The Cardinals refused to lose. So how come they just lost?
The Cardinals' Matt Holliday walks away as the triumphant Giants march onward. (AP photo)
It was only yesterday that many among us saw the St. Louis Cardinals as The Perfect Postseason Team. The Redbirds never got rattled, went the party line. (And there was, we concede, reason for such reasoning.) They knew how to manufacture runs. They’d be down to their last strike and still Find A Way To Win.
This just in: The Perfect Postseason Team lost.
Ahead 3-1 in the NLCS, the Cardinals were outscored 20-1 over the final 27 innings. Of the 35 runs the Giants scored in the series, 10 were unearned. The team that overcame staggering odds to beat Texas in the 2011 World Series and the Nationals in the NLDS had three chances to close out the unassuming Giants and didn’t come close in any of them. Yes, there was one massive fluke — the Game 7 double struck by Hunter Pence that actually was struck by Pence’s breaking bat three times! — but that only proves the greater point. Which is:
Even the Perfect Postseason Team isn’t immune to the vagaries of postseason baseball.
Pardon me for belaboring this point to Tim McCarver lengths, but postseason baseball defies handicapping. We need only look at these playoffs: Both wild-card games were won by the team with the lesser record; three of the four Division Series were won by the team with the lesser record, and one of the two League Championship Series was won by the team with the lesser record. Only in the Yankees-Orioles series and the Giants-Cardinals series did the team that had been better over 162 games prevail, and both times the series went the distance before a winner could be determined.
Credit Jayson Stark of ESPN for picking the Giants and Tigers to reach the World Series, but even Mr. Stark would surely concede that his prescience was more hunch than conviction.(Fun facts: Of 29 surveyed ESPN analysts, only three — Jim Caple and Michael Knisley were the others — tabbed the correct Series participants, and not one of the 29 hit the correct final four.)
For the Giants and Tigers to make it, two teams of seeming destiny had to collapse so utterly as to leave you breathless. The Cardinals had rallied from six runs down in Game 5 to beat the Nationals and stood one game from a second consecutive NL title … and then they were routed by an opponent that had lost its fearsome closer (Brian Wilson) in April, lost its All-Star Game MVP (Melky Cabrera) to steroid suspension in August and seen its presumptive best pitcher (Tim Lincecum) have such a lousy season he was reduced to spot starting and long relief in these playoffs.
As for the Tigers: They have a lot of what you’d like in a playoff team, meaning power pitching and power hitting, but they have a terrible bullpen, and that’s a flaw generally seen as an October disqualifier. Sure enough, the Detroit closer Jose Valverde faltered in the ninth inning of ALCS Game 1, yielding two-run homers to Ichiro Suzuki and Raul Ibanez. At that moment, you had to be saying to yourself: “No way these Yankees lose — they know how to win pressure games!”
Except that particular Perfect Postseason Team lost Game 1 in 12 innings and mustered a grand total of two runs the rest of the series. Derek Jeter broke his ankle and Alex Rodriguez got benched and the empire collapsed in a pile of pinstripes. And now the Tigers, who mustered the seventh-best record in the 14-team American League, have reached the Fall Classic and been installed as heavy favorites. Which probably means they won’t win.
After all, Detroit will face yet another Perfect Playoff Team. The Giants trailed Cincinnati 2-0 in the Division Series and won three games on the road to advance. They trailed St. Louis 3-1 and won breezing. They’re 6-0 in elimination games this October, which means they’re the new Cardinals. Which means the Giants probably won’t win, either.
I know, I know. There are only two teams left. One of them has to win, right? But that’s the thing about postseason baseball: Whatever seems to be true almost never is. Me, I figure Game 7 will go to extra innings and the rains will descend and the genius Bud Selig will intercede and declare the whole thing a tie.
By Mark Bradley
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64 comments Add your comment
drew
October 23rd, 2012
4:07 pm
YAWNNNNN….are they still playing baseball?
After some remote back and forth, between football and baseball, I remembered that I’m not actually a baseball fan…I’m just a Braves fan. See you in April.
Go Falcons!
Nicky Santuro
October 23rd, 2012
4:51 pm
St.Louis has a history of coughing up 3-1 leads in series play…
Up 3-1 on Kansas City in the ‘85 world series and lost.
Up 3-1 on the Braves in the ‘96 NLCS and got dusted big time.
Up 3-1 on the Gigantes this past week and got blown out….
And the Card’s fans wanna call the Braves chokers……?
billy bob baseball
October 23rd, 2012
5:01 pm
Dawgdad (The Original)
October 23rd, 2012
4:02 pm
Managers play a significant role in getting teams to and thru the playoffs. No one is talking about Bochy and Leyland. If we had either one from 91 to 2009, we would have won more than one WS,
***********************************************
Sorry dawg, but the stats don’t bear out your contention. Among the big dogs of baseball management, Sparky Anderson, LaRussa and Torre are the biggest dogs, with 6 pennants each and 3, 3 and 4 WS titles respectively, but Cox, Lasorda, Leyland, and Bochy have similar division, league and WS results. Given the prior discussion regarding teams being hot or cold at the right time, any of these skippers mentioned could have 1-2 more WS titles to their credit or 1-2 less, their management skills notwithstanding. Also compare payrolls of Cox’s Braves vis a vis the Yanks, Dodgers and champion Marlins. Personally, I’m thankful we had Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz these many years. You should be too, given the sorry record of the Braves those many years before they got here.
Buddy Landel
October 23rd, 2012
5:17 pm
People forget those dominant teams that LaRussa had with Oakland in the late 80’s and only won 1. Dave and Rickey Henderson, Canseco, McGwire, Stewart, Eckersly, etc..Joe Torre also managed the Braves, Cardinals, and Mets. It’s no coincidence that his only titles came with NYY. Managing as a whole is overrated. Unless your name is Joe Maddon, the manager with the best players usually wins.
MitchC
October 23rd, 2012
7:25 pm
Mark, as we Braves fans know, this isnt the first time the Cards have gagged in the NLCS., Er… 1996, when a certain Braves team was down three games to one to them, and then outscored them 32-1 over the final three games.
I’m glad the Cards are gone. I hope the Tigers win it all, as its been 28 years for them. I know their bullpen flaws, and that the Giants have home field. Hopefully it will be a good series.
Dum-Bass
October 23rd, 2012
7:42 pm
The SF Giants owe the Braves big time for their last two WS appearances. They won it in 2010 and the fact they had homefield advantage was huge. The only reason they had that was due to Brian McCann getting the winning hit in the All Star game, if you recall. They should have given him the “key to the city” on one of his visits there in 2011. Now this year, they would not be going to the WS if not for the Braves. The Braves were responsible for the Cards (the NL team with the worst record in the playoffs, and the SECOND wildcard team) being there so SF could just zip right through them. Yep, the Giants owe the Braves 2-3 draft picks for next year.
moss willis
October 24th, 2012
7:21 am
I’m coming to realize the World Series isn’t that entertaining these days. Maybe it is because of the teams in it. I could have been happy if the A’s or O’s made it. The Braves maybe a little too much wishful thinking there. This championship series will be as exciting as watching ants carrying bread crumbs to their home.
Phil's fan in ATL
October 24th, 2012
10:00 am
Cannot believe no one picked up on this comment, and Mr. Bradley, you, like so many other journalists, are delusional. Even if Bud Selig increased interest with the dual wild card set up, he is not a genius. He is the complete asshat that took little to no heat for the steroids era in baseball. He, like most journalists, chose to look the other way. Talk to anyone who knows Selig, off the record, & he’s pretty much labeled a tool.
Peter
October 24th, 2012
12:30 pm
Mask of False Bravado . Tow years ago before Blanco was traded for Rick Ankiel.. the Braves were wining almost 70% of the games he started in center field……
The Braves would run, hit and run, and they manufactured runs…… Where is Rick Ankiel today ???
I would rather have Blanco in center than Bourne, and Infante at 2nd base than Uggla.
Think of the money the braves would have both players are young, and one will win a World Series title…. WREN SUCKS Period !
2011champs
October 24th, 2012
12:44 pm
Yes, the Cardinals season has drawn to a sad end, but…. there is always a bright spin to put on it. They played well enough to beat the best the mighty NL East had to offer(Atlanta and Washington). And despite losing their #1A starter for the season, another starter for over 2 months(Garcia), a key reliever and spot starter(KMac), their starting 1st baseman(#1A Berkman) for all but 31 games, #1B(Craig) twice on DL, #1B(Carpenter)on DL at same time the other two were, and had to play a raw minor leaguer. They also played at various times with the starting 2nd Baseman, shortstop, and centerfielder on the DL. They also had to deal with a hip pointer with the LF, and the balky knees of the RF. In actuality, they had their full 25 man roster together for only a few games all season, yet, they made the playoffs, knocking off the Braves(largely thanks to Chipper and NOT “The Call”). Quite honestly, I was pleasantly pleased and quite surprised they advanced as far as they did with all the adversity that they had to play through this season. The Cardinals have been the dominant NL team this century, (most wins in reg. season, most playoff wins, most world Series trips and titles). Even though this season has come to a sad and too quick end, I am already excited about the 2013 season, and another chance at the WS. Braves fans dream; Cardinals fans expect it.
derek k
October 24th, 2012
8:51 pm
2011champs dude shut up. this is the braves site not the cards so go somewhere else to comment. And you all coulnt do it withough albert!!! His presence alone would have carried you all to the world series but without him yall choked! So dont say yall can do it without him! BAM!
Some might be able to see this some might not but check out this photo i made of albert aka uncle albert (Sam) lol
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=614142727666&set=a.546189361756.2046014.177502177&type=1&theater
Klaus
October 26th, 2012
2:24 pm
It is no accident that better mgrs get their teams further when logic & on paper skills seem to point to a different outcome.
Bouchy and Leyland can usually manage circles around others & get their guys to put it all on the field.
Their teams are quite often the epitome of resiliency, passion and yes even fun.
The Braves not so much bc they don’t build teams with fire or grit. Professionals, 3R HR guys supported by pitching they hope will cover their deficiencies. In a word BORING.
You don’t get a sense the Braves would give their left nut to win a ring for Fredi or Wren. Leadership matters and I don’t see either leader inspiring anyone.
They say words that seem logical but their teams fold under pressure and it is not all about money.
Too many teams with lessor or comparable payrolls have been playing BB deep into Oct to use payroll as an excuse.
Peter
October 26th, 2012
10:15 pm
The Braves not so much bc they don’t build teams with fire or grit. Professionals, 3R HR guys supported by pitching they hope will cover their deficiencies. In a word BORING.
What a true statement…. last game I went too the lost 5-0 and the only enjoyable part was leaving in the 7th inning.
Dick Dodge
October 29th, 2012
3:33 pm
Look at how the Giants handle Buster Posey in 2012. Even though catching was his primary position..he played a number of games at 1st base….keeping his bat in the line-up..while protecting him from the wear and tear that comes when one’s only position is catcher (like what you have with Brian McCann).
Posey played in 148 games in the 2012 regular season…having 530 at-bats (along with 69 walks). 114 games at catcher….29 at 1st. Isnt it reasonable to assume that those 29 starts at 1st helped lessen the wear and tear on Posey that would have surely occurred if Posey had made those other 29 starts as a catcher (meaning that he’d have started 143 games as a catcher in 2012)?
If Brian McCann had the ability to play another position…I’d be all for picking up his 2013 team option and exploring re-signing him to a long term contract. However, what’s happened with McCann the past 2 season with his injuries….is what any National League team has in store for them who is foolish enough to sign McCann.
McCann would be perfect for an American League team. He could play 110-115 games as a catcher…the rest as DH…which would keep his bat in the line-up for 150-155 games a season..something the Braves HAVE NEVER been able to enjoy from McCann.
Buster Posey had 610 plate appearances for the Giants in 2012. The most Brian McCann has ever had with the Braves…was 573 in 2008. The past two years, McCann has had 527 plate appearances in 2011 and 487 in 2012. How much do you really think our line-up could benefit…if a healthy, fresh McCann could come to the plate 100 more times in a year? Given his inability to play another position…..we will never see those 100 extra plate appearances. NEVER!