NLDS: What’s it take for the Birds to win?

Written by: Bill Ivie on 6th October 2009

NLDS: What's it take for the Birds to win? | read this item

Postseason 2009 is here.

I would be lying if I didn’t say that it comes with many questions and concerns for the boys with the birds on the bat across their chests. The redbirds spent September and the first few days of October playing sub .500 baseball, with 14 wins and 16 losses to show for their efforts. The bats went cold. Cy Young caliber pitchers put chinks in their armor.

And all of it means nothing now.

Tony LaRussa will be the first to say that he is looking forward from here. It’s not about the record coming into play anymore. It’s eleven wins. That’s the magic number now. Eleven.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the series against the Dodgers that starts tomorrow night in the city of angels.

The question has been posed and everyone is wondering which team shows up tomorrow night for the Cardinals. Here are the things that have to happen for the Cardinals to win this series:

1 – Wainwright and Carpenter
Like it or not, this is where it starts and really ends. When these two are pitching like they are capable of pitching, I would put them against any team in the league. If they can take the mound in Game 1 and Game 2 in Los Angeles and show the world why they are both in the discussion for Cy Young consideration, then the Cardinals can take control of this series quickly.

2 – The back end of the bullpen
Ryan Franklin was less than effective coming down the stretch. He needs to find the magic that was his first half if the Cardinals are going to rely on him in close games now. John Smoltz is in the bullpen for at least this series, and look for Tony to turn to him if Franklin is still wavering a bit.

3 – Albert Pujols
Admittedly, I’m not overly concerned with this. But Albert has to be Albert. Any time this team has needed him to carry them on his shoulders, he has. He is the reason that we were in a position in July to make the trades and push for the postseason. This is the time in careers where potential Hall Of Famers become legends.

4 – Don’t be fooled by Manny Ramirez
Don’t look at the stats. Don’t be fooled into thinking this man is not a threat. Manny is Manny and in October, that’s amazing. Settle in and handle him and the few threatening bats they have, and this team is not that scary. Fall into the thinking that this is an off year and you can expose him and he will hurt you.

All in all, on paper, the Cardinals stack up very well and look to have a decided edge. Both teams limped into the playoffs through the final month. It is time for the Cardinals to step up and show why, in August, everyone figured they were the team to beat.

And I, for one, will be on the edge of my seat for every pitch.

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Topics: Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols, Armors, Birds On The Bat, Bit 3, bullpen, Caliber, Cardinals, Chests, Chris Carpenter, City Of Angels, Cy Young, Dodgers, First Few Days, Game 1, John Smoltz, Los Angeles Dodgers, Magic Number, Manny Ramirez, NLDS, Pitchers, Postseason 2009, Redbirds, Ryan Franklin, Series 1, St. Louis Cardinals, Tony LaRussa, Wainwright