GDT 10/7/11-Cards (Carpenter) @ Phillies (Halladay) 7:37 CDT

[pioneer98]

So I guess I have to wear my hat, 'Soarin Again' t-shirt, work on my cell phone apps and drink Jim Beam for every game here out eh?

Yes.

No slacking.

[Fat Strat]

Off to bed, if I can sleep. Can't believe we're going to the NLCS. I really can't believe it.

I mean, I expect the Cards to reach the playoffs every year. I don't consider it a real success of a season unless we make the NLCS. A lot of that is because of that great run in the 2000's. So, they really haven't accomplished anything that's truly special yet. Their epic run to the postseason was only possible because of their abysmal July and August. Yes, it's special that they actually did it. But, in some ways, it's celebrating a lot of failure, some late success, and a lot of help.

But, this series against the Phillies -- the best team in baseball -- winning against 4 of the best pitchers in the game right now, and then clinching it on the road against Roy Halladay with Chris Carpenter doing his best Jack Morris impersonation. That's pretty special. It's a special moment. A special game.

But, Pujols HR against Lidge is also special. We still lost that series. It won us a game, but didn't matter much in the scheme of things.

So, awesome day Carp, Furcal, Yadi, Skip, RallySquirrel. But, it's not enough. Make the World Series. Then it will be truly special.

[Jocephus]

furcal play....belliard play.....

[pioneer98]

Best pitcher's duel in the playoffs since, what?

Game 7, of 1991 World Series.

Which I listened to on a radio in the backroom of a grocery store on a radio. I was a bag boy at the time.

[PurdueSTL]

For some reason Dotel is one of my favorite players on the team and i cant figure out why.

It's the socks--those beautiful stripes that have been part of the Cardinal legacy at least since the Gas House Gang...

[greenback44]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned Mitch Boggs' redneck answer to the half shirt.

[go birds]

For some reason Dotel is one of my favorite players on the team and i cant figure out why.

It's the socks--those beautiful stripes that have been part of the Cardinal legacy at least since the Gas House Gang...

I think it is the socks.

fkn socks.

[Freed Roger]

Great game.

Plans changed a bit when my puppy had a siezure earlier. Spent most of the evening at the vet. Looks like he'll be alright.

Having the vet say he's healthy and getting this win have made tonight special.

Good to hear, even numbers. Great to hear.

Glad to hear the pups ok- a night we will all remember no matter where we are. I was in my brothers living room in WI - us card fans went crazy at the final out and I tossed a brewer fan/friend of my nephew into our mosh pit

[haltz]

In a classic pitcher's duel, Chris Carpenter bested Roy Halladay in game 5, shutting out the Phils on 3 hits and 1 HBP. Only two runners reached scoring position against Carpenter. The game's only run scored on hits by the first 2 batters.

Congratulations to the Cardinals. Condolences to the Phillies. Sadness for our Philly friends, who had such high hopes for this season.

Notes on postseason 1-0 games:
(Advance apologies for any errors; for obvious reasons, this research is rushed.)

In his career, Carpenter had never before thrown a 1-0 CG shutout. He had taken four 1-0 losses.

Halladay had two prior 1-0 losses, the last with Toronto in April 2008. He has three 1-0 shutout wins.

Two prior postseason do-or-die games ended 1-0: the 1991 and 1962 World Series (won by Jack Morris and Ralph Terry).

The only previous 1-0 postseason win for the Cardinals was game 6 of the 1987 NLCS, won by John Tudor (run scored in the 2nd on Tony Pena's triple and Jose Oquendo's sac fly).

The Phillies had other two postseason 1-0 losses -- 1980 NLCS game 3 (11 innings, started by Dickie Noles, lost by Tug McGraw), and 1950 WS game 1 (started by Jim Konstanty).

It was the 42nd 1-0 game in postseason history.

In just 2 others did the run score in the top of the 1st inning: 1999 NLCS game 3 (Braves over host Mets), and 1983 NLCS game 1 (Phils over host Dodgers). One game had the run score in the bottom of the 1st (1963 game 3).

The 1991 postseason saw four 1-0 games, all involving the Braves -- 3 in the NLCS, and of course WS game 7.

The two ex-pitchers in the booth tonight combined for three postseason starts that ended in a 1-0 loss, all in the WS: Ron Darling lost 1986 game 1, while John Smoltz lost 1996 game 5 and got ND in 1991 game 7.

The Orioles won back-to-back 1-0 games to finish off the 1966 WS sweep of LA, by Wally Bunker and Dave McNally (on HRs by Paul Blair and Frank Robinson).

The Yankees and Dodgers alternated 1-0 wins to start the 1949 WS -- Allie Reynolds over Don Newcombe in game 1 (Tommy Henrich homered in the bottom of the 9th), and Preacher Roe over Vic Raschi in game 2 (Jackie Robinson doubled and scored on a Gil Hodges single).

Art Nehf won two 1-0 WS games, in 1921 and '23.

Only 3 pitchers lost 2 postseason 1-0 games that they started: Eddie Plank, Jerry Reuss and Tom Glavine.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/15708

[go birds]

The umpire in the pic makes me lol so hard (kinda related to topic)