Last game of the season, trailing by 4 with two out in the bottom of the 9th, why not let Chad Cordero hit for himself? What are they gonna do, fire the manager?
Some nice glovework in left by Public Enemy no. 1 (step off, T.0.) Lastings Milledge, who apparently has found himself in Billy Wagner’s doghouse. I can’t think of anyone better qualified to enforce clubhouse etiquette than a reliever who a) has worn a Mets uniform all of 6 months and b) maintained such a poor rapport with his teammates in Philly.
Congrats to Fredbird, Joe Buck and the Human Whoopee Cushion on the St. Louis Cardinals clinching the NL Central with….today’s 5-3 loss to the Brewers. Anthony Reyes never made it out of the first inning, surrendering HR’s to Prince Fielder and Geoff Jenkins, the latter in what might be his last game in a Milwaukee uniform.
On the other hand, Braden Looper once again knows what it is like to be on the field during a pennant clincher.
St. Louis’s path to a probable NLDS exit was primed by the Braves’ John Smoltz, who defeated the innocent-until-proven-guilty Astros, 3-1 at Turner Field, eliminating Houston. Tony La Russa might want to send a candygram in the direction of Chris Burke and Mike Lamb, whose infield errors led to 2 of Atlanta’s runs.
Good news for Pittsburgh fans : Freddie Sanchez (2 for 4 today against Cincinnati, .344) is your first NL Batting Champ since 1983. The day’s bad news? Kevin McClatchy isn’t going anywhere.