12/21/24
October 29, 2011
Comeback Cards Win World Series: The St. Louis Cardinals completed their epic comeback season by beating the Texas Rangers 6-2 in a deciding game seven to take the World Series Friday. David Freeze, whose two-run triple tied game six in the ninth inning and home run won it in the 11th, was series MVP. The Cardinals were 10.5 games back in the wild-card standings August 26 and faced 999-to-1 odds of winning it all on Sept. 12. "There's just one way to describe it -- it's unbelievable, amazing, incredible," manager Tony La Russa told the jubilant Busch Stadium crowd.
I can't believe the ump didn't call a third strike on Molina. That ball (ball) was clearly in the zone. We'll see if this three run lead holds up.
posted by insomnyuk at 10:12 PM on October 28, 2011
I suppose that single was the ump's fault as well.
posted by NoMich at 10:50 PM on October 28, 2011
You don't blame the ump for the two in the 5th? Personally, I hope the Cardinals score 10 so we can remember game 6 instead of that shit call.
posted by tron7 at 11:01 PM on October 28, 2011
The umpires were squeezing every pitcher in game 7. It's just that the Rangers were swinging and the Cardinals weren't.
As well, the Rangers put 3 Cardinal base runners on by their own actions (regardless of the umpire): two hit-by-pitches and an intentional walk.
For a guy who hated "Moneyball", La Russa's team won because of their patience and drawing a lot of walks.
posted by grum@work at 11:31 PM on October 28, 2011
For a guy who hated "Moneyball", La Russa's team won because of their patience and drawing a lot of walks.
And because of a butchered fly ball to right field in game 6.
posted by justgary at 11:40 PM on October 28, 2011
I'm glad it didn't end up mattering that much. A 5-4 final score would have ruined this series for me. What pissed me off so much is that it was a perfect pitch. If he calls it a strike they'd be showing the replay and gushing about what a good pitch it was.
posted by tron7 at 11:58 PM on October 28, 2011
The umpires were squeezing every pitcher in game 7.
I don't remember any particularly egregious ball-strike calls going against the Cards pitchers in game 7.
With the stuff Mike Gonzalez had in game 7, it sure would've been nice to see him in game 6's 10th inning instead of Darren Oliver.
But I feel good for Cards fans. It must have been rough to go five long years without a championship.
posted by rcade at 09:56 AM on October 29, 2011
I guess the only question I have is if Pujols is more likely to stay after winning another World Series with the Cards or is he going to chase the big money with the Cubs.
posted by insomnyuk at 11:29 AM on October 29, 2011
While that call was bad, the Rangers issued too many free passes via walks and hit batters to focus on that one call as any sort of turning point. Besides, two runs wasn't enough to win that game, so it's pointless to me. Too many other screw ups to focus on.
While I'm a big Ron Washington fan, some of his pitching moves were confusing...seems like there was a lot of confusing pitching moves in this series.
The Rangers have a good team, and I hope they can keep it together for another run next year.
posted by dviking at 11:52 AM on October 29, 2011
I do feel for the Rangers fans. That was just a tough way to lose. Not specifically tonight, but the series as a whole. They're still a good team, but are starting to resemble the early 90s Buffalo Bills.
Washington's moves at times were simply baffling. How the fuck does Colby Lewis end up batting there?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:15 PM on October 29, 2011
I'm not sure about Ron Washington any more. He manages too much on gut instinct and on a desire to show his team he believes in them. He also doesn't seem to understand that when you've got hitters blowing up in the 6 or 7 spots, you move them up in the order. Make the opposing pitcher face a murderer's row of hitters.
He also made some weird moves. Daniel Descalso and John Jay should have been facing somebody stronger than Darren Oliver in the 10th in game 6. The Cardinals should not have been able to score two runs with weak 7, 8 and 9 hitters coming up in a game where LaRussa had to bat a pitcher in the 9 spot because he was out of position players.
One thing I am sure about is that the Rangers won't be back next year. Too much to hope for. Too much has to go right. But they're an easy group of players to root for.
That was just a tough way to lose. Not specifically tonight, but the series as a whole.
The Rangers may have joined the pantheon of sports franchises whose misery is operatic in scale. Only two teams have lost the World Series when they were an out from winning, and the Rangers are the first to reach the penultimate out twice in one game. Both times they were one strike away!
It's embarrassing to admit, but I was physically ill Thursday night and Friday morning from game 6. Sports suck. I have wasted these years in a foolish pursuit. I could've been spending all this time finding a cure for Restless Leg Syndrome.
I've been entertaining myself by trying to come up with a name for a blog that captures the Rangers' greatest moment of woe. So far, my best is Jump Nelson Jump.
posted by rcade at 12:16 PM on October 29, 2011
On some baseball sites, they are calling the job by Washington as one of the worst managerial performances in post-season history.
His pitching decisions (who and when, and intentional walks) and lineup construction were terrible. In more evil spots of the internet, some are suggesting he must be back on the white pony to do some of the things he does.
I've been entertaining myself by trying to come up with a name for a blog that captures the Rangers' greatest moment of woe.
"Oh, God! Not Freese!"
posted by grum@work at 12:55 PM on October 29, 2011
I really like that Rangers team and would rather they win the World Series than any team other than the Cardinals (or maybe the Tigers). On Washington's managing, I have seen calls from some corners of the Twitterverse (Joe Sheehan in particular) that there should be two managers for some teams -- a relationship guy/motivator (in Texas' case, Washington) and a tactician (someone else).
On the Cardinals side, really happy to see Albert Pujols get a deserved second championship to go with all the individual accomplishments. Also really happy for Furcal, Berkman and Dotel, three long-term pros who had never won a World Series. And all the "kids" (most of whom are in their late 20s) like Craig, Freese, and Motte, who got started on their MLB careers relatively late but showed that they can compete on the big stage. For whatever reason (certainly not hurt by the playoff beards), the Cardinals seemed to me to be like a hockey team in terms of demeanor and look in this postseason.
The Cardinals have had a fair number of playoff teams during La Russa's tenure (I recall seeing something like 9 of 16 years, which is pretty impressive for a non-Yankees team), and two of the worst teams on paper and by record (2006 and 2011) have won the whole thing. Baseball can be funny like that sometimes.
posted by holden at 02:35 PM on October 29, 2011
On some baseball sites, they are calling the job by Washington as one of the worst managerial performances in post-season history.
While he was part of the coaching staff for the Mets early in his career, there were times in those last two games where it felt like Washington really wasn't up to speed on how to manage a game under NL rules.
posted by etagloh at 03:21 PM on October 29, 2011
Getting to the World Series, winning three games, and coming within a strike of winning the whole thing (twice!) seems like a pretty good job for such a shitty manager.
I've been entertaining myself by trying to come up with a name for a blog that captures the Rangers' greatest moment of woe.
"Hell Freeses Over."
posted by kirkaracha at 04:49 PM on October 29, 2011
Getting to the World Series, winning three games, and coming within a strike of winning the whole thing (twice!) seems like a pretty good job for such a shitty manager.
Now imagine how good they'd be with a good manager? Scary good.
posted by justgary at 04:53 PM on October 29, 2011
That was a wild World Series. Congratulations to St. Louis and their fans.
posted by Joey Michaels at 05:01 AM on October 30, 2011
At the start of the 6th, it's St Louis 3, Texas 2, and the Umpires with 2. I really hope something else happens so this isn't an issue.