Dodgers Sweep Away Cards
Cardinal fans didn’t know what to expect from their team in postseason play.
The 2009 Cards had enough proven hitting and top-end starting pitching to bring another World Championship to St. Louis. On the other hand, this enigmatic team proved capable of losing to anybody late in the season – due to inconsistent run production and shaky late-inning relief pitching.
Unfortunately, THAT team showed up to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in this National League Division Series.
The Dodgers beat them 5-3, 3-2 and 5-1, sweeping a wannabe powerhouse of the playoffs ASAP.
The Cards played well enough to win the first two games, but Ryan Ludwick’s potential three-run double in Game 1 was ruled foul (dubiously, it seems) and Matt Holliday lost Game 2 in the lights.
The Game 3 loss, though, was decisive. Cards starting pitcher Joel Pineiro wasn’t sharp and his teammates failed to support him.
Now comes for reflection and major decision-making.
Will Tony La Russa return to manage another season? What will become of pitching coach Dave Duncan? Will his unhappiness on several fronts drive him away?
Can general manager John Mozeliak sign Matt Holliday to a new deal, or will the slugging outfielder depart to the highest bidder?
Will the team sign veterans Mark DeRosa and John Smoltz to gain their leadership for 2010?
The feckless Cards offense may have sealed the fate of hitting coach Hal McRae. How could a team with so much firepower fail to assemble more big innings?
Pineiro undermined his bid for a big new contract by fading late in the regular season and failing in the postseason. Did Joel simply revert to his norm as the season wound down? Is he really worth the big bucks?
The Cards will come back with a strong team in 2010. Once again, they will contend for the division title and postseason opportunity.
But the grim nature of this playoff failure may trigger extra change. When push came to shove, these Cards fell hard.
You forgot to mention crappy defense.
Ankiel, thanks for the fitting end to the season. Please don’t come back next year.
LaRussa, you’re a HOF manager, but what the hell were you thinking batting Molina 6th this series?
And, Holliday, enjoy your millions in another city. I hope you reap the rewards of this excellent post season display!
Lets look on the bright side of this.
This could be La Russa’s last day in St. Louis
To quote the final MASH episode..Goodbye,Farewell,Amen. What could have been ends on a 6 game losing streak. Right now, I could care less about who the managewr and pitching coach will be next year. But one thing I do know, McCrae BETTER be gone!
With our problems on offense…problems we’ve been experiencing for a month…our only hope was Carp and Waino tossing gems. Waino came through. Folks, you can spin it anyway you want, but we were a fly ball away from leaving LA with a split and Holliday dropped the ball. We should be going into game four down 2-1 with Carp having another shot.
Congrats to Dodgers. They proved they are a far superior October team. Too bad the playoffs weren’t in August. And I don’t blame Pineiro…he’s supposed to be a number four pitcher. I also think it’s fitting that one of the most underachieving Cardinals — Mr. Ankiel — ends the season with another of his strikeouts.
How many more runs could we have scored without Molina’s rally killers?
Well, well, well…I guess no surprise but it’s so hard to see the names in the lineup and not believe they could make a comeback…Obviously the “Chemistry” was not there like they once said…I say build a new core around Da King…Ok well Go Blues…
Have there ever been 2 sorrier teams in one city in the history of sports than the Rams and Cardinals? You and you ego can leave now LaLoser. You’re over rated and pathetic.
Fire the hitting coach.
Rasmus is an average center fielder at best. He does not make plays. I do not expect to ever see an Edmonds again but Tony wants to make Colby something he is not.
Seems we could use a little different approach at the plate. Overly aggressive and impatient with very poor clutch hitting. You are definitely right about their being enough hitting and starting pitching talent to take this team to the World Series, so I’m not sure what more we could have asked for personnel-wise. We should have been able to survive Torre managing Pujols out of the equation. Bad timing on Carp’s poor start in game 1, all around disastrous ninth in game 2, and complete apathy in game 3. Weak hitting and lackluster play for a month leading up to this, so no big surprise, I guess.
See you all in ‘10.