Tough As Nails
Glave Master
Wow. If the Astros keep free swinging like this...maybe Carpenter will go all 9.
The stats don't tell the whole story. If the Cards are up by 4, he'll give up 2, then walk a couple guys and finally get the last out. He's not a dominant closer (like Rivera or Lidge) who can get 6 outs.Why is everyone so down on Izzy? His ERA is just above 2, with 35+ saves.Dang it Pujols...I do NOT want to see Isringhausen in this game.
He struggled against San Diego, especially in game 1. He makes me nervous. Carpenter does not.Why is everyone so down on Izzy? His ERA is just above 2, with 35+ saves.
I think they will leave him in for the 9th. Isringhausen will be ready if any sort of rally gets underway though...Carpenter is so money. They should leave him in for the 9th, too. Why risk it with Isringhausen. Carpenter is still on top of his game.
Go away.Switch to the Sox game FOX!
The Sox are on cable 'round these parts.Switch to the Sox game FOX!
And the good Mulder, who is capable of throwing a no hitter. Not the bad Mulder, who makes Bob throw things at his TV.Solid game for the Cardinals. When you rely on an 'ace' like Carpenter...you HAVE to win those games (especially when they're at home). Great team effort. Now we need Mulder to be 100% tomorrow.
I agree that tonight is an important game...but I do not agree that Clemens will be a prohibitive favorite against Morris. Morris is 1-1 against the Astros this year and pitched effectively in both games. Clemens has pitched effectively against the Cards this years, but he is 1-3 against them (albeit 1 was the 1-0 loss where Mulder threw a 10 inning gem against him).If anything this is THE critical game for the Astros to stay in this series. If they lose tonight it is over. Oswalt is nails. If Mulder pitches well and we get to Oswalt it will be a stake through the heart. As a Cardinal fan I am happy to see Berkamn hitting from the right side tonight, but Ensberg scares the hell out of me.Houston should be a heavy favorite in game 3 with Clemens facing Morris, so winning game 2 tonight is very important. Like Kramer's buddy said, hopefully, the good Mulder shows up tonight, because he has owned the Astros this year when on his game.
I'm sure I've posted some of this here before, but oh well. I am not a big fan of Morris pitching game 3. I think Suppan earned that start down the stretch, and he would have been the better option, especially considering who would start a game 7 and Suppan's results head to head with Clemens last year. That would have been a huge confidence boost for him, I think.That said, this is the kind of lineup Morris can be effective against. He nibbles. He hits corners. He doesn't overpower, and if you're an average or young hitter, he'll murder you with his curveball. That's why he did well against the Pads. Very few hitters in that lineup scared him. Quality, patient hitters are the ones who beat him and his having confidence is everything. Once he looses it, fuhgetaboutit. That's why and how the Red Sox beat him in the WS. Incidentally, I think that's why he hasn't been the same pitcher since DK's death. He and Kile fed off each other and Kile really pumped him up and brought him back to center.I agree that tonight is an important game...but I do not agree that Clemens will be a prohibitive favorite against Morris. Morris is 1-1 against the Astros this year and pitched effectively in both games. Clemens has pitched effectively against the Cards this years, but he is 1-3 against them (albeit 1 was the 1-0 loss where Mulder threw a 10 inning gem against him).If anything this is THE critical game for the Astros to stay in this series. If they lose tonight it is over. Oswalt is nails. If Mulder pitches well and we get to Oswalt it will be a stake through the heart. As a Cardinal fan I am happy to see Berkamn hitting from the right side tonight, but Ensberg scares the hell out of me.Houston should be a heavy favorite in game 3 with Clemens facing Morris, so winning game 2 tonight is very important. Like Kramer's buddy said, hopefully, the good Mulder shows up tonight, because he has owned the Astros this year when on his game.
Heh.I'm amazed every time I see him play.decent catch by edmonds
I thought the 3-2 pitch to Edmonds in the 5th was the ballgame.That curveball on the inside corner was perfect, and I think *really* frustrated the Cardinals.Edmonds at-bat in the 7th was pathetic. The previous three batters make Oswalt work and with two on and two out, Edmonds comes up and weakly grounds out on the first pitch.
Then, Tavarez (sp?) lets up two in the 8th to let the lead get to 4-1.
And if Reggie Sanders misses any time at all, the Cardinals are in trouble.
They close the roof during the playoffs for a reason.I want to be there, badly...Potentially good series. And anybody that's been to Minute Maid Field or whatever the hell they call it for a meaningful game will tell you the atmosphere's electric.
In your opinion Rolen's a better player than Edmonds?With the way some of the other players are slumping offensively right now, losing Sanders could be extremely costly, especially to a team already missing their 2nd best player (Rolen).
If we had a healthy Rolen they wouldn't even bother to play the NLCS. His glove is that good and his bat adds another dimension to the middle of the lineup. Mabry and Nunez have been great picking up the slack, but his absence is noticeable.The thing with the Cards though (similar to the thing about the Astros) is team chemistry. Something about playing in St Louis (could it be the community love affair with the team???) brings out the best in players.In your opinion Rolen's a better player than Edmonds?With the way some of the other players are slumping offensively right now, losing Sanders could be extremely costly, especially to a team already missing their 2nd best player (Rolen).