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Perhaps this was already mentioned in the post game thread, and I apologize if so, but there were key plays where the Cards simply out-executed the Pirates:

1) The fly by Pujols in the 9th where Bay threw to 3rd. He had no chance of getting Eck @ 3rd and allowed Duncan to move into scoring position.

2) Jack Wilson not advancing the runners in extra innings (the 11th I believe) with no one out. Totally inexcusable play by Wilson and a masterful job by the defense to get the force @ 3rd. (as a side note yes I do recognize the lead runner was there due to the low throw by Eckstein)

3) Bennett scoring - I don't know where to start with this one. First the decision to send him was ridiculous. In any case I guess that doesn't matter as Bay parked under the lazy fly and was ill-prepared to put anything on the throw. I can't blame the catcher too terribly as the throw should have been there before Bennett was halfway but instead when the 5-hopper from shallow shallow left finally made it there Bennett was arriving at the plate as well. He has to hang on to the ball in that situation and obviously did not.

Yes, it might have been an "ugly" win, but credit should be given to players and coaching staff for being aggressive and causing the Pirates to make stupid mistakes. I realize some of these moves could have easily blown up in the Cards' faces; if GB is thrown out at home (as he should have been) there's a 15 page thread about how much of a moron Oquendo is.

Naturally I'm a little biased but from watching years of Cardinals baseball I don't recall other teams consistently doing the little things to put themselves in a better position to win - such as runners taking extra bases on OF throws to home - except maybe the Braves.

Are we going to see more of this kind of play, some of it being borderline wreckless, if the the offense continues to be an issue?

Sir, a fine set of observations. Great post.

I really think the Pirates gave this one away (for the reasons you cite)--and the Cards were able to take advantage. This is the type of stuff that separates good teams from bad ones. It illlustrates why the Pirates have languished in the cellar for years and the Cards have thrived.

First the decision to send him was ridiculous.

Sending him was not ridiculous. I don't think we had any other choice. We had to take a chance there. We had no bench guys left and obviously Oquendo thought Bay wasn't expecting to have to throw home. I thought it was a great call by Oquendo and was screaming "send em send em" even before he sent him.

That Bay throw to 3rd........... I was yelling at the TV when he did it.

They teach you to hold the tie runner in little league in the late innings.


If I am the Pirates manager, Bay is going to be watching baseballs version of the Dick Vitale instructional videos for the next couple of nights.

No such thing as a bad win or ugly win. Its still a win. I'd rather win "ugly" then lose pretty any day.

card_fan_in_chi wrote:That Bay throw to 3rd........... I was yelling at the TV when he did it.

They teach you to hold the tie runner in little league in the late innings.


If I am the Pirates manager, Bay is going to be watching baseballs version of the Dick Vitale instructional videos for the next couple of nights.

Jason Bay obviously watched too many Cub games when he was growing up.

Last night's game showed why the Cardinals will probably play a lot of baseball in October again this year while the Pirates will have plenty of time for October golf.

It's the little things.

The Pirates also let Thompson get away with a couple hideously bad pitches.

and Sanchez whiffing on that poor hanging curve from Thompson....That was the game right there...Horrible location.

You can't really say Wilson himself screwed up the sacrifice, because you don't know what his instructions were. If he was under instruction to bunt no matter what, then hang it on Tracy. If, he was given the freedom to pull the bunt back and punch the ball through then he should have done that.

There was almost zero chance that a sacrifice bunt was going to work based on how the Cards played it. They completely took it away.

jim wrote:You can't really say Wilson himself screwed up the sacrifice, because you don't know what his instructions were. If he was under instruction to bunt no matter what, then hang it on Tracy. If, he was given the freedom to pull the bunt back and punch the ball through then he should have done that.

There was almost zero chance that a sacrifice bunt was going to work based on how the Cards played it. They completely took it away.

On the radio today, Tony gave credit to Whitey Herzog for that play. He said that he stole it directly from the White Rat's playbook.

Phyrkrakr wrote:

jim wrote:You can't really say Wilson himself screwed up the sacrifice, because you don't know what his instructions were. If he was under instruction to bunt no matter what, then hang it on Tracy. If, he was given the freedom to pull the bunt back and punch the ball through then he should have done that.

There was almost zero chance that a sacrifice bunt was going to work based on how the Cards played it. They completely took it away.

On the radio today, Tony gave credit to Whitey Herzog for that play. He said that he stole it directly from the White Rat's playbook.

I thought it was the most interesting part of the game. Apparently not many others did though..
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