ST. LOUIS, MO – For those of you who have forgotten already… it is still baseball season. That being said, I am writing this just before the Cards and Pirates square off in Game 5.
But at the risk of sounding humble, over the last couple of season’s, I have been quite prophetic. Unfortunately, this Game 5 brings me to in impasse in my own prophecy. Personally, I would love for my Cardinals to have a shot at their getting a twelfth title but I have been tooting the Pirates’ horn as World Series champs since March. So, as to continue my prophecy, I am going to write a post game wrap up for tonight’s game before it even happens and an NLCS Preview. For those of you who don’t care because you think its hockey season already, all I have to say is Sharks 9- Rangers 2. Better luck next year…
Game 5:
Last night wasn’t a blowout but it wasn’t exactly one for the ages. In a series full of young talent, the veteran Adam Wainwright had the last laugh – making easy work of the Pittsburg lineup. Rookie – and Game 2 winner – Gerrit Cole – who was masterful in St. Louis last Friday, buckled as the pressure of elimination eliminated the Pirates hopes of a World Series. Cole left the game after 4 2/3 giving up 6 hits and 3 earned. Somewhere, Babe Adams was smiling… Anyway, this would be all that Wainwright needed, as he went 8 strong; allowing 3 hits, no runs with his last out recorded being a K of Andrew McCutchen– who sucked the whole series. Oh, and that looked eerily similar to future Met Carlos Beltran’s, just a few short years ago. Coming in after Cole was the infamous A.J. Burnett. Burnett pitched 3 innings of solid relief, giving up 1 run on 2 hits including a Yadier Molina home run. Final Score: Cards 4-Bucs 0.
NLCS:
This year the NLCS is going to be more exciting that the World Series. The Cardinals and Dodgers are undoubtedly the two best teams in baseball and they have the luxury of playing in a league that remained untainted by the DH. Combine that with two top-five rotations and two chess master managers in Matheny and Mattingly and you have a nail-biter of a series.
Most would assume that the Dodgers are the clear favorite considering their one two combo of Kershaw and Greinke but the city of St. Louis knows better. The Cards beat Kershaw twice this year in two opportunities and the Cardinals hitters all have experience with Greinke – prior to his trade from Milwaukee. The Cards lineup will have the most trouble with Ryu, as they have struggled with left-handed pitching.
The most indicative metric by which I can predict this series is the fact that I am 2 for 3 batting against Scott Van Slyke. A long long time ago playing travel baseball, I came across this man-boy. He fanned everyone on the team but me. That is an omen… Another indicative omen is that Don Mattingly doesn’t have a mustache. That is a deal-breaker. Mattingly with a lip-sweater turns the tides. Mattingly sans lip-sweater looks like a castrated Tom Selleck. Cards in 7.
Now let’s see how right I am.
Different Matt, for the responsibility-shirking, Cookie, tomorrow.
