It's 3-2 After Five

Wait, of course it is. That's the only way it could be without it being over. Fantastic. I told Frankie I'd post something tonight. So here's something.

The Cardinals, after scoring 16 runs in game 3, have scored two in the last 18 innings. Albert Pujols, after hitting three home runs in his last three at bats in game three, has gone hitless over the last two games. The Cardinals one and two hitters in this World Series: 3 for 37. So how are the Rangers and their vaunted offense winning this World Series? PITCHING.

After the game three debacle, the Rangers have given up only 2 runs, highlighted by Holland's eight and one third innings of scoreless ball. Why did the Rangers lose last year? Pitching. Derek Holland, in game two last year, threw thirteen balls in a row. That's right. Thirteen. He has gone from the goat to the stud.

Seriously, this guy is winning World Series games

The Rangers are still hitting, but not a ton, scoring eight runs in the last two games.

I mentioned to Frankie today that this was an interesting World Series in that the two teams earned their spot based on their superior hitting over the course of the year. But that's not what's happening in this fall classic. Except for the anomaly that was game three, this series has been all about pitching.

Yeah, we haven't had the Lee vs. Lincecum matchup, or the Sabathia v. Halladay matchup, or even the Verlander vs. Kennedy matchup. However, it is the Derek Hollands of the world that are keeping the likes of Pujols and Holliday at bay. It's not like the Cardinals are pitching that poorly. They are pitching to their potential. The Rangers have just shown up with the extra pitching boost a team needs to take home the glory.

However, we now return to St. Louis. The Rangers no longer have the DH. On paper, though the Cardinals are now on the ropes, they'll still have every opportunity to win, thanks to CJ Wilson giving up a bomb to Prince Fielder back in July. Home field advantage means a lot. Especially because they'll have a working bullpen phone.

Can we pause and think about that for a moment. The bullpen coach of the Cardinals heard "Lynn" when LaRussa supposedly said "Motte", leading to a parade of pitchers in the eighth inning. I find this misunderstanding hard to believe. This is not a situation like in Houston where they have 4 guys named Rodriguez. These are two completely different names, with different language origins. The great LaRussa mismanaged and won't bite a bullet. Whoops.

Game 6, Wednesday night, is going to be a boatload of fun. Jamie Garcia will square off against Colby Lewis once more. I think this series goes seven. There's no reason not to. Let's enjoy the last bit of baseball while we can, because if the Saints, Ravens, and Raiders games this weekend were any indication of what the rest of the NFL season is going to be, we're in for a long winter.

Screw it if I've already used this, it's a great song.