Cardinals 4, Mets 2 (Cardinals lead the series, 3-2)
What do you think Fox was trying to say when they picked Weezer’s “Hash Pipe” for their Wevie Stonder I highlights?
You can keep telling me the game is over. But I’m certain Shawn Green is still in right field running after a ball that’s rolled all the way to the wall.
Take a bow, Jeff Kellogg, you more than earned a full Cardinals playoff share tonight. Even Eric Gregg thought it was deplorable.
My own biased moaning aside, Weaver didn’t fold after allowing a 2-RBI double to the ‘Stache. La Russa burnished his genius credentials by leaving Stonder on the mound to face the Carlos Twins with Boogie Shoes on first in the 5th inning ; the least talented pitcher in the Weaver clan got both of ’em to pop up.
That Tom Glavine was taken deep by Albert Pujols is no disgrace — it was a matter of time before the latter did some damage, and it least it happened with the bases empty. But the subsequent 2 out, 4 pitch walk to Scott Rolen two hitters later was the real killer. Either Glavine forgot about Rolen’s dead left shoulder or his location totally sucked, probably the former.
It was a hell of a bounceback night for the St. Louis relief corps — though I’ll insist they had Kellogg looking out for their best interests, Josh Kinney didn’t give up a game tying HR to David Wright in the 8th, while Randy Flores and Adam Wainright recorded the biggest outs of the night, if not the series, against Green and Valentin respectively.
Does it look grim at the moment for the Metropolitans? Mos def, and especially so when you consider their pinch hitting options consist of automatic outs Michael Tucker, Anderson Hernandez and not-quite-Kirk-Gibson Fred Sanford Cliff Floyd. My lack of rational perspective is still glued to Mota and Wagner pissing away Game 2, but I can still come up with a few reasons for optimism heading back to Flushing.
1) For a shot at winning their first World Series in 20 years, the Mets need to win two games in a row, at home, against an opponent that won 83 games in the regular season.
2) If last Friday night is any indication, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner is neither Jesus Christ, nor Mike Scott.
3) The Mets apparently have some kind of history in these Game 6 / facing elmination contests. I’m not familar with the details, but I’m told there’s a popular DVD box set that chronicles the story, along with a critically acclaimed (by Eddie Trunk) film starring Michael Keaton.
Gary Cohen just suggested that Jeff Weaver wasn’t very good tonight. I look forward to the ensuing coverage of Cohen’s growing surliness.
CSTB,
I like that we’re pretending 2000’s ws never happened… Lets keep it that way. I heard we lost to some other team in the area but its probably just a rumor.
I still believe in this team, even with maine and d-ollie goin.
And, Will Leitch is a loser.
Good to know I wasn’t alone in my disdain for Kellogg’s balls and non-strikes tonight. Punching out Valentin with runners on second and third in the eighth is the sort of thing that is hard to get over. As hard to get over as your closer giving up three runs in four batters? Eh, maybe not that bad. But they both suck.
Also, Pujols running the ball to first against Cliff Floyd: I think that was a dick move. Just saying. Although Albert hasn’t exactly distinguished himself with his non-dickery this postseason.
Dear Benny and The Jets,
the great thing about your comment / my gaffe is that I was staring at Todd Zeile opening his mouth (and nothing was coming out). I don’t think he was discussing the importance of running every ball out.
not only do i (sort of recall) 2000, but the saturday of Game Uno marked a) the first time I was on a plane that crashed and b) the last time I rode the 4 train at 2:30 in the morning. The latter experience felt safer than the former, so let’s hear it for the MTA and their shiny trains.
I hate to change the subject, but after what happened to Arizona last night against the Bears, had say, Wright and ‘Stache gone back to back in the 8th? I’m pretty sure the Mighty MJD would be Deads–n’s interim weekly editor starting tomorrow. Short of say, daily harrassment from an unknown online enemy, the above occurances would’ve been way too much for our hero to endure.
Me? I require no extra motivation to take far too much vicarious pleasure in the exploits of overpaid men I’ve never met. Not only am I, in the Seinfeldian sense, openly rooting for laundry, it isn’t even very nice laundry! Jesus fucking christ, why not go with the blue hats and ‘stripes tomorrow night, Charlie Samuels! Mr. Blackwell? Anna Wintour? Who makes these decisions? How about embracing what little tradition this club has? I’m not talking about throwbacks or some nutty Green Machine box opening scene. Just the bog standard, moderne facsmile of the uni these Muts wore in ’69, ’73, ’86 ’88, and even in the blessed days of Bobby Bo, Brett Saberhagen and Vince ‘Born On The Fourth Of July’ Coleman. Blue hats! Pinstripes! DIE REDBIRDS DIE, etc.
thank you
GC
David,
Todd Zeile (again!) is very insistent that Jeff Kellogg is a crap b&s’ caller in most situations. If these SNY gents continue to talk like reasonable, only partially biased persons, I’m gonna have to turn on the ‘FAN. At deep, dark moments like these I really need to hear someone screaming bloody fucking murder so I can start feeling all superior and detatched. That’s not what they’re paying you for, Todd, I’m pretty certain, and don’t think I’m above calling Jeff Wilpon’s lovely wife to discuss the matter.
I truly hope that Game 5 will not mark Shawn Green’s defining moments as a New York Met. Lord knows members of our tribe put up with far too much prejudice in the sportswriting and entertainment fields as is. Some of us are looking for something, ANYTHING to give us hope (though control of the banks and the aforementioned entertainment industry is slim consolation)
By the way, I found Steve Lyons’ wallet and this picture was inside it.
re : Albert’s dick move. Just his way of showing Tony and all the naysayers that his hammy’s feeling just fine. That, and he’s a dick.
I can’t believe the Napoleon Dynamite guy is already doing Nissan Sentra ads. That was fast.
Hey, Knicks highlights on SNY! I’m pretty sure I can purchase a handgun at this hour.
That fake strike zone that Fox was using was way too small. The one that ESPN uses is way better (though you have to tolerate listening to Joe Morgan or Rick Sutcliffe while they ‘analyze’ the pitch) and I recommend that you quit blaming the umpire for the non-implosion of Jeff Weaver last night. I actually think they should widen the strike zone or make the mound higher because I’m sick of watching 5-hour A.L. East games.
I’ll measure the ump-blame with considerable credit to the Cards relievers. Weaver was totally hittable last night (do I sound like Albert yet?) but you don’t win games on style points. The hardest hit ball by a Met last night was Beltran’s liner to right on which Encarnacion made a nice grab …a similar ball hit in the vincinity of say, Shawn Green, would probably be a double.
And I will throw more credit the way of St. Louis’
assholegenius manager. Look at what he’s gotten out of the likes of Spiezio, Duncan and Miles in this series, compared to the output of Randoph’s bench. Or rather, don’t look, it’s kind of ghastly.While I’m not going to pack it in with regards to the Mets, I do admit things look bleak. Tonight will require a little channeling of Mookie and some good vibes. Oh, and some strong pitching from John Maine.
But, I can also take pleasure in knowing that the Tigers will probably demolish the Cardinals and there’s a good chance Tony LaRussa will get swept yet again in the World Series. He’s already got a hat trick of WS sweeps and I can see Detroit adding a 4th sweep to his resume. Maybe they should right a book called “Four Nights In October” next time with all the boring details about LaRussa’s team getting swept out of the WS time and time again.
As much as I hate Kenny Rogers for what he did in 1999 and wish he would join Steve Traschel in hell, the Tigers are a pretty fun club to watch. They’re not the Yankees in that they seem to actually enjoy playing the game and I can easily root for them should the Cardinals eliminate the Mets.