Congratulation to the Houston Astros, who are on their way to their first World Series. I'm not happy it came at the expense of the Cardinals, but what can you say? In the end, Houston's pitching (well, except Lidge) was just too much. The off-season should see some hard questions in St. Louis about why Edmonds and Walker disappear during the playoffs, and why nobody besides Carpenter could string together a decent game.
Walker I sort of understand, he played in Colorado for so long he was unfamiliar with the playoffs.
Good luck with the White Sox...you're going to need it.
The Cards are in the middle of a nice run, and that'll continue next year. Walker retired, so u dont have to worry about him anymore. Edmonds? tight as a drum in the playoffs.
Its still a good era to be a Cardinals fan.
The Astros this year, the Bosox last year--the Cards as the doormats for two long time post-season underachievers. That's fine, the Stros earned it, and they're still my second team. And the Red Sox--I guess they deserved some relief from 86 years of ineptitude and near misses. (although having lived in Maine for the last 5 years, all the bawling and sniveling of "The Red Sox Nation" gets a little shrill at times).
But please, PLEASE God, don't let it be the freaking CUBS that that beat us in the playoffs next year!!
raybob...its 'Red Sox Nation'...we eschew the use of the article ;-)
So who will you be rooting for in the Fall Classic, Mr. Bitterman?
Re: where did Jedmonds, and Walker disappear to, Brian Gunn has a very good writeup at The Hardball Times:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/monkey-off-their-backs-astros-reach-the-world-series/
Basically, I think he's on to something with the suggestion that the Cardinals, owing to their rather advanced collective age, may just be running out of gas when October comes:
I dont really know, but I do wonder if the Cardinals, who have one of the oldest teams in baseball, get worn down by the time they hit the middle of October. Is it a coincidence, for example, that the only Cards who had decent series Pujols, Molina, Nunez, and Carpenter are in their 20s, while the ones who had truly atrocious series Walker, Grudzielanek, Tavarez are well into their 30s?
So who will you be rooting for in the Fall Classic, Mr. Bitterman?
Houston. As much of a perverse thrill as I get out of the Other Chicago Team making it to the WS, I'm an NL guy. Unless it's the Cubs. Or the Mets.
Or the Braves.
And that's "Dean" Bitterman to you.
Good series, Pete. Given that I was sure we were going to blow it I hope that doesn't sound disingenuous.