Astros, Cardinals might keep handshake tradition going

By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer

 

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- In a display more commonly associated with hockey, the Los Angeles Dodgers congratulated the St. Louis Cardinals on the field after losing the decisive Game 4 of the NL division series.

 

Maybe it'll become a baseball tradition, too. There's a chance the Astros and Cardinals will show a similar display of sportsmanship after the NLCS because there's been virtually no animosity between the teams.

 

``There's a big-time mutual respect,'' Astros left fielder Craig Biggio said. ``I think there's a lot of professionalism on both sides.''

 

Biggio's first reaction when he saw players from opposing teams shaking hands and embracing was ``Wow, that's kind of classy.''

 

``But you've got to get the other side to reciprocate, especially if you're the one that wins.''

 

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said all the feedback he's received has been positive, although he wasn't sure if the NLCS will have a similar coda. He and Astros manager Phil Garner have not discussed the topic.

 

``I don't know if it will come up,'' La Russa said. ``I don't know if it's a one-time deal or you'll see it.''

 

Cardinals reliever Steve Kline called it a ``class act'' by the Dodgers.

 

``That's big for a lot of people to see that in baseball and in sports, period,'' Kline said. ``In today's world everything is so competitive and it's hard to do, shake someone's hand right after you've just lost.''

 

Still, everyone wasn't totally diplomatic on Tuesday, the day before the series began. Cardinals setup man Julian Tavarez pulled no punches when assessing the relative strengths of the teams.

 

``We don't look at the Houston Astros like this is a great team,'' Tavarez said. ``They are good but we are better than them.

 

``We are the best because we've got 108 wins. We've proved it. We are the best.''

This would be really cool. When I was a kid in Little League I always wondered why they didn't do this. We were taught that we had to do this every game for respect of good sportsmanship.

If kids are capable of handling the loss and shaking the other teams hands than grown ups should be able to do it also.

``We don't look at the Houston Astros like this is a great team,'' Tavarez said. ``They are good but we are better than them.

 

``We are the best because we've got 108 wins. We've proved it. We are the best.'

sigh, such arrogance from a player who isnt even good enough to play the game without cheating... :plain

This is all fine and dandy, but could any of you imagine the Cubs last year coming out after that game 7 to congratulate and shake the Marlins hands, or the Red Sox coming out to congratulate them, I sure as hell cant, it was a very nice gesture by the Dodgers to come out and congratulate the Cards but I cant see it happening after every series.

I hope they do it.

I hope they do it, but after a lot of the celebration has taken place. Let them celebrate for a few minutes then do it