12/03/24
October 21, 2011
Rangers Come Back to Win Game 2: A two-run ninth inning comeback put the Texas Rangers over the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 in game 2 of the World Series. Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus singled off closer Jason Motte and scored on sacrifice flies by Josh Hamilton and Michael Young. After Albert Pujols muffed a cut-off throw that let Andrus advance to scoring position on Hamilton's sacrifice, he was a no show when reporters entered the clubhouse. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, praised for his game 1 moves, is being panned for pulling Motte before Hamilton's at bat.
Great, great game. I couldn't believe that Kinsler stole 3rd in the bottom of the ninth with Molina behind the bag. Did I mention that it was a great game?
posted by BornIcon at 08:47 AM on October 21, 2011
I couldn't believe La Russa pulled Motte. Hamilton and Young are great hitters, but I didn't like their chances of hitting sacrifice flies off 98-mph fastballs.
Especially with Hamilton playing hurt, and TLR having burned his best lefty already.
These first two games have been amazing. I was out of the country and missed the LDS and LCS, so I figured I'd have a tough time warming up to the World Series when I came back. Not even a little bit. I've been on tenterhooks with every pitch.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 09:30 AM on October 21, 2011
20 percent of the cardinals didn't show up for post game interviews? Come on, if you're available after thrilling victories, you should be there after bone crushing defeats.
posted by justgary at 09:57 AM on October 21, 2011
It's not like the Cardinals have much to explain. They played well, aside from that one pivotal error.
Does La Russa break his closer by pulling him? Motte already had a Cards-record five postseason saves. I'd be pissed if Ron Washington pulled Neftali Feliz in the same circumstances. Feliz has earned the chance to get himself out of a jam.
posted by rcade at 10:10 AM on October 21, 2011
20 percent of the cardinals didn't show up for post game interviews?
Among them Pujols, Berkman, Holliday and Molina. Way to hang the youngsters out to dry, fellas.
posted by tahoemoj at 11:07 AM on October 21, 2011
I don't know. It sounds like the media getting mad that they can't ask the same question in 100 different ways of Pujols than actual failed leadership or something.
posted by bperk at 12:29 PM on October 21, 2011
I suppose if the young guys are prepared to take the journalistic heat for mistakes made by their manager and all-world first baseman, it's not up to me to tell them they're wrong.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:57 PM on October 21, 2011
Way to hang the youngsters out to dry, fellas.
No kidding. Skipping out on interviews seems like a good way to spoil the team's vibe only two games into the Series. You don't want your team to get too uptight about a loss and drag it into the next game.
posted by rcade at 02:05 PM on October 21, 2011
A La Russa team uptight?
Colonel Gadhafi should have hidden behind La Russa's sphincter. 10 years from now, they'd still be looking for him.
posted by beaverboard at 03:10 PM on October 21, 2011
A really great piece on Kinsler's steal. I loved the replay of Molina's Godzilla roar in slo-mo after he didn't get him out.
posted by rcade at 07:34 PM on October 21, 2011
Pujols has some weird comments about dodging the media. He claims he was in the kitchen for 40 minutes, instead of the clubhouse, and no reporters came up to him.
Reporters aren't allowed in the kitchen.
posted by rcade at 01:42 PM on October 22, 2011
"What do you want, me to wait for 40 minutes for you guys? I mean I was in the (kitchen) getting something to eat," Pujols said after batting practice Friday afternoon. "What about the night before when I spoke for an hour and a half
You mean the night before, when your team won?
"My responsibility is to my God and my family, I don't have any responsibility to anybody else."
I've never followed Pujols other than statistically. Had no idea he was this nutty.
posted by justgary at 08:07 PM on October 22, 2011
I couldn't believe La Russa pulled Motte. Hamilton and Young are great hitters, but I didn't like their chances of hitting sacrifice flies off 98-mph fastballs.
This could be a great series. Game 1 was lost when Nelson Cruz came up inches short of catching Allen Craig's RBI hit. Game 2 was lost when Pujols nicked that throw from the outfield with his glove.