OK. So I promised myself I would not blog about the baseball post-season play-offs (otherwise I could, and still very much run the risk, of boring you all to death). But tonight (that’s St. Louis vs Houston in the National League Championship series) was just a spectacular example of, well of so many things. Anyone who thinks baseball is not exciting (see the comments on my previous post) should have watched this game. It just doesn’t get any better than this. Of course, I can say that as my team won. I literally spent the night biting my nails, pacing the floor, and at times not even being able to watch, covering my face with my hands.
There is something to be learned here. The message: never ever give up until the last out is played. This is true in life as well as in baseball. Tonight, my Cardinals were down 1-3 games in a best of 7 series. The winning team advances to the World Series, the loser watches the World Series on TV. Tonight, Houston took the lead, 4-2, late (7th inning) in a close game. It was the Cardinals’ last chance to stay alive, their last at bat top of the 9th inning, and the first two batters were out (there are 3 outs/per team to an inning). Third batter gets a single after 2 strikes against him (3 strikes and the batter is out). Next batter walks. Next batter hits a home run and the game is won 5-4. The series of games will now continue in St. Louis and we will see who wins…..(I’m ordering a Pujols shirt and having it Fed-exed for good luck!).
But, the real point here is to believe in yourself and your talent and to not give up. No matter how bad things may look, one can still win, even with 2 outs, nobody on base, in the 9th inning. Or with a bad budget year with your science being cut. Or with your project taking a bad turn. Or with being denied tenure and fighting it when things look hopeless. Or with, well, with so many of those things that happen to us in life. The ones that win are the ones that don’t give up.
October 18th, 2005 at 12:43 am
Amen to that, JoAnne…
-cvj
October 18th, 2005 at 1:21 am
Damn, that sucks. Well, at least we won the last two =p.
October 18th, 2005 at 1:43 am
I still cannot really stomach the baseball, but I will enthusiastically second that amen, very well said.
October 18th, 2005 at 3:21 am
fairytale finish… just wish i’d seen it…a disproportionate number of my college friends are from st louis, and have in the past dragged me to numerous cardinals games (at shea stadium, hence defaulting me as a mets fan). thus i do have a soft spot for the cards, even though i feel it really is chicago’s year…
on the subject of life imitating sport, does anyone ever have wierd inspirational sporting mental imagery that runs through their heads every now and then? maybe its just me… but i have an image of someone that vaguely looks like virender sehwag (indian cricket player) hooking a bouncer over the ropes for a six as a recurrent theme, though i imagine hitting a home run with two on base at the top of the ninth, facing elimination otherwise is a good one too. anyone else care to share theirs? don’t be shy!!
October 18th, 2005 at 3:28 am
seeing as how the astros A. gave up their staduim to katrina survivors and B. have never won a world series hardly makes the Cardinals an “underdog”. Now I remember why I didn’t get into sports. I’m from Houston =)
October 18th, 2005 at 6:32 am
Got back to my hotel room last night, turned on the TV and it was exactly at the point of 2 outs and bases empty in the top of the 9th. Amazing end. I was very lucky to see it.
October 18th, 2005 at 7:24 am
Thanks JoAnne. I’ve no interest in baseball, but your words have resonance. Ramen indeed.
October 18th, 2005 at 8:27 am
Well, perhaps I shouldn’t bring this up to a Cardinals fan, but as a Red Sox fan, I can concur that you never, *ever* give up. I probably don’t need to rehash history, although I will talk about it to the day I die, but you can be in even bigger holes than the Cards were last night and still pull out if you just keep trying, trust in your inate abilities, and keep working hard. Dreams still do come true in this modern age! And I say that to the ’stros fans, who probably have taken on the mantle of dismay so willingly discarded by Red Sox Nation last year.
October 18th, 2005 at 10:27 am
Given that I’m now living here on the south side, let me just say that I really, really hope the it’s the Cardinals that play the White Sox.
October 18th, 2005 at 11:58 am
I know this about baseball not football, but did anyone see the USC vs Notre Dame game on Saturday? We just need Reggie Bush to give us a push. That’s all.
Very sorry I missed last night’s game. I am still sulking about all the bad calls on the Angels.
October 18th, 2005 at 1:30 pm
Ben — be careful what you wish for; the riots will be worse if it’s Sox vs. StL. That’s only slightly tongue in cheek…
Despite the larger meaning, this is a very big reason why baseball is so much better than football or basketball. There’s no clock. The other team has to get you out 27 times in order to beat you and you have to get the other team out 27 times in order to win. There’s no dropping to a knee to run out the clock. There’s no fouling the crap out of the other team to prolong your hope (and the game) interminably.
October 18th, 2005 at 2:47 pm
Although not a fan of either team or the National League for that matter, it was an incredible win! Although my interest was not as involed as Joanne, I caught Houston take the lead in the 7th. Apparently I had walked to another room when I heard loudness from the TV and then someone yell “why would you pitch to that guy”!! So makes me wonder, was it the talent of Albert Pujols or the stupidity of the pitcher or both??
Samantha: “but did anyone see the USC vs Notre Dame game on Saturday? We just need Reggie Bush to give us a push. That’s all.” omg, how did anyone NOT see that one (Clifford)!! My stress level gets higher every week, but as they say around here, the Trojans Leave No Doubt! In my opinion, there is not *much* that can compare to college football, well USC football. Maybe we all do need a Reggie Bush ((http://usctrojans.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101505aaa.html?pic=14) to help out…..a little!!
October 18th, 2005 at 2:54 pm
Whoa! – USC has a football team? Who knew?..
-cvj
October 18th, 2005 at 3:56 pm
I’m a lifelong Astros fan, and if the Cards go on to win this series I expect to look back on last night’s 9th inning as the most painful sports-watching experience of my entire life. Nonetheless, I did lessen my anguish somewhat by thinking about the fact that from the St. Louis fans’ point of view, it was an awesome come-from-behind victory. I don’t buy the “fairytale finish” angle, though. In fairy tales, the underdog wins. Anyway, it’s great baseball!
October 18th, 2005 at 4:13 pm
ljs — it was a hanging slider, a mistake. Lidge is a great pitcher who should be allowed to pitch to Pujols. But he just made a mistake at the wrong time. It happens.
It was a brilliant game all around, even if I am rooting for Houston.
October 18th, 2005 at 4:46 pm
Andrew–the Astros vacated the Astrodome long before Katrina. Did they give up Minute Maide, too?
I was at Minute Maid last night. I absolutely cannot believe what happened. I am still not over the insane mix of emotions. Now for what is hopefully two more at Busch. After that all I want is for two more good, well played ballgames and for the NL to win the series.
October 20th, 2005 at 12:35 am
OK, now it’s over. And I’m not talking about it. Except to say farewell to Busch Stadium. I was happy to see it lit up just one more night.
October 20th, 2005 at 8:51 am
bittergradstudent,
ahhhh man they have another staduim now? damn I’ve been gone to long.
sorry the cardinals lost. a lot of people I know are really happy right now. =)
peace,
A
October 20th, 2005 at 10:10 am
Bad luck JoAnne!
October 20th, 2005 at 2:13 pm
Andrew, yeah, I wish that they stayed in the Astrodome, it was a real stadium, not this one with frankenstein-like proportions. No more games on KMOX radio, no more games at Busch Stadium. Wish they both could’ve gone out in style.
Well, I guess there’s noting to say but I hope thye can bring the new Busch in with a bang!