11/05/24
October 26, 2004
World Series Game 3: What's with the circus tune they play in St. Louis for the introductions?
posted by DrJohnEvans to baseball at 07:29 PM - 80 comments
And now the crowd's clapping along. Yikes.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 07:34 PM on October 26, 2004
leave it to fox to not show the damn flyover.
posted by goddam at 07:37 PM on October 26, 2004
That tune is the old Budweiser jingle ("When you say Bud, you've said it all..."). The Cardinals have been using it since Gussie Busch owned the team, and at one time it was their seventh-inning stretch tune, although like all the other big-league ballparks I believe they've switched to "God Bless America". Is it just me, or does it seem like a rather subdued crowd for the "greatest baseball town in the country"?
posted by Motown Mike at 07:37 PM on October 26, 2004
Hell, it sounded like ESPN Radio had the planes mic'ed up. Ah, thanks, Mike. I'll have to find a clip of that addicting organ tune.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 07:40 PM on October 26, 2004
Aw, crap.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 07:55 PM on October 26, 2004
I am filled with envy - I can't watch the game at all today. Indeed, this will probably be my last enoucnter with it until box scores on Headline news tonight. Have fun, all.
posted by Joey Michaels at 07:56 PM on October 26, 2004
This ump is calling a very tight strike zone. Ball 3 to walker looked like a strike to me. This camera angle isn't as K-Zone friendly, seems to be from a higher angle than the cameras in Boston- is that due to not being able to get the same camera spot in St. Louis that they had in Boston?
posted by hincandenza at 08:05 PM on October 26, 2004
*Sigh* This is going to be a typical Pedro start. Good, but not great; gives up 2-3 runs in 6-7 innings, and the Sox get shut down offensively.
posted by hincandenza at 08:07 PM on October 26, 2004
Pedro has got to settle down here.
posted by jerseygirl at 08:10 PM on October 26, 2004
How's his fastball looking? Seems to be missing a lot.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 08:12 PM on October 26, 2004
pedro's had a lot of first inning issues this year.
posted by usfbull at 08:13 PM on October 26, 2004
not sure if I've ever seen Manny throw anyone out at home before.
posted by usfbull at 08:14 PM on October 26, 2004
Nice.
posted by jerseygirl at 08:14 PM on October 26, 2004
That was an uncharacteristically good throw from Manny, alongside a very poor baserunning decision from Larry Walker (that trade of 3rd base coach Dale Sveum to the Cardinals on Monday is already paying dividends! :) ). And did my eyes deceive me, or did Pedro just whack Walker with his glove as he was going by home plate at the end of the inning?
posted by hincandenza at 08:16 PM on October 26, 2004
Lotta people making contact against Suppan. I have to feel pretty good about that.
posted by Bryant at 08:18 PM on October 26, 2004
Fox just replayed it. He slapped him on the backside. I think it was a respect thing. Remember, they were teammates on that great 94 Expos team that fell victim to the strike shortened season.
posted by usfbull at 08:19 PM on October 26, 2004
I think Schilling likes to call that "grabass".
posted by jerseygirl at 08:22 PM on October 26, 2004
What's up with these low strikes from Suppan? The ball taking some sort of dive that only the umpire can see? I just want to add, once again... FOX. COVERAGE. SUCKS. /dead horse
posted by Dick Paris at 08:24 PM on October 26, 2004
Might as well test Manny early. And the bottom of the lineup will probably test Papi with the bunt. But as long as they make Pedro work, I'm happy.
posted by mbd1 at 08:24 PM on October 26, 2004
That was an uncharacteristically stupid send from third-base coach Jose Oquendo. I know Manny has a lousy arm, but for God's sake, that ball was no deeper that Pauly Shore. When you have Reggie Sanders hitting next, you might want to give him a shot. As for the Budweiser jingle, my god, that's just intoxicating for us Busch Stadium veterans. For the rest of you, I'm sure you were wondering why the stadium organist was just noodling around. Ernie Hays is the man upstairs, and he's a staple of St. Louis athletics. Check out this Page 2 report on Busch. It mentions Ernie, who has a real knack for playing appropriate tunes, at the bottom.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:26 PM on October 26, 2004
When exactly is Ramirez going to start hitting like he is capable? Game 8 of the World Series? Argh....
posted by hincandenza at 08:39 PM on October 26, 2004
Unreal. This guy used to be an ace, they say? Maybe Tommy Lasorda was right all along.
posted by hincandenza at 08:45 PM on October 26, 2004
And yet another incredibly poor baserunning choice just erased what could have been the tying run and put two outs on the board.
posted by hincandenza at 08:46 PM on October 26, 2004
This is an ugly, ugly game. It's gonna be a long night for either team and its fans. :)
posted by hincandenza at 08:49 PM on October 26, 2004
It's embarrassing for the Cards. Why play your ass off for 162 games only to act like a damn softball team in the WS?
posted by mbd1 at 09:09 PM on October 26, 2004
Larussa's the manager, did you really expect anything else? (sorry, read a good article today on why he's a bad WS manager... wish I remembered where so I could link it) Mueller got away with one at 3rd a few innings back, I think he should have had that one easily. Manny with 2 on... uh oh. Series could be over right here.
posted by Bernreuther at 09:14 PM on October 26, 2004
Canadian crowd interviews kick the ass of american crowd interviews. Man, I miss hockey.
posted by Bernreuther at 09:15 PM on October 26, 2004
Ramirez drives in another; while it's good to see him getting RBIs again, he still doesn't look comfortable, and is not really hitting the ball with authority (read: homeruns, and line drive triples off the wall). Unfortunately, Ortiz could have parked that pitch, and would have thus ensured not only a commanding lead, but a nice bronze statue of himself on Yawkey Way.
posted by hincandenza at 09:19 PM on October 26, 2004
Will someone please kick Jeff Suppan's ass after the game? He comes in (I'm almost sure of it) saying Oquendo held him up, or he heard "no" instead of "go". Hey, pal, in baseball, no matter WHERE you are or who's screaming what, a ground ball to the right side, you score from third. You just hung yourself.
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:24 PM on October 26, 2004
Pedro draws a walk. I love it!
posted by rocketman at 09:36 PM on October 26, 2004
Pedro now in groove. His early innings, of late, (isn't dat veerd) are going to be the death of me.
posted by Dick Paris at 09:48 PM on October 26, 2004
This is weird.
posted by jerseygirl at 09:50 PM on October 26, 2004
leave it to fox to not show the damn flyover. Dark and gloomy night. Low flying, fast moving objects. Donut stadium. Nothing to show.
posted by Dick Paris at 09:51 PM on October 26, 2004
That was the worst possible inning for the Cards- not only is Pedro now cruising (I stand corrected- bosox paranoia got the best of me earlier), but that inning they went quickly in 11 pitches. His pitches are staying low, and as Suppan showed right away, Brian Gorman is calling the low strike quite readily. Pedro's now through 6 with his pitch count at only 84; he can readily go through 7 now, and might still be strong in the eighth. He seems to magically peter out at 100 pitches, but unless the Cards work him he'll likely put in 7 strong innings at a minimum, leaving the Sox bullpen to finish up only two innings or less with as much as a 4 run lead- far more if the Sox keep killing the Cardinals pitching like they have through 2 2/3 games. If I'm Francona, I have the pen working at the start of the 7th, and keep them loose through the 8th with Pedro on a 1-2 baserunner leash- no point in yanking the guy until he starts to show signs that he's hit his limit (he's had extra rest, he may be more effective past 100 pitches than usual. But then, I've been saying the "leave your starter to eat up another out or two or three with the short leash" since the ALCS, and Francona not only isn't hearing me, he seems to be doing fine without my help. :)
posted by hincandenza at 09:56 PM on October 26, 2004
Might as well tidy up the bullpen.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:09 PM on October 26, 2004
Wow. Sox are winning 4-0 and all the Sox fans are freaking out. I mean, I've been there too, I've suffered too, but lets enjoy this for once instead of walking on eggshells waiting for the other shoe.
posted by kokaku at 10:12 PM on October 26, 2004
Hey, Pedro? Just in case, just on the off-chance you don't come back next year -- Thanks for absolutely everything. It's been a blast watching you pitch.
posted by Bryant at 10:13 PM on October 26, 2004
I think Pedro should have gotten a chance to put in another inning, unless his spot came up in a possible score situation. A starter getting another 1, 2, 3 outs is no biggie, especially when they're grooving like Pedro is now. A reliever working an inning is not the same as a starter working an inning- they operate on totally different metrics, and six outs from your bullpen is like another 2 innings from a starter.. On preview: I agree, Bryant. Pedro's put on some of the finest pitching performances ever, in a Red Sox uniform or in any uniform. I still remember that 17k performance against the Yankees, when Pedro would scare the crap out of any team that had to face. We can't hate him for not being the pitcher he was when he was 28, when he was the bar-none most ungodly pitcher we'd seen in a long long time. As a possible swan song performance, this was a hell of a job: showing off his raw talent, yet demonstrating the wiles of a veteran who knows he can't just fire it in like he used to.
posted by hincandenza at 10:17 PM on October 26, 2004
LEON
posted by swank6 at 10:18 PM on October 26, 2004
That Leon bit? Now you've just gone too far.
posted by Stan Chin at 10:18 PM on October 26, 2004
Not freaking out. It's enjoyable, but it's a strange place to be in.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:18 PM on October 26, 2004
I'm going to pretend I didn't just watch Leon being interviewed in the stands.
posted by usfbull at 10:19 PM on October 26, 2004
Timlin does the things he does, and it's three outs to go. I agree with JG -- this is surreal. In a good way.
posted by Bryant at 10:28 PM on October 26, 2004
Fox interviewed "Leon" in the stands? Leon from the Bud commercials?!! Thanks, you've removed the last shred of self-doubt I had about leaving the TV off and following this series via radio. Jon Miller is doing his usual superlative job, btw.
posted by Motown Mike at 10:38 PM on October 26, 2004
Shucks.
posted by Bryant at 10:43 PM on October 26, 2004
wow, the stadium is silent there. Foulke scared the crap out of me- not Walker, but those long shots foul, or Pujols to the warning track. But no matter: 3-0 sox. They can win this tomorrow, provided they don't think this was a best of 5 like the Yankees did.
posted by hincandenza at 10:47 PM on October 26, 2004
Yeah, that was two almost-homers there; made me a tad nervous. "I could be anybody's daddy any day." Heh. You tell 'em, Pedro.
posted by Bryant at 10:49 PM on October 26, 2004
Who is the guy doing the post-game interview? Is he the dumbest man alive? What the hell were those questions?
posted by grum@work at 10:49 PM on October 26, 2004
What the hell, does everyone thank god now? Is this the Boston Red Sox, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?! Maybe that's how you break the curse- excessive prayer!
posted by hincandenza at 10:49 PM on October 26, 2004
I am stunned. I am absolutely stunned. I think the reality of it has set in.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:51 PM on October 26, 2004
As one of my friends from Boston just noted, "The Sox now have 4 chances to win the World Series."
posted by usfbull at 10:52 PM on October 26, 2004
Don't jinx us! We've won nothing yet- you lose the same way you win- one game at a time. The Sox need to go out there and do what they've done: clobber the ball early against weak starting pitching, and not let this be a late inning/bullpen battle game where the Cards can win on their final at-bat. That said- I like our chances, a lot. We just gotta be ruthless tomorrow, play like it was a game 7.
posted by hincandenza at 10:53 PM on October 26, 2004
Not really caring that badly, I would really like Boston to lose the next two games, thus having the 'other shoe drop' to the freaking-out Red Sox Nation, then wrapping it up in an apocalyptic celebration at Fenway.
posted by Stan Chin at 10:56 PM on October 26, 2004
Lowe comes out and pitches another beauty tomorrow night to put it away (saving Sox fans the scare of 'who pitches next?').
posted by kokaku at 11:01 PM on October 26, 2004
So how many sportswriters will think they are being clever when they start their article tomorrow with (or something similar): "No baseball team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit, except these Boston Red Sox. Can the St. Louis Cardinals do the same?"
posted by grum@work at 11:02 PM on October 26, 2004
Not that I am doubting the Red Sox, but I'd be shocked if the Cardinals didn't come back strong tomorrow night and win. They are too good and they had too good of a season with 105 wins, to just roll over in the World Series.
posted by jerseygirl at 11:06 PM on October 26, 2004
Perhaps, JG- but then again, the Sox know how a game 4 win by the Cardinals breathes new life... then it's game 5... next thing you know it's a "must win" game 6 back in Boston to avoid forcing game 7 with all the expectation at that point for the Sox that the Yankees must have had that they were going to collapse. That would be too cruel to contemplate. Sox gotta come out tomorrow and just hit hard, constantly, and get it into their heads that they're down 3-0, not up 3-0, and play accordingly. I think Ortiz has been quiet in the last two, I predict he explodes in Game 4.
posted by hincandenza at 11:14 PM on October 26, 2004
Don't pay attention to me, I'm overwhelmed and stunned and in some weird surreal land.
posted by jerseygirl at 11:22 PM on October 26, 2004
I still can't get over that damn organ music.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:43 PM on October 26, 2004
Stunning win. I expected more from st. louis. It's not over, but they have a mountain to climb. I'm happy for pedro. He's frustrating as all hell, but he pitched fantastic tonight. Like someone said earlier, he'll never be 28 again, when he was the best pitcher I've ever seen, but he's still mighty good. I love watching him pitch. An espn article even said the cardinals had the better pitcher going tonight. Crazy talk. One more. Please.
posted by justgary at 12:30 AM on October 27, 2004
bosox to win it all tomorrow night. The time has come.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:38 AM on October 27, 2004
I have to eat some crow. Manny actually made a nice play throwing the ball home and getting the out. I was almost impressed! I still dont expect a sweep........
posted by daddisamm at 01:09 AM on October 27, 2004
Assuming the Sox win, I'm going to make a dark horse MVP pick: Bellhorn.
posted by Joey Michaels at 03:47 AM on October 27, 2004
If they win, go with the Patriots thing and pick the whole damn team. The Cardinals are really screwed by not having a swing-and-miss pitcher to face the Sox. Jon Lieber and Mike Mussina were the perfect pair to beat the Sox: between them they threw a ton of strikes that were unhittable (i.e., you could swing and make contact, but you'd ground out to a middle infielder). And they didn't throw enough balls to encourage the idea of taking a walk. What Bryant said about Pedro. The Spanish-language post-game question choked me up, when I caught just enough to understand what he was saying about enjoying his time in Boston and wanting to stay. Thanks for everything, especially 1999 in Cleveland. And the anticipation every 5 days for however many years it was that he dominated baseball.
posted by yerfatma at 06:24 AM on October 27, 2004
posted by yerfatma at 07:17 AM on October 27, 2004
"It aint over till its Over" or "until the over-weight opera singer sings" Bottom line, things look really good for the Sox just like they did for the Yanks last week. The Red Sox will win, but it might take awhile. Sox fans, be patient!
posted by daddisamm at 07:48 AM on October 27, 2004
What yerfatma said about the question Pedro answered in question... repeating it in English just didn't capture it.
posted by tieguy at 08:00 AM on October 27, 2004
blah. question answered in spanish. [And ditto the vomitting about the Leon interview, I was glad I was watching on a slight lag so I could just skip right through it.]
posted by tieguy at 08:02 AM on October 27, 2004
Was there a better sight than the ink running on those Cardinals-branded "Slam-a-lama-ding-dong" signs in the late innings?
posted by yerfatma at 08:18 AM on October 27, 2004
For those who are curious, here's the the Post-Dispatch's game wrap, complete with Oquendo saying Suppan thought he was yelling, "No, no." Dumb da dumb dumb. Also, here's a link to Dan O'Neill's "Curse of Keith Hernandez", which I will totally buy. I still hate that guy.
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:09 AM on October 27, 2004
Al Bello's Pedro Martinez photo on ESPN.Com is a great shot. 
posted by rcade at 09:14 AM on October 27, 2004
Sports Guy's column today has a tearjerker section. Go read.
posted by tieguy at 10:00 AM on October 27, 2004
"If you guys win, I'll sleep with a tranvestite ... if we win, you have to try heroin and speed at the same time."
posted by Samsonov14 at 12:37 PM on October 27, 2004
The Sports Guy mentions in his column that the Pats, Bruins, and Celtics have all either won their first championship, or broken a long drought against St. Louis. That is spooky...wonder if that's ever happened before...
posted by MeatSaber at 01:25 PM on October 27, 2004
The Sports Guy mentions in his column that the Pats, Bruins, and Celtics have all either won their first championship, or broken a long drought against St. Louis. That is spooky...wonder if that's ever happened before... It's tough to do because you'd have to find two long-time successful sports cities, one on the east coast and one on the west coast (or more western than normal). Plus you'd have to find teams that are big enough to support 3 or more sports.
posted by grum@work at 01:36 PM on October 27, 2004
what the heck does,"more western than normal" mean? Wait, you're a geogrpahy major aren't you grum@work?
posted by mayerkyl at 02:35 PM on October 27, 2004
Plus you'd have to find teams that are big enough to support 3 or more sports. Unlikely, even if you had both Bo Jackson AND Deion Sanders in their prime.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 03:58 PM on October 27, 2004
If anyone cares, I've started saving Sox series stories to a del.icio.us tag that anyone can add onto.
posted by yerfatma at 01:06 PM on October 28, 2004
Hey , that's cool. Thanks.
posted by justgary at 12:22 AM on November 01, 2004
Man, I'm gonna have that going through my head for weeks. Dee doot dee doot dee doot dee doot deet deet deet....