hahahhahahahhaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[IowaCubsFan]

the sound of the fair weather fans hearts exploding was impressive. that was so predictable its almost hard to believe.

 

It reminds me of the Simpsons' episode where Bart tapes Lisa's appearance on the Krusty Cmeback Special and the part where she tells Martin she can't stand him.

 

"Ooh. I think I can pause it right at the point where his heart breaks."

 

I wish I had Tivo so I could replay the collective gasp of the crowd. Had they still been in the Astrodome, the massive fan-generated vacuum would have collapsed the roof.

 

Not to be a nerd about it, but it was Ralph Wiggam whose heart broke.

 

D'oh! Of course it was! How could I forget?

 

"...so my doctor tells me that I wouldn't get so many nosebleeds if I kept my finger out of there."

[dalgreen]

I think the Astros will be fine, I'll bet on a team up 3-2 in a seven game series with two aces everytime. Sure, occasionally there will be a 2003, but I'll take the numbers and stick with the Astros.

 

Technically, if the numbers hold true, then the Cards should be favored. Using home field advantage as the barometer, the Cards are right where they need to be (and exactly where they were last year).

 

The Cards are 1-1 at home this year in the NLCS. Unless you're talking about some other numbers. I still think Pettite is the worst of the Astros' big three.

 

The key for the Astros is to continue their strong starting pitching and they have to get the Cardinals' starter out fairly early. It's pretty evident that LaRussa has no confidence in his bullpen (other than Izzy and Marquis).

[XZero771679666304]

I think the Astros will be fine, I'll bet on a team up 3-2 in a seven game series with two aces everytime. Sure, occasionally there will be a 2003, but I'll take the numbers and stick with the Astros.

 

Technically, if the numbers hold true, then the Cards should be favored. Using home field advantage as the barometer, the Cards are right where they need to be (and exactly where they were last year).

 

The Cards are 1-1 at home this year in the NLCS. Unless you're talking about some other numbers. I still think Pettite is the worst of the Astros' big three.

 

The key for the Astros is to continue their strong starting pitching and they have to get the Cardinals' starter out fairly early. It's pretty evident that LaRussa has no confidence in his bullpen (other than Izzy and Marquis).

 

I would normally agree about Pettitte, but he has undeniably been very, very good this year for some inexplicable reason. Clemens hasn't been particularly good since the beginning of September, and Oswalt is on/off. I could easily see the Cards taking the next two.

[Derwood]

I had SERIOUS 2003 flashbacks there. This was almost worse (for the Stros), as it happened with 2 outs and 2 strikes. At least the Cubs had 5 more outs to screw it up with... :(

[gus_dog]

Not only did we Cub fans have a painful season watching a bad team muddle through the season, but now we will have the added kick in the nuts of being tortured by a Cardinal/White Sox World Series.

 

Seriously, where is the mercy of the baseball gods??????

[Magnetic Curses]

NASA sent up Bruce Willis to make sure when the ball lands it won't destroy earth. Big mistake walking Edmonds.

 

but we don't need guys who walk, we need guys who hit.

[Magnetic Curses]

Not only did we Cub fans have a painful season watching a bad team muddle through the season, but now we will have the added kick in the nuts of being tortured by a Cardinal/White Sox World Series.

 

Seriously, where is the mercy of the baseball gods??????

 

i'd rather root for the cards. if the stros win, that's one more team that can rub our face in the mud. at least we can still say the stros haven't ever been to a series.

 

and the most memorable part of that game was watching the progression of emotions that the 9 year old kid behind the backstop shows before pujols's hr.

[XZero771679666304]

Not only did we Cub fans have a painful season watching a bad team muddle through the season, but now we will have the added kick in the nuts of being tortured by a Cardinal/White Sox World Series.

 

Seriously, where is the mercy of the baseball gods??????

 

i'd rather root for the cards. if the stros win, that's one more team that can rub our face in the mud. at least we can still say the stros haven't ever been to a series.

 

and the most memorable part of that game was watching the progression of emotions that the 9 year old kid behind the backstop shows before pujols's hr.

 

That's it. The Cards have won a WS in the recent past. They already are a perennial contender. Things won't get appreciably worse if they win. If the Astros or Sox do, we'll never hear the end of it. If the Sox win, we'll have to listen to Southside wahoos and that god forsaken Hawk Harrelson gloat and rib us until the Cubs win.

[stitchface]

but the cubs treated us to a slow, torturous death, one that could have been avoided numerous times. once edmonds took ball four, that game was over. I hate both teams but that right there is what makes baseball awesome.

[Dr. Cub]

go figure, who knew that Lidge is a choker like Farnsworth?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, that is sarcasm.

 

 

When you've got the Astros to win, and the under at 7.5; then he most definitely is a choker in my book. :wall:

[CuseCubFan69]

NASA sent up Bruce Willis to make sure when the ball lands it won't destroy earth. Big mistake walking Edmonds.

 

but we don't need guys who walk, we need guys who hit.

 

You ain't kidding brother. Imagine Perez letting any of those pitches go by?

[brfahey]

go figure, who knew that Lidge is a choker like Farnsworth?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, that is sarcasm.

 

One kind of big difference: Lidge had a great postseason last year and has had a good one until that pitch this year. Farnsworth has imploded in his only two chances (Game 6 in 2003 and Game 4 this year). Kind of a big difference.

[TB_11]

It wasn't just the fact that he hit a home run with two outs in the top of the ninth against one of the best relievers in the game to give his team the lead and hold off elimination. It's that a) the look on Pujols' face when he hit it looked like he expected nothing less than to hit a home run and b) that ball went about 9000 feet.

 

Why does he have to be on the Cardinals?????

 

And yes that was Ralph's heart that was broken by Lisa.

[JGalt73]

Increasing the odds, by the numbers, per BP:

 

With two outs and nobody on in the ninth, the Cardinals' chances of winning

that game were down around 0.6%. That means that their LCS-winning percentage

was around 0.18%. Even after Eckstein and Edmonds, the chance of winning was

only about 3%, for an LCS-winning chance of 1%. Albert Pujols single-handedly

made a thirty-fold increase in the Cardinals' chances of winning the pennant.

[ManEatingTarp]

I'm just glad the Cards aren't going to lose without a fight. A loss last night would have been a bitter bitter end to a great season. Now we'll see if they can win 2 at home against 2 of the best pitchers in baseball.

Momentum lasts till the next team does something big. Usually in the first couple innings of the next game...

[Stu]

Did anyone see that shot of Astros' players celebrating in the dugout, waving their hands and pumping their fists in the air before the bomb? I kept thinking they were angering the baseball gods. I think you are supposed to play it cool until the final out.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

go figure, who knew that Lidge is a choker like Farnsworth?

 

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Brad Lidge must be a gutless choking dog. I think that's the vernacular.

 

:lmao:

[imb]

if Pujols played for any other team in the majors, he'd probably be my favorite player.

[Diffusion]

go figure, who knew that Lidge is a choker like Farnsworth?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, that is sarcasm.

 

One kind of big difference: Lidge had a great postseason last year and has had a good one until that pitch this year. Farnsworth has imploded in his only two chances (Game 6 in 2003 and Game 4 this year). Kind of a big difference.

 

Actually, Farnsworth has pitched in 10 postseason games, not just 2. That means he's had 10 chances to implode.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

go figure, who knew that Lidge is a choker like Farnsworth?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, that is sarcasm.

 

One kind of big difference: Lidge had a great postseason last year and has had a good one until that pitch this year. Farnsworth has imploded in his only two chances (Game 6 in 2003 and Game 4 this year). Kind of a big difference.

 

Actually, Farnsworth has pitched in 10 postseason games, not just 2. That means he's had 10 chances to implode.

 

In those other 8 outings: 9.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 10 K, 0 HR, 2.79 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 10 K/BB

[Tim]

I'm curious to have someone say how Farnsworth imploded in Game 6 for the Cubs. Here is what happened after he was brought into the game with runners on second and third:

 

- intentional walk to Lowell

- Sac Fly by Conine

- Intentional walk to Hollandsworth

- Double by Mordecai

- Remlinger in for Farnsy

 

Farnsworth was brought into a very tough situation -- and immediately asked to throw four wide. You know, just to help him get his confidence, focus and control, I guess. Or to take away the extra time to warm up since Baker didn't have him warm to start the inning. He gets an out on the next batter. Then ha's asked to walk another guy and still keep up his confidence, focus and command. Then he gave up the double to Mordecai.

 

So, he was ordered to walk two guys and pitch to two guys. He got one of the two guys he actually faced out.

 

That's imploding?

[Tim]

Oh yeah, I forgot to add:

 

Dusty's logic in giving the pass to Holla also escapes me. Farnsy was and is just as tough on lefties as righties. Holla was no bigger threat than Mordecai, who was on deck. But because of the L/R thing, Dusty put extra stress on his pitcher by taking away the open base.

 

Ack. Going through this inning again drives me insane.

[Mark Priors Calves]

It was a helluva homerun by Pujols but I haven't heard anyone giving him flack for his walking down the first base line as he watched that ball sail over the train tracks. Manny Ramirez did the same thing in a huge situation 2 years ago against the A's and Barry Zito in Game 5 of the ALDS. Ramirez was practically crucified in the media for it and I haven't heard a peep about Pujols do the same thing.

[Derwood]

It was a helluva homerun by Pujols but I haven't heard anyone giving him flack for his walking down the first base line as he watched that ball sail over the train tracks. Manny Ramirez did the same thing in a huge situation 2 years ago against the A's and Barry Zito in Game 5 of the ALDS. Ramirez was practically crucified in the media for it and I haven't heard a peep about Pujols do the same thing.

 

Perhaps a 97 mph Oswalt cutter to the ribs will do the trick.

[K-Town]

It was a helluva homerun by Pujols but I haven't heard anyone giving him flack for his walking down the first base line as he watched that ball sail over the train tracks. Manny Ramirez did the same thing in a huge situation 2 years ago against the A's and Barry Zito in Game 5 of the ALDS. Ramirez was practically crucified in the media for it and I haven't heard a peep about Pujols do the same thing.

 

He may have been less inclined to walk to first base if Berkman hadn't "danced" his way around the bases earlier, and if the Astros' dugout hadn't been high-fiving before the final out of the game, and if they hadn't celebrated on the field after Game 4.

 

You're making something of nothing. Every player isn't a Pete Rose type who sprints around the bases every time he makes contact.