Heres the playoff matchups.

[T Park]

Minnesota VS Oakland in Minnesota I believe.

Detroit VS New York in New York


New York vs Los Angeles in NY.

St Louis vs San Diego in SD.



predicitions?


Minnesota in 4

New York in 4

LA in 4

STL in 5.

[resistanze]

Twins Sweep
Yanks in 5
Mets in 4
STL in 4

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

All five games except for SD in four.

(Sadly) Yankees in five.
Twins in five.
Dodgers in five.
Padres in four.

[FromWayDowntown]

A hunch:

Minnesota in 4
Yankees in 5
Dodgers in 4
Padres in 4

Minnesota in 6
Padres in 7

Minnesota in 6

I'm sure that I'll be proven 100% full of crap.

[T Park]

I like it.

All the media and all the people on here discount the Cardinals.

If we lose, theres no gloating, if they win, its suprised elation :lol

[FromWayDowntown]

All the media and all the people on here discount the Cardinals.

There are 4 predictions posted; 2 take the Cardinals to beat the Padres and 2 take the Padres to beat the Cardinals. I'd hardly say that "all the people on here discount the Cardinals," even if I was searching for some reason to feel offended or disrespected.

You sound like the 05-06 Pistons or something.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

And considering the Cardinals were two games away from the biggest collapse in history, it's kind of hard to disagree with people thinking the Cards won't simply flip the switch.

[T Park]

And considering the Cardinals were two games away from the biggest collapse in history, it's kind of hard to disagree with people thinking the Cards won't simply flip the switch

Doesn't mean shit now.

Everyones at 0-0.


No pressure is on them, and like the players and TLR said, gonna go out and give it a whirl, if we lose, oh well, if we win, we suprise people.

[T Park]

There are 4 predictions posted; 2 take the Cardinals to beat the Padres and 2 take the Padres to beat the Cardinals. I'd hardly say that "all the people on here discount the Cardinals," even if I was searching for some reason to feel offended or disrespected.

You sound like the 05-06 Pistons or something.

I meant all the media and some on here, I apologize for my snafu.

But it is true, no one in the media or anywhere else has picked the Cardinals.

I like it.

If the Cardinals win, I can't wait to hear the crawdading.

[T Park]

Heres a stat for you guys, that think the Cardinals are just helpless.


Runs scored 781 (prorated to 786 since we only played 161 games, which translates into 6th in NL and 14th in MLB)

Runs allowed 762 (prorated to 767 runs since we only played 161 games, which translates into 5th best in NL and 10th in MLB


6th in the NL in runs scored

5th in runs allowed.


The way the media and alot of fans talk, youd think they were under 500 and a pathetic team.


Everyone that says they have to flip a switch yada yada.

They can.

They are done getting chased.

They are now the hunter and not the hunted.


Remember the Steelers.........

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

San Diego Padres: 3.87 ERA
St. Louis Cardinals: 4.54 ERA

And just for good measure...

Los Angeles Dodgers: 4.23 ERA
New York Mets: 4.14 ERA

Padres opponents BA: .249
Cardinals opponents BA: .268

SD K/BB: 2.34
StL K/BB: 1.92

SD BB/9: 2.88
StL BB/9: 3.17

LAD BA: .276
StL BA: .269

The Padres steal more, take more walks...

The Dodgers and Mets score more...

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Remember the Steelers.........

I do.

The Steelers won their last four games before the playoffs started.

The Cardinals lost 10 of their last 16 and nine of their last 12. The Cardinals went 12-17 in Sept./Oct.

The Cardinals lost the season series to the Padres and Mets (and swept the Dodgers).

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

You just better hope Suppan gets his fastball working early.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

And I make all these statements and pull up stats and count wins and losses (for whatever fucking reason, I can't sleep at 4:30 in the morning) not because I dislike the Cardinals, but because your claims that the previous 162 (well, 161) games don't mean a thing is, quite simply, false.

If I were you, I wouldn't reference the Steelers to make your point, I'd reference the Chicago White Sox of last season and how they snuck up on a lot of people to win the WS.

Except the Cardinals don't have a third starter (the likely Game 3 starter has exactly ZERO post-season wins), and they have a Game 4 starter who is either a rookie or the lesser of the Weaver boys.

The CWS had four starters with 14 or more wins. The Cards have two [and one of them is under .500 (Marquis 14-16)]. In comparison, the 2005 CWS pitcher with double-digit losses also led the team in wins (Garland 18-10).

[MajorMike]

The Pads pitching hasn't been exactly stellar. Peavy is 11-14. No one knows Williams better than the Cards. Young only has 2 decisions in his last 9 starts.

Carp is 2-0 with 2.14 ERA in post season.
Suppan is 2-2 with 3.84 ERA.
Peavy is 0-1 with 16.62 ERA.
Williams is 3-2 with 5.50 ERA (with Pads 0-1 27.00 ERA)

Position-wise:
C: Pads
1B: Cards
2B: Even
SS: Cards
3B: Cards
LF: Pads
CF: Pads
RF: Even
Pen: Pads
Bench: Even
Skip: Cards
X Factor: Cards (Best player in NL; Best Pitcher in NL; have had much recent playoff sucess)

If the Cards show up, they are better team. If the same lame team shows up that has been playing the past 2 weeks, we can adopt the scrubbies "Wait 'til next year" cheer.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

The Pads pitching hasn't been exactly stellar.

True, but overall, they've been one of the better staffs since the ASB.

[T Park]

Yet the lowest ERA of any pitcher since the ASB is?

Jeff Suppan....


Its fine.

Its cool.

Its kinda cool going in as the underdog.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Yet the lowest ERA of any pitcher since the ASB is?

Jeff Suppan....


Its fine.

Its cool.

Its kinda cool going in as the underdog.

I didn't realize Jeff Suppan was going to pitch every inning of the NLDS.

My bad, please carry on, and while you're at it, take this World Series trophy with you.

We won't be needing any playoffs or anything like that.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Oh, you know those silly statistics don't mean anything.

Forget that since the ASB, the Cards are last out of the playoff teams in stupid statistics like ERA, WHIP, Saves, Save Opportunities, Runs Allowed, HR Allowed, Strikeouts, Winning Percentage, Opponents Batting Average, Opponents Slugging, Opponents On-Base %, Holds, K to BB Ratio (tied with SD), K/9 and H/9.

Oh, and that they're next to last in BB/9, Walks Allowed and Hits Allowed.

Now, you might say that the Cards will beat teams with their powerful offensive output.

True, it could happen.

But hitting gets you to the playoffs, pitching wins the Series.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

http://espn.go.com/i/page2/photos/061002/061002_nlcentral.jpg

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Speaking of the Cardinals...has Tony La Russa mentioned if Matt Leinart will make the start this week?

[T Park]

I didn't realize Jeff Suppan was going to pitch every inning of the NLDS.

My bad, please carry on, and while you're at it, take this World Series trophy with you.

We won't be needing any playoffs or anything like that

Oh grow up.

You said they had NO ONE outside of Carpenter.

So i mentioned Suppan.

Thats it.


But go on trashing the Cardinals.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Oh grow up.

You said they had NO ONE outside of Carpenter.

So i mentioned Suppan.

Thats it.


But go on trashing the Cardinals.

I'm pretty sure I mentioned that Suppan needed to get his fastball working early and that the Cards didn't have a third starter.

I said the likely Game 3 starter had no post-season wins (considering Jeff has two, it can't be him I was talking about). I said the likely Game 4 starter was either a rookie (Jeff's pitched 11 seasons) or one of the Weaver boys (Jeff's last name is Suppan).

So, where did I say the Cards had
NO ONE outside of Carpenter.?

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

But go on trashing the Cardinals.

But go on ignoring anything like statistics, history and past performances.

[bigdog]

minnesota in 4
yanks in 5
mets in 4
padres will sweep

[Burn531]

A's in 4
NYM in 5
STL in 5
DET in 4

[RogerIsEatingASandwich]

minnesota in 4
yankees in 4
la in 5
san diego in 5

[shelshor]

Cards over Padres in 4
Mets over Dodgers in 3

Twins over A's in 4
Yankees over Tigers in 4

[MajorMike]

I said the likely Game 3 starter had no post-season wins


The Pads Game 1 starter has no post season wins.

[FromWayDowntown]

You guys keep talking about the starting pitching, but the bullpens tend to make the most difference in playoff baseball, particularly in the National League where managers are frequently forced to lift pitchers for offense. I don't think you can count on Carpenter and Suppan pitching 9 innings in each start. The pens are going to make a difference in this series. It might just be me, but I'll take the Padres pen over the Cardinals pen everyday of the week.

Trevor Hoffman vs. Adam Wainwright?

Check please.

[MajorMike]

Pads have the best pen in the League, no doubt if you are talking CLOSING a game. If the Pads are down, Hoffman doesn't pitch. The key is to use your offense to be ahead and not let Hoffman in the game. Easier said than done, but simple concept.

All in all, the Cards hit Hoffman for .333 this year.
They hit Peavy for .391.
Woody for .387.

Dessert tray?

[leemajors]

card middle relief leaves something to be desired. looper is great but he can't pitch every inning every game.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

If you want to go that route....Cardinals pitching vs. Padres (technically, Padres BA against Cards pitching)

Suppan - .349
Carpenter - .387
Looper - .500
Wainwright - .429

Weaver pitched once (and had a quality start) against the Padres (when he was with the Angels). His line:
6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R (all earned), 9K

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

The Pads Game 1 starter has no post season wins.

Wasn't Peavy pitching that game with cracked or broken ribs?

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Game 1 Probable Lineups vs. Opponent

Cards:

1. Eckstein - .417, 1 K, 2 BB, 2 RBI
2. Duncan - .154, 5 K, 1 HR, 1 RBI
3. Pujols - .333, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K, 1 SB
4. Encarnacion - .158, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
5. Rolen - .240, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 K
6. Edmonds - .231, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K
7. Belliard - .333, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K
8. Molina - .200, 1 RBI, 2 K
9. Carpenter - .000

Padres:

1. Roberts - .381, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 5 SB
2. Giles - .400, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K
3. Gonzales - .412, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 1 K
4. Piazza - .308, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
5. Branyan - .333, 2 K, 2 BB
6. Cameron - .320, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 SB
7. Blum - .250, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K
8. Barfield - .278, 1 RBI, 5 K
9. Peavy - .000

[FromWayDowntown]

I'm not in love with the Padres offense. But i have to say that if they hang close with the Cardinals through 5-6 innings, they have a monsterous advantage in late game situations. And I'm not sold that the Cardinals offense will beat around the Padres' pitching in the early innings.


Wasn't Peavy pitching that game with cracked or broken ribs?

He either had already cracked the rib before Game 1 of last year's NLDS, or he broke it during the game. He certainly didn't pitch well; how much of that was attributable to an injury will be seen (in part) in Game 1 of this year's NLDS. At least for his sake he knows he won't have to face Reggie Sanders.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the Padres are going to win by touchdowns and sweep the series, I'm just saying that people who honestly believe that the Cardinals can flip a switch and revert from the past month are mistaken.

[MajorMike]

Pads have the best pen in the League, no doubt if you are talking CLOSING a game. If the Pads are down, Hoffman doesn't pitch. The key is to use your offense to be ahead and not let Hoffman in the game. Easier said than done, but simple concept.

All in all, the Cards hit Hoffman for .333 this year.
They hit Peavy for .391.
Woody for .387.

Dessert tray?

You paying?

[FromWayDowntown]

You paying?

You're right. After one game, I'm pretty sure that the Cardinals are not only winning this series, but also the NLCS and the World Series.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

You're right. After one game, I'm pretty sure that the Cardinals are not only winning this series, but also the NLCS and the World Series.

Why are we even talking about it? I gave T Park the WS trophy already...these are simply exhibition games.

[T Park]

Just wondered what FWD thought about that Cardinal bully after today....

4 innings, 2 hits, about 5 or 6 strikeouts.

That Wainwright guy is ok I guess......

[MajorMike]

You're right. After one game, I'm pretty sure that the Cardinals are not only winning this series, but also the NLCS and the World Series.

Actually... if you take the time to read the thread and where the quotes came from... Blaze and I were dicussing pitching and closing. Please realize what you are talking about before trying to chunk spears.

Once again, Hoffman may be the best pitcher on either staff, but if he dont pitch his value is nil.

And it's 2 games now.

[resistanze]

Twins Sweep
Yanks in 5
Mets in 4
STL in 4

I meant A's.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Pads should tee off on Carpenter again. Chris Young will shut down as usual. Look for this to go at least 4, possibly 5.

I'd like to see Peavy again for game 4, or possibly Hensley and then Peavy for game 5. Can't figure out what's been wrong with Jake this year.:madrun

[T Park]

Pads should tee off on Carpenter again. Chris Young will shut down as usual. Look for this to go at least 4, possibly 5
:lmao

first off, Suppan pitches tommorow, and again, he had 1 bad game VS the Padres.

Best National league pitcher ERA after the all star break.

back to back Cy Young Carpenter going in game 4 if it goes that far.

Prob time for Young to have his bad start for the year too.

Gotta love how all of Padredom has given zippo credit to the Cardinals.

Peavy and others have practically said its a "We lost it they didnt win it"

[leemajors]

:lmao

first off, Suppan pitches tommorow, and again, he had 1 bad game VS the Padres.

Best National league pitcher ERA after the all star break.

back to back Cy Young Carpenter going in game 4 if it goes that far.

Prob time for Young to have his bad start for the year too.

Gotta love how all of Padredom has given zippo credit to the Cardinals.

Peavy and others have practically said its a "We lost it they didnt win it"

so padres fans aren't allowed to be blindly optimistic about their chances?

[TheSanityAnnex]

Peavy and others have practically said its a "We lost it they didnt win it"Is it not true?

Who played better down the stretch of the season?

You speak as if the Cards have "crushed" the Padres.
Hardly.

The Padres simply haven't scored runs, something they do at Petco all the time.

I don't think the chances of the Pads advancing are very great, but don't count them out yet.

[T Park]

You speak as if the Cards have "crushed" the Padres.
Hardly

Cardinals 7 runs, Padres 1.

Thats pretty crushing.


The Padres simply haven't scored runs, something they do at Petco all the time

Cardinal pitching had nothing to do with it Im sure :rolleyes


so padres fans aren't allowed to be blindly optimistic about their chances?


Link to where I said that please?


MR Body was right, this place rivals SPursreport now on the asshole level.

[leemajors]

Cardinals 7 runs, Padres 1.

Thats pretty crushing.



Cardinal pitching had nothing to do with it Im sure :rolleyes




Link to where I said that please?


MR Body was right, this place rivals SPursreport now on the asshole level.

mr body is never right. i was just asking why you are picking on someone doing what you always do, being optimistic at every oppurtunity about their team.

[TheSanityAnnex]

I don't think the chances of the Pads advancing are very great, but don't count them out yet.


Should have been a blowout today. Oh well. A win is a win.
Get ready to see Peavy of old and make the trip back to Petco Mr. Park.

[T Park]

Should have been, but the bully was solid.

Young did a great job, congrats to him, not job of Branyan to step up.


Time for Carpenter to impose his will again and be the Cy Young, and finish it off.

[T Park]

P.S.

A big fuck you to the St Louis Cardinal fans at the game.

1. the atmosphere was game 6 vs the pistons esque, pathetic.


2. Booing Jason Isringhausen, for absolutely nothing.


You people suck royally.

[T Park]

Don't know how concrete this is,

but supposedly tommorow's pitching matchups is

Chris Carpenter vs Woody Williams...

[Horry For 3!]

Don't know how concrete this is,

but supposedly tommorow's pitching matchups is

Chris Carpenter vs Woody Williams...
Woody Williams is solid

[TheSanityAnnex]

Don't know how concrete this is,

but supposedly tommorow's pitching matchups is

Chris Carpenter vs Woody Williams...


Oh God.

Not Woody. Please not Woody. He's been solid lately, but I'd rather see Peavy get another shot. Especially @ St. Louis with some actual run support.

[NorCal510]

a's swept motherfuckers

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

a's swept motherfuckers

Yeah, you should try to keep up. Although I wouldn't expect you to know about keeping up with the crowd.

So when the actual players on your JV football team are practicing, do you just stretch your legs and curl your toes to prepare for extra point kicking?

[TheSanityAnnex]

Was curious to see what Woody was at coming in to the playoffs, checked his last ten games....


LAST TEN GAMES....... 7-2, 1.48 era


I really don't care who pitches, not like its my choice. Just glad I get to see another game.

[FromWayDowntown]

A hunch:

Minnesota in 4
Yankees in 5
Dodgers in 4
Padres in 4

Minnesota in 6
Padres in 7

Minnesota in 6

I'm sure that I'll be proven 100% full of crap.

PROVEN. :oops

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

PROVEN. :oops

That's why I didn't go into the LCS.

Tigers in seven.

[ShoogarBear]

PROVEN. :oopsHoly crap. That was impressive. :lol

[BeerIsGood!]

Yeah, you should try to keep up. Although I wouldn't expect you to know about keeping up with the crowd.

So when the actual players on your JV football team are practicing, do you just stretch your legs and curl your toes to prepare for extra point kicking?

You're completely wrong there Johnny Blaze. No way that kid is on the JV. It's Freshman team - even if he's a senior... :lol

[T Park]

Bump.

I guess that Cardinals bully wasn't as bad as everyone thought.....

[Budkin]

Man, I'm psyched for the NLCS. Mets all the way baby!

[Condemned 2 HelLA]

PLEASE let the gA'ys get spanked by the Tigers!!!!

[FromWayDowntown]

Bump.

I guess that Cardinals bully wasn't as bad as everyone thought.....

They deserve credit. I'm not sure I'm ready to call them world beaters quite yet -- that Padres team looked like a late 90's Astros playoff team at the plate. But, the Cards' pen did pitch well when they needed it. Can't deny that.

[TheSanityAnnex]

good luck to the cards, always liked their fans, but they will get spanked by the mets.

[T Park]

They deserve credit. I'm not sure I'm ready to call them world beaters quite yet -- that Padres team looked like a late 90's Astros playoff team at the plate. But, the Cards' pen did pitch well when they needed it. Can't deny that

Don't get me wrong, the Pen has been bad, but in September they seemed to get better.

TJ JKin and Wainer have been HUGE.

Wainwright's curveball was Zito esque yesterday, whew that was nasty.


good luck to the cards, always liked their fans, but they will get spanked by the mets

Thank you, and, Im glad that you along with everyone else is still counting out the Cards :)

I understand why, and can't blame anyone.

But like the team has said.

"Get to October and see what happens"

The bully is as confident as ever, Weaver Carpenter are throwing well.

Suppan pitched better than the results showed IMO.


If the Cards can come out and get to Glavine early and Weaver can give em 5 or 6 solid innings again, the team will be right there.


Im also excited to see that ESPN is once again, going right down the line in picking the Mets.

Just like they did with the Padres. :)

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Don't get me wrong, the Pen has been bad, but in September they seemed to get better.

TJ JKin and Wainer have been HUGE.

Wainwright's curveball was Zito esque yesterday, whew that was nasty.



Thank you, and, Im glad that you along with everyone else is still counting out the Cards :)

I understand why, and can't blame anyone.

But like the team has said.

"Get to October and see what happens"

The bully is as confident as ever, Weaver Carpenter are throwing well.

Suppan pitched better than the results showed IMO.


If the Cards can come out and get to Glavine early and Weaver can give em 5 or 6 solid innings again, the team will be right there.


Im also excited to see that ESPN is once again, going right down the line in picking the Mets.

Just like they did with the Padres. :)

Damned media always hating on the Cardinals.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2006/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2618008&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1

Cards advance on Carpenter's arm, some good fortune
By Jayson Stark
ESPN.com

ST. LOUIS -- This wasn't going to be their year. This wasn't going to be their October. This wasn't going to be the St. Louis Cardinals of Octobers past.

But guess which team is heading to Shea Stadium this week, for its third straight tour of the National League Championship Series?

Yeah, it's the Cardinals, all right. This sport just can't assemble a final four without them, apparently.

So what the heck are they doing here, a week and a half after their spectacular '64 Phillies imitation almost made an 8½-game lead over the Astros disappear?

Well, they still have Albert Pujols. (You might have noticed that.) They still have their 46,000 red shirts in the stands. And after the way their 3-1 NLDS wipeout of the Padres unfolded, nobody should ever forget that they still have Chris Carpenter.

You know, it's a funny thing about this team. When we talk about it, we tend to start and end about 98 percent of those conversations with Pujols. But as much as any other reason -- Sir Albert included -- Carpenter is the reason the Cardinals will be allowed to continue playing baseball this week.

Actually, it all also stems from one of Tony La Russa's more brilliant decisions -- a decision that set Carpenter up to pitch two of the first four games of the NLDS.

The manager had the kind of choice men like him get paid to make: start his ace on the final day of the regular season, with his division still not clinched. Or spin the roulette wheel, start somebody else and pray the Cardinals could clinch without him.

La Russa decided to spin that wheel. Looking back, he said Sunday, it "wasn't a tough call." But all that mattered was that it was the right call -- a call that may have changed the course of his team's safari through another October.

"I'll tell you one thing," said backup catcher Gary Bennett. "I'm sure the San Diego Padres wish Chris Carpenter would have pitched the last day of the season."

"Yeah, it worked out perfect for them, didn't it?" said Padres center fielder Mike Cameron.

Right. Perfect. Because Carpenter didn't pitch that final Sunday, he was ready to stomp to the mound on Tuesday to start Game 1 of the Cardinals' postseason.

And because the Cardinals lucked into the one Division Series with two off days instead of one, La Russa was also able to march his ace back out there Sunday -- on regular rest -- to start Game 4.

With a team that has been accused by some scouts of having essentially a one-man starting rotation, it couldn't have lined up any better. And Carpenter then held up his end, just the way the manager scripted it.

It was Carpenter who restored the Cardinals' equilibrium -- not to mention their sanity -- by dominating the Padres into the seventh inning of Game 1.

Then, on Sunday night, back home in the always-euphoric Busch Stadium, it was Carpenter who finished off this NLDS by rolling another of his seemingly unlimited supply of two-runs-in-seven-inning starts off his personal assembly line.

So do the math. The Cardinals needed to win three games in this round to move on. Carpenter won two of them, without having to pitch on short rest, and without forcing everybody to jump on a plane to San Diego for a sweat-it-out Game 5. Pretty good deal.

"You know what?" said Cameron. "We knew, if we were going to beat them, we were going to have to face him twice anyway -- unless we swept them or something. But it worked out real good for them. He pitched two good games when he had to. Tonight, he wasn't as sharp as he was the first game. ... But he still got guys out."

In this game, Carpenter actually threw an unforeseen twist into the regularly scheduled plot line, with a first inning so harrowing, it scared the crimson out of everyone around him.

It wasn't just that he got his team behind, 2-0, so fast. It was how he did it.

With three walks in one inning. (He hadn't even issued three unintentional walks in a whole game since June 13.)

With his first force-in-a-run, bases-loaded walk in more than five years (against a team that had gone 1 for its first 25 with runners in scoring position yet).

With a 35-pitch first inning that made you wonder if he would even make it through four innings on this night, let alone seven.

But somehow, he left those bases loaded and wriggled out of it. And it was "two runs, not four or five," said La Russa, heart still pounding three hours later. Then the Cardinals, naturally, bounced back in the bottom of the first to score two off their old friend Woody Williams. And for the rest of the night, the real Chris Carpenter was back in control.

Over the next six innings, no Padre made it farther than first base. And when the Cardinals offense finally mugged Williams and his bullpen for four game-breaking runs in the sixth, you could feel the city of St. Louis exhale -- for the first time in two weeks.

"You know, everybody always says that once you get to the playoffs, you never know what's going to happen," said Isringhausen. "We're kind of proving that. So we'll just keep playing. You never know what's going to happen the next round, either."

The next round, of course, will match them up with a Mets team that has had that World Series look since it burst into its first spring training stretching session in Port St. Lucie.

That Cardinals team on their menu, on the other hand, hasn't had that look for a long, long time now. This team was 34-21 -- the best record in the National League -- the day Pujols got hurt in June. It had virtually the same record (49-57) as the Royals (49-58) the rest of the season.

This club's legacy will show that it became the first team in history to make the playoffs despite three losing streaks of seven games or more. And there was a time, not much more than a week ago, when you wondered if this group would even win a game in this postseason, let alone a series or three.

"Those last couple of weeks of the season, while the whole collapse thing was going on, one week seemed like it lasted a month," said Isringhausen. "So it's been fun to see these guys pull together the way they have."

Well, you don't have to be a descendent of Red Schoendienst to know exactly when things changed. You just have to look back to last Tuesday, and Game 1 of the playoffs.

One thing that jolted them back to life that day, said Bennett, was just the posting of the lineup card.

"When we saw that lineup, it was our regular lineup," Bennett said. "I don't know how many times we played that lineup this year, but not much. You know, we had Albert going down with his oblique [strain]. Scotty [Rolen] was sick for a couple of weeks. Jimmy [Edmonds] was hurt. So in Game 1, seeing those guys all out there, that was the team Tony, and all of us, envisioned having out there most of the year."

But a second thing also happened that day.

"The guy's unbelievable. … He's a horse, man. There are only a select few, and he's one of them. He's one of those guys you just feed off."
-- Jeff Weaver

Chris Carpenter happened.

More than any team in the NL half of the playoffs, the Cardinals needed something or somebody to grab hold of the steering wheel and get their runaway bus back on the highway. That somebody was Chris Carpenter.

"It all started with him in Game 1," Isringhausen said.

Carpenter's breaking ball was so untouchable that day that by the time the Padres finally scraped a sixth-inning run together, all it did was pull them within four runs. And by then, the Cardinals looked like the Cardinals again.

Not that Carpenter wants the credit for all that, you understand. But he conceded Sunday night that Game 1 "all of a sudden sent a message to us that, you know, we can do it."

It wasn't the only message, though. The other message -- one his teammates have been deciphering all year -- was: They couldn't do it without Chris Carpenter.

"We knew that's what he'd do that day," said the pitcher who won Game 2, Jeff Weaver. "He's the same way every time out. The guy's unbelievable. … He's a horse, man. There are only a select few, and he's one of them. He's one of those guys you just feed off."

And Sunday night, when they needed another feeding session, Carpenter rose up to set the table again.

You may not have noticed, but the Cardinals were able to do something in this game that they don't do a whole lot -- win on a night when Pujols, by some miracle, didn't get a hit.

Think that's no big deal? Guess again. The Cardinals went 14-21 this season in games Pujols started but went hitless. They'd also lost five consecutive postseason games in which Pujols unfurled an 0-for. They hadn't won one of those, in fact, since Game 2 of the 2002 NLCS.

But it was no coincidence that they finally won another one on a night when Carpenter started.

"It just seems like, day after day, this guy gets it done," Weaver said. "He's got everything you'd want in an ace. He's got the velocity. He's got the pitches. He's got the stamina. He's someone you can count on, each and every time he goes out there."

The bad news for the Cardinals, though, is that he may not be able to go out there again until Game 3 of the NLCS. Carpenter hasn't ruled out trying to come back on three days' rest to start Game 2. But however it plays out, it will be a lot tougher for him to dominate the next series the way he dominated this one.

The question, however, is whether he'll need to. This may not be as talented a team as the 2004 and 2005 juggernauts that won 100 games. But it's still dangerous this time of year -- now that Chris Carpenter has gotten out his tool kit, repaired the franchise GPS system and gotten them all back on their usual October course.

Jayson Stark is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

[resistanze]

Make your predictions.

Tigers vs. A's: Tigers in Six
Mets vs. Cards: Mets in Seven

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

God, I fucked these up pretty badly last week.

Mets in seven.
Tigers in six.

[T Park]

Damned media always hating on the Cardinals

Yeah they havent ripped the Cardinals horribly lately.

And everyone of their experts is NOT picking the Mets in 5.

Nah.

[T Park]

Don't get me wrong guys, this will be an uphill battle no question, but if there was one batting order to I guess prepare for the Mets? Thats the Padres.

Heavy leftys hitting for good average and semi to good power.

Not saying they are the same, but its the same looks so to speak.

Plus they just played the Mets in New York a couple weeks ago with Weaver Mulder and Marquis.

Marquis and Mulder obviously won't pitch, but it looks like game 1 its Jeff Weaver who really was pitching well in that game till the 6th inning, and the Cardinals had a 6 run lead on them in that game as well.

Suppan goes game 2, Carp game 3, and it looks like Anthony Reyes in game 4.

[T Park]

OH LOOK

Guess the media loves the Cardinals still right Johnny?


Cards can't contain Mets' offenseBy Keith Law
Scouts Inc.
Archive

The best team in the National League faces the team that barely slid under the playoff garage door before it slammed shut. The Cardinals' pitching looked a lot better against the Padres last week than it did for most of September, but the Mets' offense was one of the best in the NL this year.


Reyes

When the Mets are up
• When Chris Carpenter's not the starter for St. Louis, look for lots of Mets circling the bases. None of the Cardinals' other three starting pitching candidates, all of whom are right-handed, has a solid weapon to get left-handed batters out. St. Louis can't use Carpenter for three starts because they started him on regular rest on Sunday in the clinching game against San Diego, meaning that Jeff Weaver (who allowed a .669 slugging percentage to lefties this year) and Anthony Reyes will both have to get starts. Even Carpenter has some weakness against lefties, but not to the degree of his rotation-mates. The Mets' lineup can have three of its first four hitters and six of its eight hitters hitting from the left side, which gives them a huge advantage.
• If it comes down to matchup baseball in later innings, the Cardinals will have at least two lefties in the pen to use as specialists, while the Mets did not carry a right-handed-hitting outfielder on their NLDS bench.

• Yadier Molina vs. Jose Reyes. 'Nuff said.


Glavine

When the Cardinals are up
• This is suddenly an impatient lineup, with Albert Pujols standing like an island of hitting competence among a number of hackers and slap-hitters. The Mets' only real strike-throwers among their starters are John Maine and Tom Glavine, so the unstoppable force of Steve Trachsel and Oliver Perez will meet the immovable object of Preston Wilson and Juan Encarnacion.
• Expect some run-manufacturing from Tony La Russa, especially if Scott Rolen is relegated to spot duty due to his sore shoulder. Look for more attempted steals, sacrifices, and hit-and-runs as part of an effort to jump-start the depleted offense.

• Pujols may not get much to hit if his only protection is Jim Edmonds. Right or wrong, teams are increasingly pitching around Pujols, and Edmonds' performances since returning have made it appear that he's not fully recovered from his concussion. Willie Randolph might decide it's better to put Pujols on first and face Edmonds than risk letting Pujols go yard.


Keys for the Mets
• Getting four good innings from their starters every night. The Dodgers' offense was better than the Cardinals' offense this year, and if the Mets could beat them with four or five good innings from each starter (or even not-so-good, in Trachsel's case) and a Johnny Wholestaff approach from the bullpen, they can also beat the Cardinals that way.

Heilman
• Keeping the bullpen rolling. The Mets got great performances from Aaron Heilman, Billy Wagner, and Pedro Feliciano, and mostly good work from Guillermo Mota. Those four guys will be called on repeatedly in this series, so they'll need to pitch well and be able to pitch often.

• Executing on offense. The Mets have a strong offense, and the platoon advantage favors them heavily when the Cardinals' starters are on the mound. They need to score early before the Cardinals' resurgent late-game bullpen gets involved.


Keys for the Cardinals
• Deploying the lefties. The Cardinals carried two lefties in their NLDS pen; they should consider adding lefty Chris Narveson for the NLCS, although if the lefty-heavy Padres lineup didn't convince them to carry Narveson, the similarly lefty-heavy Mets lineup probably won't. The Mets are slightly less scary against lefties, with Carlos Delgado and Shawn Green most vulnerable. La Russa loves matchup baseball; he needs to have the weapons.

Spiezio
• Contributions from unexpected sources. Someone besides Pujols has to show up at the plate; the Mets are too good for Pujols to beat them by himself. It could be Edmonds or Rolen, but it could easily be Scott Spiezio or Ronnie Belliard, too. Someone has to have the unexpected good series, the way Sean Casey did for Detroit against the Yanks.

• Avoiding the blowout. Obviously avoiding a blowout is a goal for any team, but there's a heightened risk of a blowout for the Cardinals in this series because of their weak starting pitching, the Mets' good lineup, and the already-discussed platoon disadvantage for St. Louis' arms. The Cardinals must keep games started by Suppan-Weaver-Reyes close, because any or all of the three are at risk of an implosion against the Mets' offense.


Prediction
This matchup really favors the Mets, as the Cardinals don't have the left-handed starter to serve as Kryptonite for New York's Superman one-through-five hitters. The Cards' offense is mostly limited to Pujols, with Edmonds clearly not 100 percent and Rolen also not healthy. Carpenter can beat any team on any night, but he can only start twice in this series, and beyond him, the Cardinals are at a disadvantage in any pitching matchup. Mets in five.

[FromWayDowntown]

God, I fucked these up pretty badly last week.

Mets in seven.
Tigers in six.

No doubt -- man, I wish you'd learn something about picking the winners of baseball playoff series.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

OH LOOK

Guess the media loves the Cardinals still right Johnny?

You do realize Keith Law might know a little something about the game from a statistics prespective, right?

Baseball Prospectus and an assistant to J.P. Ricciardi of the Blue Jays since he started there....

Or T Park

Cardinals Homer...

You don't want analysis from the media, you want a written blow job.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

"Free at last, free at last...thank God Almighty, the non-biased media is free at last!"



Sporting News' baseball experts break down the NLCS
October 9, 2006

SN baseball editors

The Mets meet the Cardinals for the right to represent the National League in the World Series. Here's how Sporting News staff members see the N.L. series shaking out.

STAN McNEAL, managing editor: Game 1 looms even larger than usual. If Jeff Weaver somehow pitches as well against the Mets as he did against the Padres, the Cardinals' confidence will continue to rise and this series will be very competitive. Good news for Cardinals fans: Weaver's solid performance over the past few weeks may not be a fluke; a scout says since the Cardinals got Weaver to elevate his release point, he's pitched much better. But if Weaver gets that deer-in-the-headlights glaze in his eyes, which has happened to him in New York, the Mets are could roll right through the series. The Cardinals, however, clearly are relishing the underdog role for a change and, with the Yankees out of the picture, the Mets can count on getting more attention, and the pressure that goes with it.

But even if everything goes well for the Cardinals, the Mets have too good of a lineup. Prediction: Mets in seven games.

TOM GATTO, senior editor: Don't expect the Redbirds to shut down the Mets the way the Tigers shut down that other New York team. Yes, the Cardinals' bullpen is hot, and unlike the Dodgers it has two lefthanders -- Tyler Johnson and Randy Flores -- who can match up against a Mets lineup that has struggled against lefthanders. But New York has the depth and balance on offense to grind out the tough runs and blunt the lefthanders' effectiveness. And New York's relievers are coming off a big series themselves. Offense plus bullpen equals a trip to the World Series for the New Yorkers. Prediction: Mets in six.

KYLE VELTROP, associate editor: The Cardinals showed great resolve in the LDS, brushing off the stains of a late-season meltdown and of season-long mediocrity by easily dusting off the Padres. Jeff Suppan had an uneven start, but every other Cardinals pitcher looked great in the series, as the team allowed just six runs over the four games. But guess what? The Mets' offense is a whole heck of a lot better than the Padres', and Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran really like St. Louis' pitching. Should be some entertaining games, but Mets will most most of them. Prediction: Mets in six.

CHRIS BAHR, Fantasy Source expert: Did great pitching beat bad hitting in the NLDS, or did bad hitting beat itself? The Padres were absolutely dreadful with runners in scoring position against the Cardinals, but the Mets' lineup is loaded from top to bottom. Jeff Weaver a Game 1 starter? Chris Carpenter unavailable until Game 3? Relying on a rookie-heavy bullpen for another round? St. Louis simply doesn't have the pitching to combat the Mets' hitting. And New York has proven that its bullpen can more than make up for its injury-depleted rotation. Prediction: Mets in six.

RYAN FAGAN, assistant editor: The Mets have more power; the Mets have more speed and the Mets won a lot more games this year. But I just can't get past their starting playoff rotation. It's not the stuff of a World Series team. Glavine's solid, but he's by far the best starter left standing and he's not going to be able to carry the rotation. He'll win Game 1, though. But who else do the Mets throw out there? John Maine, Steve Traschel and (shudder) Oliver Perez? You can't tell me the Cards, who seem to have a touch of confidence for the first time since May, are scared of that. Obviously these Cardinals have a lot of flaws, but they also have Albert Pujols (who should have only a handful of hits but a astronomical OBP during this series) and Chris Carpenter and playoff experience on their side. The Mets, aside from Glavine, are playoff newbies. In a postseason of shockers, this could be the biggest. Prediction: Cardinals in seven.

ERIN FARRELL, assistant editor: Their players were dropping like flies, but the Mets still were able to sweep the Dodgers. The Cardinals had most of their players for the first time in a while and had a bit more trouble with the Padres. The Mets also have veteran starters and proven stopper in their bullpen. The Cardinals' resurgent rotation and makeshift pen have been impressive, but they will break sooner or later, and I'm betting on sooner -- like when the Mets and their big bats visit St. Louis. Predictions: Mets in five.

SHAWN REID, assistant editor: The Mets' staff is still extremely shaky, but Chris Carpenter won't be available until Game 3. That leaves the Cardinals with Jeff Weaver and Jeff Suppan for Games 1 and 2 in New York. But there's good news, St. Louis fans - sort of. Weaver has been pretty effective on the road as a Cardinal, going 4-1 with a 4.03 ERA, so it's not insane to think he will give them a chance to win the first game. Suppan has been much worse on the road than at home, but he's going against John Maine in the second game, and that should provide an opportunity, too.

Without Pedro and El Duque, I just don't think the Mets' pitching staff is good enough to win a seven-game series. Oliver Perez is scheduled to start Game 4. Let me repeat: Oliver Perez. I think the Cardinals steal one of the opening two, win two of three at home, and clinch it with another dominant performance from Carpenter. Prediction: Cardinals in seven, even if it sounds crazy.


There, you got to nut twice.

[T Park]

whew boy, 2 out of 7.

Practically bowling over that Cardinal bandwagon.


You do realize Keith Law might know a little something about the game from a statistics prespective, right?

Baseball Prospectus and an assistant to J.P. Ricciardi of the Blue Jays since he started there....




Did I question his qualifications?

no.

All I did was point out another in the myriad of negative, New York slanted media writings.


But since you too Johnny are now rooting against the Cardinals because of little ole me.

Not suprising.

Too bad, I remember you saying the same thing in 04.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

whew boy, 2 out of 7.

Practically bowling over that Cardinal bandwagon.




Did I question his qualifications?

no.

All I did was point out another in the myriad of negative, New York slanted media writings.


Because everybody that writes has to be biased against you and the Cardinals? It's really just you against the world, isn't it?



But since you too Johnny are now rooting against the Cardinals because of little ole me.

Not suprising.

Too bad, I remember you saying the same thing in 04.

Yeah, and I forgot how that rooting went for me...

http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/Headline_Archives/BDD_game4_WS_gross.jpg

Oh, yeah. :lol

[T Park]

Making it to the World Series was the goal for a fan like me.

Everything else would've been gravy.


Because everybody that writes has to be biased against you and the Cardinals? It's really just you against the world, isn't it?



Against me and the Cardinals?
Nope, never said that either.

For the Mets or Yankees? Hell yes.

[FromWayDowntown]

TPark's groveling about the disrespect for the Cardinals has officially reached NBA playoffs intensity.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

TPark's groveling about the disrespect for the Cardinals has officially reached NBA playoffs intensity.

If that's the case, I wonder what happens if the Cards are on the verge of elimination.

Another "I quit" thread?

[T Park]

TPark's groveling about the disrespect for the Cardinals has officially reached NBA playoffs intensity

Uh huh.

Ok.



If that's the case, I wonder what happens if the Cards are on the verge of elimination.

Another "I quit" thread?

Oh god quit already.

If I apologize to your slovenian friends will you stop?

Or will you continue the catty bullshit.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Who the fuck cares what the so-called "experts" say? Read their analyses for pure entertainment and nothing more.

[T Park]

:lol I agree.

I have no problem with them not picking the Cards. IMO it serves nothing more than more motivation.


But apparently Im groveling and gonna quit.

[FromWayDowntown]

:lol I agree.

I have no problem with them not picking the Cards. IMO it serves nothing more than more motivation.


But apparently Im groveling and gonna quit.

I'm not saying you're groveling -- I just think it's funny to keep harping on how your team has been disrespected because nobody thinks it's going to win. It's the constant refrain of players during the NBA playoffs -- "ain't nobody pickin us, so we've been disrespected by the media and the public."

There's no disrespect, it's just a freakin' analyst's opinion. Should he lie about what he thinks to be respectful. Should he suggest that, after pondering for days and days, he honestly believes the series will be a tie because he doesn't think one team is better than another?

Quite frankly, WGAF what some fat sports writer who's never played an inning of meaningful baseball thinks about what will happen? Who cares about what some retired jock thinks? A playoff series isn't decided in the newspapers, online, or on SportsCenter.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

There's no disrespect, it's just a freakin' analyst's opinion. Should he lie about what he thinks to be respectful. Should he suggest that, after pondering for days and days, he honestly believes the series will be a tie because he doesn't think one team is better than another?

Well, I think that's what Eric wants.

[T Park]

Bump.

Just curious if that Cardinal's bullpen is any good yet.