I never would have believed that they would get this close. I was sure the Mets would win 4-0 or 4-1. They could still win 4-3 if they win the next two games in New York….

But of course I hope they don’t. Another trip to the World Series for the Cardinals would be sweet! Maybe they’ll even show up and play this year! The series two years ago against Boston was painful, just painful. It wasn’t painful just because the Cardinals lost; it was painful because the Cardinals just didn’t play like they had all year in 2004. You may remember they had the best record in baseball that year — in either league. They were smoking hot leading up to the series.

And then, it was like they were all replaced with minor-league lookalikes for the series. Something terrible happened. It was like they were tricked into the kyrptonite chamber and their baseball powers were sucked away. It makes me shudder just to think about it.

Here’s hoping for better luck this time. With Carpenter on the mound, I’m hoping the Cardinals can win this NLCS series 4-2 and head to Detroit for Saturday’s game, and maybe win a few against the Tigers.

Bases-loaded jams, suicide squeeze, timely double-plays — it was an exciting game all the way around. And of course, for a Cardinal fan like myself, the ending couldn’t have been any sweeter — the third straight NLDS win for the redbirds.

It’s on to Shea Stadium Wednesday night for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. Can the Cardinals pull another upset and knock off the Mets? It wouldn’t be the first time they surprised their critics.

In a couple of hours, the Cardinals will be playing Game 3 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres at home in St. Louis. Of course, I’m hoping for another sweep, just like the Cardinals have done the last couple of post-season series against the Padres.

I have one beef with the game today — it’s on ESPN2. There are three baseball games being played today, and two of them are on FOX (that station I get). The one I really want to watch is on ESPN2 (not even ESPN — it’s on ESPN2! ESPN has college football). Just another reason to hate the wild-card system that forces this extra round of playoffs that doesn’t bring in enough advertising dollars to put all the games on broadcast television — all so a second-place team can get a second-chance at the post-season.

Yeah, I know it wasn’t pretty. It’s fair to say that the Cardinals didn’t win the title, but that everyone else in the central division lost it. The Cardinals’ record is not stellar, but regardless, they’re in the post-season. And that’s good enough for me. I mean, if second-place teams can win the World Series, why not a first place team with a modest record?

Go Cardinals!

It’s as easy as 1-2-3 for Albert Pujols.

Last year’s most valuable player hit three home runs yesterday, including a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth, powering the Cardinals past the Reds in a game with a see-saw lead.

The only bad thing about being so stinking good is that now pitchers will probably start pitching around him (a la Barry Bonds). Still, it’s players like Albert that make you proud to be a Cardinals fan.

Ahhh…. welcome back, baseball season. And welcome back, Mr. Pujols and grand-slammin’ Scott Rolen.

Cardinals win first game of the season 13-5 against the Phillies.

The St. Louis Cardinals are reporting that Rick Ankiel is injured:

In making the transition from pitching to playing the outfield, talent has scarcely been an issue for Rick Ankiel. A balky body, however, keeps protesting. On Monday, Ankiel sustained his third injury in the 12 months since he made the switch, suffering a strained left patellar tendon in an intrasquad game. He underwent an MRI at Jupiter Medical Center on Tuesday, and he will be held out for at least 10-14 days. The injury was characterized as a Grade 2 strain, the middle of three levels.

Here’s my question: why the heck is Ankiel still on the Cardinals’ roster? This kid imploded in the post-season six years ago and has never recovered. Yet they don’t send him to the minor leagues, but keep him on the 40-man roster and try to convert him to an outfielder.

Why? Is his dad on the board of directors or something? I’ve never heard of a team keeping a dead weight like this for more than half a decade. It’s time to cut the kid loose so he can pursue other interests while he’s still young.