I'm still trying to process through what actually happened in that baseball game last night. For the first 6 innings, it was one of the sloppiest games I've ever seen. It was very apparent the nerves were at an all time high for the majority of the players. Pop ups being dropped, routine ground balls bobbled, double plays botched, it seemed as if everything that could go wrong was going to go wrong for both teams. Then something completely improbable, yet perfectly foreseeable happened. The Rangers entered the 9th inning with a two run lead, were two outs away from their first world series, and the bases were still empty. Albert Pujols was a combined 0-16 in every game other than game 3, and he was at the plate. Even with all of this, you had the feeling the game was far from over; and why not? The Cardinals were 10 1/2 games out of first place with a month left in the season and somehow made the playoffs. They were down 2 games to 1 in the division series against the best team in baseball, the Phillies, and somehow came back to win that series. There is something about this team that just won't allow them to lose, and it showed again last night. Pujols hits the double, Berkman walks, Craig strikes out, and with two strikes David Freese hits a two run triple to tie the game. Then in the 10th, the Rangers go up two runs again, and again the Cardinals come back to tie the game when they were down to their last strike. By the time the 11th inning came around, it was obvious the Cardinals were winning this game, setting up a game 7 in one of the best world series I've seen.
A few thoughts on last night's game:
First of all, Nelson Cruz should be flat out embarrassed. For the 2nd time in this series, he made a pathetic effort on a fly ball that changed the game. In game 1, he slid on his butt instead of diving for a ball that would've been the 3rd out of the inning and preserved a tie game. Instead, he missed it by sliding, allowing the go ahead and ultimately winning run to score. Last night, on the triple by Freese to tie the game, Cruz should've caught the ball. He had a good enough jump on it, and plenty of time to get back and make the catch without having to do anything spectacular. Instead, it was obvious he got scared of running into the wall, slowed down and made a pathetic jumping stab that wasn't close to the ball. Texas should've been celebrating a world series victory, and instead they were tied, with the Cardinals having gained all momentum. I don't care how scared Cruz was of the wall, it's game 6 of the World Series for crying out out, he should've ran through that wall before he let up the way he did. If the Rangers lose tonight, Nelson Cruz should be the #1 culprit for the Rangers, followed closely by culprit #2...
...Ron Washington. The Rangers manager has made a lot of smart moves in the playoffs thus far, but last night he made too many mistakes.There were three major mistakes last night that helped cost the Rangers this game
First mistake - having Napoli batting 7th. Mike Napoli is easily the MVP for the Rangers in this series, and showed so again last night by reaching base five times. Putting him behind Beltre and Cruz is a mistake, however. Beltre and Cruz are both power hitters, and where they hit in the lineup isn't as important as a good situational hitter. Napoli has been able to do anything the Rangers have needed, while Cruz and Beltre, while hitting a home run occasionally, have consistently failed to advance runners in critical situations. Last night, in the first inning, Rangers scored one run when they should've had at least two or three. with nobody out and runners on first and third, Napoli would've found a way to drive in a run. Instead you have back to back strikeouts and a groundout to end the inning, with Napoli never even getting the chance to bat in the inning. The best player on your team shouldn't be batting 7th. Period.
Second mistake - Not pinch hitting for Colby Lewis in the 5th inning. Rangers were clinging to a one run lead with the bases loaded and two out in top of the 5th. Colby Lewis was due up to bat. As an AL pitcher in the league with the DH, Lewis had only a total of 16 plate appearances since coming into the majors in 2002. 13 plate appearances in 10 years, with only three hits mind you. Yes the game was only in the 5th inning, but if the Rangers get a big hit in this situation, it could've changed the entire game. Instead, Washington leaves in Lewis to hit, he strikes out, and one inning later, he is pulled from the game anyway. Bad decision
Third mistake - Not leaving Holland in to finish the game. Derek Holland has been the one great pitcher in this series for the Rangers. He pitched a masterpiece in game 4, and was brought in last night with the game tied and bases loaded. After getting out of that inning, he was staked to a 7-4 the next inning after back to back home runs. Holland should've been left in to finish out the game. He hadn't allowed a run in the series up to that point, and he looked like the one player out there who wasn't terrified of the situation. Instead of leaving him to finish, Washington pulls him out after allowing a solo home run in the 8th inning. I believe Holland would've finished off the win, and the Rangers would be celebrating. Instead, the Rangers are facing a game 7 and Holland most likely is not going to be available because of the two innings he pitched in game 6.
Now, with all of this being said, I can not wait to watch game 7 tonight. This has been the best World Series I have personally watched. I can only hope game 7 lives up to the rest of the series. Everything that has happened tells me to pick the Cardinals tonight. With all that happened in game 6, how can you deny that the Cardinals seem to have destiny on their side. They have risen from the ashes so many times, it seems only fitting they would finish it off. On the other side, after the epic collapse last night, the Rangers could be completely shot emotionally. They had chance after chance to finish off St. Louis and couldn't do it. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see the Cardinals come out tonight and not only win, but dominate this game. All logical evidence points towards that happening. However...
I am picking the Rangers to come back from the emotional defeat of game 6 and become the first road team to win a game 7 since 1965. It's more of a gut feeling than a logical pick, but that's what I'm going with.
Rangers 7, Cardinals 6.
MVP - Mike Napoli
Til Next Time,
Dallas
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