Prayers for Rain

Going into Game 5 of the World Series, there were two ways I thought it could end. I thought the Cards could win starts by Chris Carpenter and Jaime Garcia and take the thing in six games or that the Cardinals could lose the series in seven games. After Kyle Lohse's, well, awful Game 3 start, I didn't believe we could win another game with him starting. While the game ended up being a rout in our favor, a big key to that early was the blown Matt Holliday call at first base followed by a 2006 Tigers-esque Mike Napoli throwing error that allowed the Cardinals to score four runs and build a 5-0 lead. Lohse did all he could to let the Rangers back in the game, giving up two bombs in the next half inning, but luckily Holliday made a great play in left field, catching a fly ball and gunning down Napoli at home to preserve a 5-3 lead. And this time, Holliday didn't even need the benefit of a horrible call. Napoli was obviously out. That being said, Lohse didn't last much longer and the only reason his poor start wasn't too noticeable was because Albert Pujols went off the hook, tying three World Series records(three home runs, six RBIs, and five hits) and breaking two more (first player with four hits in four consecutive innings in the WS and most total bases at 14 in one WS game). 

With all that said, after today's rainout, it looks possible that the Cardinals could still get wins from Garcia and Carpenter, it could just be in Games 6 and 7 instead.of 5 and 6. We of course have to win Game 6 to get to Game 7, but I certainly like our chances much better of both. Garcia's allowed runs in just two innings this postseason out of 18 2/3 at home and just four runs total. So, unless Tony La Russa makes more bonehead intentional walk decisions (and that's entirely possible), I really like Garcia's chances to get a win on Thursday. And as for Carpenter, does anyone remember his last winner-take-all start that he made? I do, but it's a bit hazy as I had a few beers. That was Game 5 of this year's NLDS, when he out-dueled Roy Halladay. Or as it's known in my household, the infamous police noise complaint night. I yelled every couple of innings and we were watching the game on my porch, so yes, it might have been a little bit loud. It was also before 10 pm on a Friday night. In St. Louis, Missouri. I said it that night and I'll say it again. If you don't like playoff baseball, move to Chicago or Kansas City. Both towns are in the Midwest and rarely have to deal with playoff baseball. End tangent. Carpenter was masterful that night, and while he'd have to pitch Game 7 on Friday with short rest, is their anyone else on the roster that you would trust more? And while Mitch Moreland's bomb was surely gone anywhere, anytime on Monday, Adrian Beltre's solo shot to tie Game 5 was probably just a long fly ball in the colder temperatures expected of Busch Stadium on Friday.I'll take my chances. I choose you, Magi-Carp!