those fates can't be so cruel to us, can they? Albert's due to do some damage, but he'll strike out or pop out.

Then BOOM.

I was laughing at the TV. No one else around to enjoy the moment with me.

So back to Busch, where they don't have a "kid's zone" where you can hit broken bat homers; where they don't have ex-presidents and the secret service frisking you every At Bat; where they do have bulldozers at the ready to either remove the memories of this season, or ferry the dejected Astros back to Houston at the end of game 7. Lets hope for tthe latter.