World Series - I [expletive] love it

[UK]

I hate to sound like a dick but it is game 6 of the WS with a potential 15 yr ace in his infancy stage going tomorrow. Sports are an escape, as a Cubs fan I enjoyed 03 much more than 02. Enjoy the game itself, I forgot how to do that which is one of the reasons I dont scout anymore. Tragedy has brought less pain as far emotional attachment to wins and losses. Having lost my child, father, and brinks of divorce will do that.

Its a ride, you're expected to have the same ups and downs as the team but its a journey that ends in fall and starts again in Spring.

[mikechamp]

Sorry to hear about all the personal loss, UK.

Living away from the STL area for over a decade helped me become less dependent on seeing every game. Since it wasn't available to view, and sometimes even listen to, I learned to just read about the results later. Yes, I also circled the calendar when I could finally watch a game. But it became less important for me to gaze at every pitch.

Then, when my 1st child came along, I took that same outlook and applied it to my unavailability for the first half of most games, as I helped with dinner and bedtime. Even now, when I can view every game, I know I can always catch up later and don't regret reading a story to my kids at night... even during a playoff game.

Yes, I want them to win. Even more so because it's the Sawx. And I have a (no longer) secret desire to see the Cards pass the Yankees in total titles before I die, which I know will probably not happen.

But they still won the pennant, and they have given all of us such a golden era of baseball so far this century. And it looks like they will continue to for the next 5 years.

So please, root your hardest for the Cardinals. If they lose, be bummed the rest of the night. But when you wake up in the morning, it's a new day. Make the most of that day. And then the next day. And know that come February, baseball will come back to us all again... and save us from that sucky thing called winter.

[wart57]

I am still angry about the 85 World Series, I am way over the 2004 one. If they lose this one, I probably will be over it quickly, as the better team will have won.

I wish I had someone who was supportive of my love of the Cards, unfortunately my wife gives me [expletive] about watching the games every night during the playoffs because I am not paying total attention to her and her needs. I have missed more of the games then I have seen this post season, but it is fine with me if those times are because I am doing stuff with my kids. All I know is, when I was 7 like my oldest is about to be, I was glued to the radio with my folks listening to the Cards all summer long. Those were some of the best memories of my childhood, I wish I could get my wife and kids to enjoy these times with me.

[StL Dan]

I hear you, wart. My wife grew up in rural Kansas. Her family are anything but baseball fans. So, she just couldn't wrap her brain around my passion for the BOTB. So, I took her to a couple of games back in the mid/late 90's. She fell in love with Gant's muscles, Jordan's looks and Alicea's spunk. She was hooked on Cardinals baseball. Now she's drooling over Matheny's good looks. I showed her the vid of him taking that Loiselle heater to the chops when he played for the Brewers in 98. Now she's in love. It's all part of my master plan!

Now she looks forward to sitting the entire family down around the TV to watch the playoffs.

[pioneer98]

It has been an absolute blast watching all these young guys play in the playoffs and World Series. I have zero regrets if they lose. With the exception of game 1 they've played great. They've represented us well on the biggest stage on the planet. Yeah, it sucks if they lose but it is not their fault that their BABIP luck sucks or other random variables didn't line up for them. Red Sox fans know as well as anyone about this stuff.

I know I keep saying it...but I waited 17 years for the Cards to make the World Series after 1987. That 2004 team is still the best team they've had in my lifetime. When they got swept in that Series it made me realize what random, crazy thing the World Series is. Of course I still want them to win, but I've just looked at it differently now. Just thank our lucky stars that our team is in the World Series with a chance to win it yet. Only 2 teams can say that.

The fact that I got to see so many of these guys play in QC has added another level of enjoyment. It's hard to even fit inside my head the idea that some of these kids I saw playing in QC are now playing baseball on the largest stage on the planet. I take pictures of the players and try to get them autographed. I remember calling Carlos Martinez over to sign an autograph, and he did. I remember Rosenthal starting the clinching game for the MWL championship. I got to talk to Shelby Miller and Matt Adams in 2010, and they each signed some of my pictures. Shelby signed 3. He was 19 then. It turns out I did get to see Marp play in QC, too. I didn't get to meet him and I barely remember him because he was only here for 30 games. But, there he was in an old folder I dug up the other night. Baby Marp:

[cardsfansince82]

The best part about a playoff caliber team is the six months of entertainment leading up to it. I also fully recognize the crapshoot nature of it all. I just feel like once you make it to the final two its a huge let down if you aren't able to finish the job. Maybe I'm spoiled, but I don't really view a team that loses the WS all that differently from a team that loses the LCS.

Following baseball requires a bigger time investment than any other sport, so I think that plays a role. Obviously it's nothing compared to actual life problems, but losing this series would affect me on some level.

[wart57]

I am just pissed it is going to take 7 games for the Cards to win, because that is 3 more nights of Mrs. Wart being pissed that I am watching the "Whole" game... oh wait, I kinda like the fact it pisses her off....never mind, lets win this in 7!

[planet planet]

The best part about a playoff caliber team is the six months of entertainment leading up to it. I also fully recognize the crapshoot nature of it all. I just feel like once you make it to the final two its a huge let down if you aren't able to finish the job. Maybe I'm spoiled, but I don't really view a team that loses the WS all that differently from a team that loses the LCS.

Following baseball requires a bigger time investment than any other sport, so I think that plays a role. Obviously it's nothing compared to actual life problems, but losing this series would affect me on some level.

Blue balls!

Great post.

[lukethedrifter]

I was kind of crabby to my wife last night with the way the game started. Sorry.

[pioneer98]

The best part about a playoff caliber team is the six months of entertainment leading up to it. I also fully recognize the crapshoot nature of it all. I just feel like once you make it to the final two its a huge let down if you aren't able to finish the job. Maybe I'm spoiled, but I don't really view a team that loses the WS all that differently from a team that loses the LCS.

Following baseball requires a bigger time investment than any other sport, so I think that plays a role. Obviously it's nothing compared to actual life problems, but losing this series would affect me on some level.

Yes, you are spoiled! Tons of teams have not made it to the World Series in many years. We've made it 2 in the last 3. Heck, there are franchises, like the Astros, that have been around for a few decades and only made it once.

Making the World Series is a HUGE deal compared to getting bounced in the NLCS. Think about this: thousands if not millions of people all over the planet are now familiar with Trevor Rosenthal's fastball, and Carlos Martinez's slider. If the Cards lose in the NLCS, these guys are just notable NL rookies. Or look at it this way: the NLCS was on TBS. The World Series is a global phenomenon. Win or lose, the Cards got to be part of that global spectacle. I work with people in India and Mexico, and they know I am a Cardinals fan. They were asking me if I was depressed after game 5. They didn't ask me that question after the Cards lost a couple NLCS games this year.

I understand getting so close and losing sucks...but I just have perspective on that now. The reasons above are why I'd have felt worse if they had lost to the Dodgers. I felt like the Cards were better than the Dodgers and deserved the World Series spotlight, and they got it. But at the same time, I didn't expect this from this team. They struggled at times this year, especially the 2nd half. I wasn't sure they'd win the division. They have 9 rookies on the World Series roster, which is insane. Teams with that many rookies are normally in rebuilding mode, not 2 wins from a title. And who knows, they might pull it off yet!