(Morry Gash/AP)
Wednesday night during the rain delay, in order to focus on anything but the horror that was Fox’s “War at Home,”‘ I was running various scenarios through my little peabrain.
The one that sounded most appealing was that the Cardinals win Game 4 in a come-from-behind-late fashion and then ride the emotional high to beat fiercely about the head and shoulders whomever Jim Leyland trots out to start Game 5. Score a bunch of runs early, then get our man Sno Cones out for the last few innings to get him, Gary Bennett, his first taste of World Series playing time.
First part? Check.
In yet another fantastic, well-pitched World Series game, the Cards indeed came from behind once and went ahead again on a tie to take Game 4 in St. Louis. It’s a shame that nobody else is watching. They are missing some great baseball.
Other things I think:
- David Eckstein has had a terrible postseason. Except for the past two games. After batting .133 and .231 in the LDS and LCS respectively, and going o-fer in the first two games of the World Series, Eckstein has come on like a man possessed. He’s gone 6-for-9 combined in games 3 and 4 and, more importantly, drove home the game winner Thursday on a liner just inches above the webbing of Craig Monroe’s glove.
- Scott Rolen apparently has taken his NLCS benching like a man. Miffed after he sat out NLCS Game 2, Rolen’s played with a chip on his shoulder. He’s hitting at a .438 clip and slugging .563 in the small sample size that is the World Series. His hustling double in the bottom of the fourth inning Thursday set him up to get the Cardinals within one run.
- Preston Wilson has taken some bad at-bats during the World Series, but his temporary go-ahead single in the seventh was the biggest hit of his life, precisely when the team needed it. And how many times have you seen a player make a great play in the field, as P-Dub did on Monroe’s sinking liner in left, and come up with a big hit in his half of the inning?
- Speaking of the seventh inning, I felt badly for Curtis Granderson after he slipped on Eckstein’s gapper. I mean, it was nice that it led to a Cardinals run, but on a human level it was unfortunate for Granderson. After being surrounded by the postgame media horde, he took all the questions about it politely and gracefully. Mad props to you, Curtis.
Well, Cardinal Nation… just one more win. That’s all. The weather doesn’t appear especially friendly for today; here’s to hoping it clears.
Go Cards! Go beards!
