Game 1: Wednesday, October 11th | 8:00 | FOX

 

 

 

Weaver (8-14) @ Glavine (15-7)

 

Game 2: Thursday, October 12th | 8:00 | FOX

 

 

 

Suppan (12-7) @ Maine (6-5)

 

Game 3: Saturday, October 14th | 4:00 | FOX

 

 

 

Steve Trachsel (15-8) @ Carpenter (15-8)

 

Game 4: Sunday, October 15th | 7:30 | FOX

 

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/columnists/nophoto_65x90.gif

 

Perez (3-13) @ TBA

 

Game 5: Monday, October 16th | 8:00 | FOX

 

If Necessary

 

Game 6: Wednesday, October 18th | 4:00 | FOX

 

If Necessary

 

Game 7: Thursday, October 19th | 8:00 | FOX

 

If Necessary

good to see Oliver Perez get the start....gotta love STL's Game 4 pitcher too.

unbelievable that Carp and Trachsel have the same record of 15-8 despite giant ERA differences of 3.09 and 4.97.

GO CARDS!!

GO CARDS.

 

No Cliff Floyd?

M-E-T-S

 

METS

METS

METS

Mets should take this one. Cards have 3 players to fear, Pujols, Carpenter and Wainwright IMHO. If I were Willie i'd pitch Perez in game 4 because he is the only pitcher on the Mets, when he's on able to match Carpenter in a game. But Perez or Traschel will do for me against Carpenter. GO METS!

Here's hoping Pujols goes nuts.

Go Mets. Almost feel like puking saying that, but they are the lesser of two evils.

Here's hoping Pujols goes nuts.

 

 

 

yes sir...

Go Cardinals?

Make a case for:

 

1) The Mets winning.

 

 

2) The Cardinals winning.

 

 

 

Let's hear those predictions.

I think the Mets have been the best team in the NL all season. The biggest knock against them has been their pitching without Pedro or Duque. I don't think either pitcher was a major factor during the season, so it won't matter now either.

 

The Mets will play Detroit and lose in 6.

Mine:

 

1) The Mets. To take this series, the Mets need to hold court at home given Carpenter not starting until game 3. The key for the Mets is Beltran and Reyes. You have to believe that Delgado and Wright won't see a lot of chances to drive in the runs. Also, the bullpen is the biggest edge for the Mets, and Willy's shown he's not afraid to go with the quick hook to compensate for his incredibly thin rotation. The Mets have, potentially, two shut them down righties in Mota and Heilman to handle Pujols and Rolen in late innings. If all things fall the Mets way, this series is theirs in 5 or 6 games.

 

 

2) The Cardinals. The Cardinals come into this series as an incredibly underestimated underdog. They still have the best pitcher (Carpenter) and best position player (Pujols) left in the playoffs, arguably, they have both the Cy Young and MVP of the league for the 2006 season on their team. Their achilles heel is their bullpen, but outside of that they have a puncher's chance in this series. They are no worse than a wash at 6 positions (C, 1B, 2B, 3B, LF, RF) and have the edge at a few of those positions. Add to that that they have Carpenter set up to go games 3 and 7 if necessary add to that that the Cardinals know that they have Carpenter going in game 3 and they're facing Perez in game 4, both in St. Louis, and they're looking at 2 very winnable games and a huge upper hand if they can take game one or two in New York. Clearly though, the key for the Cardinals will be Jim Edmonds. Of all the dangerous Cardinal hitters, he will see the most pitches to hit and will have plenty of chances to hit with Pujols on base (as I think he gets 'Bondsed' this series).

 

As it stands now, more things have to break the Cardinals way, but it would not surprise me at all to see them win this series.

Go Cardinals!

 

M-E-T-S

 

METS

METS

METS

 

Wrong team. :mischief

Game 1 Postponed due to rain.

Lovely. Game cancelled.

C'mon, you can root for the Mets, it's only for a few weeks. I'll even keep some seats warm on the bandwagon for you all. Festa gets to sit next me though.

Its interesting that the Mets and playing the Cards in the NLCS. They had quite a rivalry in the mid 80's during the John Tudor days.

Lineups:

 

Cardinals

1. SS David Eckstein

2. LF Preston Wilson

3. 1B Albert Pujols

4. RF Juan Encarnacion

5. 3B Scott Rolen

6. CF Jim Edmonds

7. 2B Ronnie Belliard

8. C Yadier Molina

9. SP Jeff Weaver

 

Mets

1. SS Jose Reyes

2. C Paul Lo Duca

3. CF Carlos Beltran

4. 1B Carlos Delgado

5. 3B David Wright

6. LF Cliff Floyd

7. RF Shawn Green

8. 2B Jose Valentin

9. SP Tom Glavine

Lets go Mets! Lets go Mets!(feels so dirty)

 

Some things...

At this time of the year, Carpenter is a toss up. He can either be pretty darn good, as he hass been for the most part of the playoffs, or complete garbage, like he has been the last two Septembers. Playing a team with a well above average offense will really tell what he is made of, as opposed to the anemic at times Padres. And after Carpenter, the Cardinals pitching is atrocious. At least they dont have Marquis in the rotation or Isringhausen in the BP, that helps their chances. Being able to set up Suppan to start at home works in their favor.

 

That said, pitching is probably a wash. The Mets have Traschel, not comforting unless you are the Cardinals, and the somewhat overrated-this-year Glavine(post ASB era of 4.33 and WHIP of 1.35)...which the Cardinals counter attack with Suppan and Weaver. Definantly wont be any pitchers duels in this series.

 

It all comes down to the pitching of youngsters Maine and Reyes IMO.

DAMN

2-0 NY

Time to get Weaver out of there

And to think Weaver gave it his all tonight again.. deserved a better fate.. oh well.. 2-0, Bottom 7.. game over..