My Astro hat's off to the Cardinals

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Being an Astro fan for near 25 years now and certainly wanting to advance to the World Series for the first time, I know that I’m supposed to regard you with contempt and disgust. Yet such is not the case.

Instead, let me compliment you, team and fans alike, on being a most worthy and enjoyable opponent. Our players match up very well, to the point where the outcome of almost every game has been in doubt until the very end. Nearly every one of your players has put on an admiral performance and several, namely Pujols, Walker and Williams, have been inspiring. Your coach, LaRussa, has been one of my favs since his days with the A’s and I firmly believe is one of the premier strategists in baseball today. Your fans are savy and can contribute to the momentum at home almost to the point of being a 10th player on the field.

The one exception has been that nutcase Tavarez and, after throwing at Bagwell during his Monday meltdown, was benched and sternly reprimanded by LaRussa for his tirade, saying “That’s not us, we don’t condone that type of behavior.” I sincerely appreciate that. Kudos.

So, we (I hope I can speak for most others) Astros still want to beat your butts. We still will do anything within our power to defeat you and feel it’s both our time and our destiny to go to the Series this year. But, we would like to offer our congratulations and sincere thanks for being such a fine and admirable opponent.

You’ve made this fun. Along with the Braves, you’ve certainly made this a division and league championship series to remember. I’d like to extend some heartfelt thanks. The playoffs have been some of the best played and most exciting I’ve ever witnessed.

It’s been, in short, masterful and memorable.

2

Hear, hear!

It has been an absolute blast. I’ve been sort of a bandwagon fan, but it’s definitely exciting. And the Cards and Braves, as well as the Astros, made it that way.

lieu, you’re a class act.

3

Let’s see how you feel about us after todays game. :slight_smile:

But hey, thanks. The whole NL playoffs have been pretty classy all the way through. We’ve already had four folks in my office (out of 24) cut out for the game this afternoon, dressed all in red. I fully expect the office to have 0 productivity after 3:00.

4

I fear that much of the NLCS play to date has been overshadowed by the ALCS rivalry and that’s a shame. The drama in all five games so far has been intense and it’s too bad if baseball folks have missed it. While the home team has won each time, look for that to end in #6 or 7. Tha Astros started off in 1 and 2 with a seriously banged up pitching staff. Offense was terriffic but middle relief let the lead slip away a couple of times each game.

Once we got our big guns rested though all that changed. Clemens, Oswalt and Backe were largely dominant in 3, 4 and 5 and lasted long enough that closer Lidge could come in immediately.

Game 6 will be a toss up and the outcome will depend on Munro and Morris. Clemens wasn’t his best on 3 days rest but if a game 7 is needed he’ll be ready. This was a wise move on Garner’s part.

Still, there’s hardly a man in the Cardinal’s lineup that doesn’t scare the hell out of me every time they come to the plate. Pujols can change a game with a flick of his wrists. Walker was a sensational acquisition. If Rolen wakes up it’s going to be trouble. No wonder they won 105 in the regular.

Salary note: Cardinals - 85 Mil, Astros - 80 Mil. Like I said, very evenly matched.

5

Sorry cards, didn’t catch you in preview. Yes, we’ll have much to talk about tomorrow. :slight_smile:

6

Excellent post, lieu. I’m looking at it from the outside, but I couldn’t agree more.

I’m a Yankee fan, but as a baseball fan I’ve been enjoying the NL playoffs a lot more than the AL. This series has just been some great baseball.

Also, since we’re talking about class - don’t leave out Jim Tracy. I thought the teams meeting on the field for the handshake line after the NLDS was just a great example of sportsmanship.

7

Just wanted to say: I love that buzzing noise when one of the killer B’s comes up in Houston. Very unnerving to the opposing team, I’m sure, and preferable in every conceivable way to the tomahawk chop chant.

8

Wilson, I missed that. As Jim Tracy is the Dodger manager I’m assuming Dodgers and Cards lined up after the Cards clinched? Don’t rightly remmember seeing that before. Nice.

9

The company I worked for in Texas was bought by a Saint Louis operation late last year. They moved several of us up from Texas in the spring. Now I’m not a big sports fan so I don’t care one way or the other; but one of the other guys from Texas is a big Astros fan, and has been for 25 or 30 years. Let’s just say the office rivalry is intense, but good natured. He kinda started it by putting an Astros cap on his desk the day before yesterday.

When he went home yesterday several people extensively decorated his office with Cardinals stuff. He retaliated by putting Astros stuff on the doors of everyone he suspected of being involved, as well as the veal fattening pens outside their offices.

It’s gonna get ugly after 3 once the game starts.

10

I want a veal fattening pen outside my office.

11

Thanks Lieu!

Tavarez can be an embarassment at times, that is for sure, and thankfully Tony makes sure the team stays focused and sportsmanlike.

We have two games left to play and we are behind by one. For me I hope the Cardinals come out on top, but if not it has been a great season for us. One that will most likely not be repeated next year.

I look forward to the game tonight with my fingers crossed, and hope the Cardinals prevail tonight so we have at least one more game to play :wink: Nothing like suspense in the playoffs.

12

After the Cards clinched, the Dogers came out a shook hands, much like hockey teams do. A pretty cool and rare sight. Imagine the Yankees and Red Sox doing that.

13

C’mon, I’m a realist. :slight_smile:

Astros 1 - 0 in the 1st.

14

Reality sucks, does it?

2 -1 Cards, bottom of the first. :stuck_out_tongue:

15

I am still keeping my fingers crossed and getting my rally hat ready!

Go Cardinals Go!

Well someone had to do it.

And if we do lose, I am glad we lost to the Astros instead of the Cubs! :smiley:

16

ABC - Anybody But the Cubs, Tiggrkitty , ABC.

OK, I can’t keep this up, someone set up a TV and I have to go watch now instead of following it online.

17

I’m not sure exactly how to go about posting how I feel without coming across as some kind of maniac. But I’ll try.

First, I’ll say that I hate the Wild Card. I’ll leave that, at that.

But, despite the Astros being the Wild Card team, they’re playing like a team that’s much better than that. And it kills me.

I hate Carlos Beltran! Well, only when the spirit of Babe Ruth inhabits his body during the playoffs against the Cardinals. I think he deserves to be series MVP even if the Astros shock me and lose the series. I’m praying the Astros don’t keep him after this season.

I hate Lance Berkman! Well, only when he hits two home runs from his weak side of the plate during the playoffs against the Cardinals. And Will Carroll? You’re an idiot for calling Berkman overrated.

I hate Brandon Backe! Well, only when my favorite team makes him look like Cy Young in the playoffs.

I hate Jeff Kent! Well, I only dislike him strongly. I haven’t liked him since his Giants days.

Anyway, I said after the Astros won Game 4, that I would be shocked if the Cardinals wound up winning the series. In fact, I said that they’re done. I still believe that. Why yes, I am bitter.

I guess to sum up how I really feel, it goes like this:

I don’t like the Astros, and I think most of that stems from my strong dislike of Craig Biggio. Don’t get me wrong, he’s been a great player (arguably a Hall of Famer), I just don’t like him. But it’s not a personal thing. I hate any team that’s playing against the Cardinals, especially in the playoffs. Especially when that team is beating the Cardinals.

But, if the Astros win, hey, good job guys. I’ll tip my hat to them and wish them luck in the World Series. And quite honestly, when you get down to it I’m actually a little happy that it’s the Astros in the playoffs beating the Cardinals.

Why, you ask?

Because, quite simply, it’s the Houston Astros and not the Chicago Cubs.

cf’75

18

And we go to game 7!

Of course, I hope the Cardinals win, but at least if they lose, it’ll be to Roger Clemens.

19

Great game Astros great game!

GAME 7 coming up!

20

Phil, if you’re going to put in starter Oswalt, why stick in Micelli first against the heart of the order, especially Pujols who hammered him for a loss in game 2?

I completely forgot to mention Edmonds earlier… bad dude.
Well, more baseball for all. We’ll have half the equation in about 4 hours and then the other half about 18 after that.