St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina (4) celebrates his two-run homer in the ninth inning with Albert Pujols in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series agianst the New York Mets, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006, at Shea Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Well, Endy couldn't leap high enough to catch the winning run, a two-run shot by Yadier Molina in the top of the 9th. The Mets managed to load the bases in the bottom of the 9th, but couldn't push across a run.
Mets lose, 3-1. Poor Beltran made the last out with his bat on his shoulder.
Ironically, the Mets contained Pujols, got a quality start from a statistically horrible pitcher in Perez, and still couldn't win. In the end, the Mets went down the same way the Yankees did, and for the same reason. Big bats don't mean a thing in the post season. Fans of the Flushing team and fans of the Bronx team know that now. Big bats feast on mediocre pitching in the regular season. But in the post season when competent pitchers throw first pitch strikes, your big bats can't work the count. When you're constantly behind in the count, you have a tendency to not get on base.
Pitching, pitching, pitching. Molina called some great games.
Boy, they're going to be killing Willie Randolph tonight on WFAN. I wonder how many callers it'll take before someone suggests they fire him? How many people are going to say that Willie should've had Lastings Milledge on the roster so he could've been the one pinch hitting with the season on the line instead of the (literally) lame Cliff Floyd? How many people are going to say that Wagner (who almost blew a 4-run lead on Wednesday) should've been pitching in the 9th instead of Heilman?
2 comments:
...why oh why... did mr. Willie have Floyd come up to bat??? And if he needed to have him bat with his bad leg and all, have him sacrifice the runners over. Bunt man. Maybe even a surprise bunt would have been out of the norm too. Play to win.
Geez, you had nobody out and 2 guys on. Chavez was the tying run. That's the one you need to get in scoring position. But Floyd comes up, swinging for the stars.. I'm like, I can't believe Willie called it that way. You know what? That's what Torre would have done.
And to be honest with you Michelle, the Mets got some quality pitching from some of the upstarts (Maine, Perez) but the key to the series was the game that Glavine blew! That's the one the Mets really wanted to have and should have had.
But statistically speaking, everything was looking good for them going into Game 7. They should have scored in the 9th inning. Beltran will be haunted the entire winter for not lifting his bat off of his shoulder. Go down swinging, fly out, ground out, but put the bat on the ball.
Geez.. I'm surprised I even referenced this game on my blog. It's going to be a long winter. Fade to black... *smh*
...why oh why... did mr. Willie have Floyd come up to bat??? And if he needed to have him bat with his bad leg and all, have him sacrifice the runners over. Bunt man. Maybe even a surprise bunt would have been out of the norm too. Play to win.
Even though they’re a National League team, they’re not a “small ball” type team. They’re not good with bunting or squeeze plays or any of that. As for Floyd, he shouldn’t have been on the roster at all. He was injured for most of the season. I’m not a Lastings Milledge fan, but surely “Da Edge” couldn’t have done worse in that situation. And he would’ve had a damn good chance of beating out a bunt.
But Floyd comes up, swinging for the stars.. I'm like, I can't believe Willie called it that way. You know what? That's what Torre would have done.
You said it. Nothing less than a home run would do.
And to be honest with you Michelle, the Mets got some quality pitching from some of the upstarts (Maine, Perez) but the key to the series was the game that Glavine blew! That's the one the Mets really wanted to have and should have had.
Maine and Perez did far more than could be expected of them. Ironically the Mets strength -- their pen -- let them down. To me, the series was lost in Game 2. Wagner allowed three runs in the 9th after the Mets had beat up on Carpenter. Then in Game 6 Wagner came in with a four run lead and let the Cards score twice. Because of those two episodes Willie had no confidence in Wagner, hence he brings in Heilman in Game 7 and, well, we know what happened.
Geez.. I'm surprised I even referenced this game on my blog. It's going to be a long winter. Fade to black... *smh*
Yeah, there’s going to be an interesting “hot stove” season.
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