How not to finish a ballgame – Game 2 Recap

Written by: Bill Ivie on 9th October 2009

How not to finish a ballgame - Game 2 Recap | read this item

It’s a story of two teams. Then again, every coin has two sides.

Going into the mid summer months, everyone (pundits, management, fans) agreed, the Cardinals needed two things. A bat to protect Albert Pujols in the order and some pitching help. For the first time in years, management responded and went out and acquired help. They even bolstered a fairly weak bench, something that is typically uncharacteristic of a Tony LaRussa team. Acquisitions of Mark DeRosa, Julio Lugo, John Smoltz and Matt Holiday seemingly converted the Cards into more than just a contender. Everyone labled them the team to beat.

On Baseball Digest Live this week, Online Editor of BaseballDigest.com and show host Mark Healey posed a question that admittedly I had not pondered: “Is St. Louis’ defense possibly bad enough to hurt them?”. I replied with a a cynical tone and analyzed the masterful Tony LaRussa and how he seemingly has the right pieces in the right places late in the game.

The acquisition of Matt Holiday seemed to be working perfectly last night. A home run early in a tight contest where the Cardinals’ budding ace took the mound and gave up one run over eight masterful frames proved that the right piece was there. Then again, much to the chagrin of Cardinal fans everywhere, Major League Baseball does not play eight inning ballgames.

A line drive that Matt Holiday “lost in the lights” crashes into his stomach and extends a game that should have ended there. On top of the defensive lapse, it exposed the one major concern that myself, Mr. Healey, and many a fan have discussed over the last few weeks: the backend of this bullpen is not ready for exposure to postseason quality lineups. LaRussa stuck with the partner he brought to the dance and handed the ball to Ryan Franklin instead of giving way to judgement that would have put John Smoltz at the end of the game.

Second guess all you want, analyze and reanalyze, but the truth of the matter is this: the Dodgers played nine innings last night. The Cardinals stopped after eight. And now the long trip home comences with the Redbirds down two games to none and up against a wall. It will take a fight in front of a sea of red to realize the hopes and dreams that “this is our year”.

Stay tuned…

Topics: Albert Pujols, bullpen, Cardinal Fans, Chagrin, Contender, Defensive Lapse, Host Mark, John Smoltz, Julio Lugo, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, Mark DeRosa, Mark Healey, Matt Holiday, Mid Summer, NLDS, Pitching Help, Play Eight, Postseason 2009, Pundits, Ryan Franklin, Show Host, St. Louis Cardinals, Tight Contest, Truth Of The Matter