MLB Playoffs!

[RMadd]

Well, after night two of baseball's playoffs, looks like the defending champion Crap Sox are in the hole to the ChiSox, 0-2. It's a shame, b/c I sure would have liked to see my Cardinals beat Bahstan in 4 or 5 in the World Series to send the current Busch Stadium out with a bang.
And speaking of my Birds, they're up 1 on the Padres, who admittedly did make it close by jumping over the Cards' inconsistent-of-late bullpen.
Yanks & Halos all square at 1: if the Red Sox make it to the ALCS, then I'd prefer Anah... er.... Los Angeles to win; but if the ChiSox do, I could care less.
And the 'Stros are up on the Braves 1-0 as well. I've got to say, I'm not much for the 'Stros or their fans, and I'm not really sure why. Maybe b/c they're mostly just fair-weather fans? I dunno. I mean, it's not like they've got the a-holes Beltran or Kent on their anymore. I guess I just want to see the Cards beat someone else in the NLCS this time around, that's all.
Anyone else w/ any comments on this '05 postseason?

[Dogstar]

Heh, we have those other Sox just where we want them...not...hehehehe. Tonight was pretty pathetic for my boys. Fricken GAFFE-anino pulled a hideous Buckner...Oh wait, that's redundant :D...Wells, that ex-SKANKEE trash pitcher whom I've never liked this year, STILL should have shaken it off and gotten the outs. CHOKING DOG! They both need to pay fines for that display tonight. At least the SKANKEES lost, haha. :D....I'm rooting for Houston. I'm sick of the fricken Braves. They don't win crap. All those division titles and what, one World Series? I hope the Strohs sweep 'em.

[RMadd]

how 'bout them Sox? the Red variety, of course... swept, and in the LDS. it's not like getting swept in the world series or nothing lol.

[Dogstar]

how 'bout them Sox? the Red variety, of course... swept, and in the LDS. it's not like getting swept in the world series or nothing lol.
Man, they sucked ass in this series. I'm extremely disappointed. But then again, they didn't have the pitching they had last year. To be honest, I didn't expect them to repeat, but I thought they'd at least compete. The silver lining is that the SKANKEES lost tonight, too, bahahahahaha. I'm hoping the Halos get it done and knock them out as well!

[RMadd]

Swwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! Here's to hoping my Birds won't play the 'Stros again. I'd kind of like to beat up on the Braves this time around lol.
Truthfully, I'm a bit unnerved by the Cards' relief pitching, tho. They sorta tanked the last week or 2 of the season, and have been far from spectacular in 3 games, w/ the Padres having the possibility of tying the game w/ runners on in each of the games. Luckily, Izzy's been able to get the 3rd out with no problem, but I'm waiting for the time when the other team takes advantage of the shitty 'pen.

[Chase]

I just got back from game 3 of the NLCS. Granted, my Padres were a joke to everyone outside of San Diego. But you know what? We were the best of the not so wild NL west. So, we deserved our spot in the playoffs. We beat ourselves and when you make mistakes against the Cards, they capitalize on them. I will say this though: The Cardinal bullpen is going to make St. Louis self destruct in the NLCS if they pitch like the way they did against the Padres. Of course I'm bitter watching my team and town get embarrassed by St. Louis AGAIN (the same thing happened in 1996). It's sad that money obviously buys happiness in this game. Pujols is an arrogant punk at times, but he still kicked our asses. Edmonds made a routine deep fly ball into a highlight by unecessarily jumping against the wall. LaRussa had the Cardinals bunting at times that weren't necessary... just to rub it in. We scratched and clawed back... but when you give the Cards an early lead... you're done for. Especially for San Diego... who doesn't have a real home run threat in the lineup. The most respectable guy in the Cardinal lineup is Reggie Sanders (whom I've met). Congrats to St. Louis... especially their starting pitching staff. They completely shut down my Padres. They have the best lineup in the National League... thank God Scott Rolen wasn't in there too. He ALWAYS kills us. Oh well, now we San Diegans are stuck having to root for Atlanta or Houston... whoever faces St. Louis. I'm also a Red Sox fan (I travel to Boston a lot)... but they're gone too. Now that the Cards have a few days off... they better get Izzy and the bullpen to relax... or else they may be in for a long NLCS.

[Dogstar]

I'm hoping the Astros win. I can't stand the Braves. On the AL side, I guess I'd have to root for the White Sox, even though they embarrassed my Red Sox, but hell, they haven't won anything since 1917, so they're due. Would be nice to erase the whole Black Sox thing, too.

[RMadd]

It's sad that money obviously buys happiness in this game. Pujols is an arrogant punk at times, but he still kicked our asses. Edmonds made a routine deep fly ball into a highlight by unecessarily jumping against the wall. LaRussa had the Cardinals bunting at times that weren't necessary... just to rub it in.
um... wow....
1) Pujols is hardly arrogant. Any St. Louisan knows he's probably the hardest-working Cardinal. And he's a good guy, too. There's a reason he's been up for the Hank Aaron Award.
2) Yeah, Jimmy Jack can be a bit of a showboat at times, but you don't know if he perhaps misjudged the distance of the ball, or how close he was to the fence...
3) Unnecessary bunting? Obviously the Padres got back into the games. Plus it's the playoffs, where everyone's a bit edgier, and you don't want to risk losing a game you could otherwise win. Tony's not the kind of guy to roll over when he's got a big lead, because one of his mantras is that you play a full 9 for a reason. He isn't near the top of the all-time wins list only because he's had talented players with the A's, Cards & Chi Sox. He goes for the jugular, and the fact that it's the playoffs only amplifies this desire. I'm sorry if you were irked by the fact that the Cardinals try to play aggressively the entire game. I suppose we Midwesterners are more uptight than those of you in SoCal.

[RMadd]

I'm hoping the Astros win. I can't stand the Braves. On the AL side, I guess I'd have to root for the White Sox, even though they embarrassed my Red Sox, but hell, they haven't won anything since 1917, so they're due. Would be nice to erase the whole Black Sox thing, too.
well, you're in luck! i couldn't believe it: i go to work around 1:30, the Braves are on top 5-0 in the 5th inning, Hudson's pitching a gem. get back from work, go to sportsline.com, and see the 'stros won 7-6 in 18! well, here's to hoping the Cards can batter the Rocket the way they did last year in game 7.

[Dogstar]

Hahaha, I know. That game was something, eh? I was happy because I can't stand the Braves. And you're right about the bunting. Cripes, remember a couple of years ago Cleveland came back from a 12-run deficit in the seventh inning or something to beat Seattle in 14 or 15 ininngs? I don't usually like La Russa because his pitching managing drives me absolutely insane, but I agree you should put up as many runs as you can in the playoffs, because the regular season proves that anything can happen. It wasn't as if they had a double-digit lead, either. The way bullpens are these days, no lead is safe.

[RMadd]

I don't usually like La Russa because his pitching managing drives me absolutely insane,
I remember back in '96, when he replaced Joe Torre, he wasn't terribly popular. And even as late as a couple years ago, a handful of writers & fans weren't fond of him. But I guess, what with winning and having "Mad Mike" Martz coaching in the same town, you sort of realize how good & smart he really is lol.

[RMadd]

ahhh, something i found terribly humorous... on ESPN's website (http://www.espn.com), their daily poll asks for whom you're rooting tonight in Game 5. A recent addition to their polls is that it breaks down the vote across the US by state (as well as a cumulative int'l poll). Anyway, you can see, in the following screenshot which I took, how many states favor the Angels (a dark blue state more heavily favors them than a lighter blue state) and how many are pulling for the Yankees (similarly, darker red indicates a higher level of support in that state). But, yeah, it seems most Americans aren't to fond of the Skankees.

[Chase]

Well... San Diegans are fairly biased in their views of Pujols. 2 seasons ago Albert Pujols hit a game winning home run against the Padres (who were having a very frustrating season) and admired his home run for about a minute. The next game, Adam Eaton threw a breaking ball that hit Pujols and he mouthed off and started a bench clearing brawl between both teams.
I know what to expect from Edmonds... I've been watching him play for years. LaRussa does play to win... and he's successful as a manager. I'm not sure how he would do managing a small market team though. He's like Torre... he wins with the high profile team that he's given. Bobby Cox has proven this season that he can created a winning team with relatively average players... aside from the Jones' and Smoltz. Nevertheless, the Cards deserve a lot of credit for every 100 games they've won. They play fundamental baseball and are basically an all star team. They should win.

[Dogstar]

I remember back in '96, when he replaced Joe Torre, he wasn't terribly popular. And even as late as a couple years ago, a handful of writers & fans weren't fond of him. But I guess, what with winning and having "Mad Mike" Martz coaching in the same town, you sort of realize how good & smart he really is lol.
HAHAHAHAHA, good point Martz is such an idiot. I don't know how he still has a job.

[RMadd]

HAHAHAHAHA, good point Martz is such an idiot. I don't know how he still has a job.
it's funny you should mention that lol... i think it was yesterday they announced he was taking an indefinite leave of absence to deal w/ his heart condition (4-6 games, they're speculating). and i hate to see this, but it'll be kinda nice to see what a more balanced offensive attack looks like (Martz obviously loooooooooves to throw... Bulger's up in the 40-50-60 pass attempts range almost every game) with a good running game that gets a chance to get established and a passing game that can still burn you deep... but i digress.....
Game 1 of Cards-'Stros tomorrow night! And I've got fucking class when it starts! I'm really hoping he doesn't have much planned for us (it's a 3 hr class from 6-9; game starts @ 7 here I believe)

[RMadd]

Well... San Diegans are fairly biased in their views of Pujols. 2 seasons ago Albert Pujols hit a game winning home run against the Padres (who were having a very frustrating season) and admired his home run for about a minute.
very true... he does gawk @ his homers a bit... not really sure why, either, since he's a reasonably humble & nice guy. not like sammy sosa who does his gay little side-step-hop crap every time he thinks he's going yard. ghey.

[Dogstar]

very true... he does gawk @ his homers a bit... not really sure why, either, since he's a reasonably humble & nice guy. not like sammy sosa who does his gay little side-step-hop crap every time he thinks he's going yard. ghey.
Hahahahahaha, I know, that is so stupid. I don't like Sosa anyway. I like Pujols, though :D

[Chase]

I do hear that Pujols is a team player and a good guy in the club house. He's obviously the real deal as a player too. Funny note about Sosa, who I also can't stand anymore. When I was a kid (probably about 8 or 9 years old), Sammy Sosa threw me a ball during the Cubs batting practice. This was here in San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium (which became Qualcomm Stadium). Back then he was this skinny Dominican with a fro sticking out of his hat. True story.

[RMadd]

that's pretty cool.... you still have the ball?
it's kinda funny to see some of these guys go through massive growth spurts in their late 20s and early to mid 30s. that's pretty much contrary to anything I'd ever learned in health and PE. Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Sammy Sosa... the list just goes on....

[Dogstar]

I do hear that Pujols is a team player and a good guy in the club house. He's obviously the real deal as a player too. Funny note about Sosa, who I also can't stand anymore. When I was a kid (probably about 8 or 9 years old), Sammy Sosa threw me a ball during the Cubs batting practice. This was here in San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium (which became Qualcomm Stadium). Back then he was this skinny Dominican with a fro sticking out of his hat. True story.
I saw him in the early 90s at Wrigley and he was a skinny guy.

[titan9]

With the Yanks and Red Sox(I would have loved to have seen a re-match of last year's ALCS) done, I'm now forced to cheer for the Cardinals, mainly because I had Carps and Edmonds on my Fantasy Team this year. :D GO CARDINALS!

[RMadd]

With the Yanks and Red Sox(I would have loved to have seen a re-match of last year's ALCS) done, I'm now forced to cheer for the Cardinals, mainly because I had Carps and Edmonds on my Fantasy Team this year. :D GO CARDINALS!well, i guess that's better than nothing lol

[Dogstar]

Houston won tonight!! That Lidge is sick. I wish the Red Sox had a really good closer. Maybe we'll get Wagner, but I doubt it. He supposedly wants to stay as close to VA. as possible. Dayum! Anyway, these games have been pretty tight!

[Dogstar]

Well, congratulations to the White Sox and their fans. They are going to the Series!!! Houston's getting closer, too, as they edged the Cards today! Man, both pennant series have been exciting and so close for the most part. Much fun to watch.

[RMadd]

fucking umps fucking suck... the 2 innings i watched while on my lunch @ work, marquis & supps weren't getting the calls that backe & lidge were. and my roommate said he was throwing stuff @ the tv b/c he was so pissed about stuff that happened later (in the 7th inning, perhaps). calling the bat going around when you're supposed to be watching the ball's location and then refusing to appeal to 3rd or 1st... calling a pitch up & in for a 3rd strike....... oohhhh motherfuckers... i really fucking hate houston now. looks like we're headed for a world series matchup between 2 teams that benefitted from some shoddy umpiring. i certainly won't watch it (as i'm sure most Americans won't: chicago's 2nd best team, and all the houston bandwagonners)

[Dogstar]

I didn't see the whole game, but I heard about the poor umpiring in the Cards' game tonight. I thought whoever was on third in the ninth inning when that weak infield grounder was hit should have stayed on third. It was so slow that the hitter probably could have beaten it out for an infield hit and then the Cards would have had the bases loaded with no outs. Instead, the guy got thrown out at the plate and then the DP ended it :(

[RMadd]

yeah... and mabry was allegedly safe (or at least tied) on the game-ending DP

[Dogstar]

I saw that play. It was damn close!

[Chase]

It looks as if the Cards used up all of their energy to beat San Diego. What happened to the St. Louis that we saw in the Division Series? Congrats to the Chi Sox!

[Chase]

fucking umps fucking suck... the 2 innings i watched while on my lunch @ work, marquis & supps weren't getting the calls that backe & lidge were. and my roommate said he was throwing stuff @ the tv b/c he was so pissed about stuff that happened later (in the 7th inning, perhaps). calling the bat going around when you're supposed to be watching the ball's location and then refusing to appeal to 3rd or 1st... calling a pitch up & in for a 3rd strike....... oohhhh motherfuckers... i really fucking hate houston now. looks like we're headed for a world series matchup between 2 teams that benefitted from some shoddy umpiring. i certainly won't watch it (as i'm sure most Americans won't: chicago's 2nd best team, and all the houston bandwagonners)

Hey... you want to talk about bandwagonners... most of the Cardinal fans I saw in San Diego in game 3 of the NLDS were hardcore bandwagon fans. lol, they were and all of the Padre fans gave them shit for it. I think the White Sox just beat the Angel plain and simple (despite the infamous ambiguous call at the plate). The Angels ended up looking tired after their first win. I do agree that the umpiring has been pretty unconsistent and shitty (to say the least). Every series has witnessed poor calls.

[rylohnes]

as a lowly diehard cubs fan I will tell ya RMadd, its not over till its over. All you have to do is get it back to Busch. You have Carps goin tonight. I want the Stros to win, but the more I think about it, Edmonds was just plain screwed. Should be a helluva three games.

[RMadd]

most of the Cardinal fans I saw in San Diego in game 3 of the NLDS were hardcore bandwagon fans. lol, they were and all of the Padre fans gave them shit for it.
those must've been the rich socialites that sit right behind home plate & along the baselines @ Busch who have the time to jet out to San Diego for one game & who are too proud to stand & cheer for a 3rd out like everyone else in the stadium lol. either that, or Californians. because, trust me, at least here, there's hella diehard Cards fans. hella hella, in fact. Rams fans? yeah. I'll admit, I'm not pulling for them to win the Super Bowl every year. it'd be nice, but you don't beat yourself up over it if they don't. the Cards, on the other hand, are a different story....

[RMadd]

as a lowly diehard cubs fan I will tell ya RMadd, its not over till its over. All you have to do is get it back to Busch. You have Carps goin tonight. I want the Stros to win, but the more I think about it, Edmonds was just plain screwed. Should be a helluva three games.
well, i guess i can't blame you much for pulling for Houston... after all, I was all about Florida in '03... especially b/c my roommate & another guy on my dorm floor were pretty hardcore Chubs fans, and they absolutely hated seeing their Baby Bears self-destruct, much in the same we all of the Cardinals fans on the floor absolutely loved it.

[RMadd]

Holy

Freaking

Cow!!!!!!!!

What a 9th!!!!!! And off the supposedly indomitable Brad "Lights Out" Lidge!!!!!!! I know the playoffs don't count towards regular season MVP, but this is why Pujols deserves it over Andruw Jones: Batting Avg. w/ Runners in Scoring Position. Not only did Jones hit something like .280, but he was a pitiful .213 or so w/ RISP. Pujols, above .330 in both categories. And he sure as fuck came through tonight, after starting out 0-4 in the first 8 innings. But what about David Eckstein? Guy's a gamer. Down to the team's last strike of the season, and he slaps one through the left side. Jimmy Jack is unusually patient and draws a walk, bringing in one of the most clutch hitters in the game. No doubt!!!!!!!

I'm just glad the series is coming back to the Lou. I wouldn't be able to stand the thought of having played the last game @ Busch without really knowing it at the time.... Go Birds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dogstar]

Pujols is the man, that is all.

[Dogstar]

The line for the Cards through 4:

0 0 0 :eek:

[Dogstar]

They broke through in the fifth :D

[Chase]

those must've been the rich socialites that sit right behind home plate & along the baselines @ Busch who have the time to jet out to San Diego for one game & who are too proud to stand & cheer for a 3rd out like everyone else in the stadium lol. either that, or Californians. because, trust me, at least here, there's hella diehard Cards fans. hella hella, in fact. Rams fans? yeah. I'll admit, I'm not pulling for them to win the Super Bowl every year. it'd be nice, but you don't beat yourself up over it if they don't. the Cards, on the other hand, are a different story....

Yes... these Cardinal fans were the rude, wealthy type. The smelled of money... anyway, I'm watching the game right now and it's not looking good for the Cards (top of the 8th). Well, as we all know, it's not over until it's over.

[RMadd]

ChiSox win it all

[Dogstar]

Congrats to the White Sox and their fans. Another long title drought comes to an end!