Major League Baseball 2011

The Cid · Post by **The Cid** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:43 am

Deacon wrote:Well, Napoli's 2-run go ahead double and two perfect throws to second sealed it for the Rangers at home.

Fixed. And holy crap. You can't get much more out of a catcher than Napoli from the fifth inning on. Also, Beltre's home run was it's own level of insane. "Here, I'm just going to follow this curveball half way to the ground, take a swing nobody's ever seen before anywhere and...yeah, tie game, don't touch my head."

Deacon · Post by **Deacon** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:02 am

Haha, yeah, he went so low he was literally on his knees at the end of that swing. It wasn't something I was really expecting, especially how he was fanning the entire crowd earlier on. I guess he said screw it, not a single other ball is getting by me.

And you're right. After some questionable defensive play for the Rangers, Napoli really came through. Reminds me slightly of when Pudge was on top of his game...

The Cid · Post by **The Cid** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:43 pm

This is Tony La Russa in a nutshell: it's never his fault. It must have been the crowd. That's not much of an excuse, as bullpen coaches are often called during the louder moments of a ballgame.

Also, given his reaction to the ensuing at bat, I'm not so willing to believe his story.

Deacon wrote:Reminds me slightly of when Pudge was on top of his game...

Maybe Napoli will get to take the nickname "Pudge" from Rodriguez, who had it after Carlton Fisk. Once two people have had the same nickname at the same position, I feel like that nickname should turn into a title. We could even have a ceremony where Fisk speaks, then Ivan Rodriguez speaks, and then Mike Napoli gets to accept the title of Pudge.

Deacon · Post by **Deacon** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:59 pm

I have a feeling he would prefer to have his own nickname. Few want to be seen as just another iteration of a previous player, even a great one. However, a Pudge *award* might be different, kind of like a Cy Young award.

The Cid · Post by **The Cid** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:00 pm

Deacon wrote:I have a feeling he would prefer to have his own nickname.

Yeah, but it's 2011: I'm sure he'd end up being M-Nap or something stupid like that. Or, he could be the Third Pudge. Sure, Fisk and Rodriguez cast quite a shadow, but that's what makes it a challenge. He'd have to work to live up to the name, by playing way longer than anybody expected him to and crafting a moment or two that will be remembered for decades. Then, someday, he'll get to identify the Fourth Pudge.

ampersand · Post by **ampersand** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:47 pm

While I think this series will go the distance, I now think the Rangers will be able to win it regardless. You're not going to have Carpenter even on short rest, and he was their best pitcher. Paradoxically enough, in order for the Cardinals to have a chance in Game 7, the starting pitcher will need to pitch a good eight innings, which they haven't done all throughout the playoffs. The strategy of putting in relief pitchers whenever needed that some were heralding as genius from LaRussa is coming to bite them in the ass.

Deacon · Post by **Deacon** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:55 am

The Cid wrote:Then, someday, he'll get to identify the Fourth Pudge.

The Pudge simply regenerates.

The Cid · Post by **The Cid** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:24 pm

Deacon wrote:The Pudge simply regenerates.

See? He can have his own identity and still be The Pudge, he just needs a scarf or a bowtie or something. (I really wish I knew more Doctor Who references right about now. Since I led you straight to this. Um...trust him, he's The Pudge? Yep, that's all I got.)

ampersand wrote:Paradoxically enough, in order for the Cardinals to have a chance in Game 7, the starting pitcher will need to pitch a good eight innings

I disagree. The Cardinals' chances in these last two games fall exactly where they should fall: squarely on the shoulders of the best player the franchise has had since Bob Gibson was around. Albert Pujols either has two unforgettable nights where he carries the Cardinals to a victory, or the Rangers celebrate their first championship ever. Just remember, in a situation like game three, it doesn't really matter who pitches. To me, the World Series MVP will either be Mike Napoli (because the Rangers held on) or Albert Pujols (because a guy like that is capable of rendering all other arguments invalid.)

By the way, the last catcher to win World Series MVP was Pat Borders of the 1992 Toronto Blue Jays. That's right, Joe Carter did not win MVP in the Series that is entirely remembered for Joe Carter hitting a walkoff home run.

Deacon · Post by **Deacon** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:58 am

Oh man....

Deacon · Post by **Deacon** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:42 am

Son of a bitch. Game 7 it is. Fuck you, Carpenter. Napoli still deserves the MVP no matter what happens.

The Cid · Post by **The Cid** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 11:06 am

Oof. Rough one for the Rangers. The only silver lining I can find for you is that it shouldn't have ended last night. All those errors, then add in the Rangers' pitchers not being able to execute a bunt play. That's no way for a World Series to end. Not one shaping up as nicely as this one.

Michael Young's "error" was nothing of the sort. Most of the time, a diving play where the infielder fails to convert the out is ruled a hit. Yes, I get hung up on little things like that.

The Cardinals are no Team of Destiny. You don't get to be a Team of Destiny when you've played enough World Series games that they'll make graphics about team records in the World Series.

I've grown to loathe Tony La Russa even more during this series. Hey Tony, you know what you call a pitcher that can only get lefties out and only for one out per game? Ineffective. Next time you're wondering "why do tight baseball games take upwards of five hours," just remember that it's all La Russa's fault.

Deacon wrote:Napoli still deserves the MVP no matter what happens.

I'm glad that a catcher's snap throw to a base finally worked. I don't think I've ever seen that work before, even though a catcher tries to pick someone off in every baseball game played anymore. (Likewise, can we outlaw that stupid "fake to third, throw to first" move that right handers try when there are runners on the corners? That never works.)

ampersand · Post by **ampersand** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:20 pm

Wow. Just wow.

ampersand · Post by **ampersand** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 9:37 pm

Okay. Game 7, winner takes all, all hands on deck. Who you got?

Me, there is one trivia stat that I think bears looking:

Rany Jazayerli wrote:Of the last 13 occasions in which a major league team had a 3-2 playoff series lead, then lost Game 6 on the road, 12 of those teams also lost Game 7. (The exception? The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals, who lost Game 6 of the NLCS at Shea Stadium, but won Game 7 when Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning.)

You have to go back to 1975 to see a team who was strong enough to overcome the set back of losing a Game 6, with the Cincinnati Reds versus Boston. In that case, Cincinnati was clearly a better team than Boston. Are the Rangers that much better than the Cards? No.

On the field, I think it will come down to Matt Harrison. Can he have a good outing? (He hasn't been great this Post-Season: (1-1), 5.02 ERA, 15 H, 10 R (8 Earned), 15 K, 7 BB, .259 opp. avg). At this point anything and everything could happen. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if it's a 0-0 tie going into the 9th at this point. But I think it's all on Harrison tonight. (And I don't know if he can rise to the occasion.)

I'm going go to with the Cards, but barely: 5 - 4, probably in extra innings. Expect clear skies at temperatures starting at 51°F and plummet down to about 43°F. There had better be some whiskey in that hot chocolate there, Cardinals Fans.

The Cid · Post by **The Cid** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 10:14 pm

ampersand wrote:Who you got?

The fans. We win tonight. Shit, we get a game seven, one of the Old Guard (St. Louis. Baseball history has a few teams that, for good or ill, appear an awful lot. The Cardinals are definitely one of those teams.), a team that's really easy to like (Texas), it's on a Friday night, and for some reason I have a feeling there could even be a fight. (Wait. I know that reason. It's Chris Carpenter, who cussed out Mike Napoli during game 5 for some reason and now has to bat sometime in the next few hours with Napoli calling the signals behind him. Pitchers in days gone by would be aiming at Carpenter's hands for that. If the benches clear, don't say I didn't warn you.)

ampersand wrote: Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if it's a 0-0 tie going into the 9th at this point.

I just had a Jack Morris flashback. Thank you. That was awesome.

collegestudent22 · Post by **collegestudent22** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 12:51 am

The Cid wrote:
ampersand wrote: Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if it's a 0-0 tie going into the 9th at this point.
I just had a Jack Morris flashback. Thank you. That was awesome.

If only. Instead we got a 2-2 tie going into the third.

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