That Was the Most Ridiculous Game 6 in the History of the World Series

Honestly. Five errors, 11 walks, utter confusion all over the field, and eventual bat brutality completed the Cardinals' 10-9 walkoff win over the Texas Rangers Thursday night in St. Louis to force Game 7 of the 2011 World Series.

Josh Hamilton, who was told by the Lord himself that he would hit a homer in the 10th inning, and his hernia were feeling pretty darn good about that extra-inning longball (about time) until things really started to heat up. This game was a complete shitshow until about the seventh inning. I literally could not stop laughing throughout the early to middle innings, but then things got real serious real quick and shut me the hell up. The game went from a total joke to one of the best games I've ever seen in my life.

Tony La Russa Overmanages, Micromanages, Mismanages in Cardinals Game 5 Loss

With the World Series all evened up to a clean slate, tied at two games a-piece after Derek Holland's mustache took center stage in Game 4, the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers took to Game 5 with both of their aces on the hill.

Chris Carpenter lasted seven solid innings, surrendering just two runs on six hits with four strikeouts before reliever Octavio Dotel coughed up the eventual winning runs on a Mike Napoli two-run double in the eighth. Opposing pitcher C.J. Wilson tossed just over five innings with little control, walking five with two runs (one earned) on four hits. Four Rangers relievers combined for three hits to save the game and bring the series back to St. Louis with a one-game Texas lead after the 4-2 win.

It's 2010 Home Run Derby Time!

Update: Good job, Big Papi.

Here is the lineup for the Midsummer Classic 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby contest, in order of appearance. Who ya got?

Cardinals Keep Schumaker Two Years... in a Row

Skip Schumaker and the St. Louis Cardinals have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $4.7 million, two-year contract on Monday.

The former outfielder-turned-second baseman is set to make $2 million this season and $2.7 million in 2011 in addition to possible performance bonuses which could bring the grand total to $5 million over two seasons.

Schumaker hit .303 with four home runs and 35 RBIs over 153 games last year while making the transition from the outfield to second base. This means the annual game of musical chairs at that position is over (at least until 2012) which is a breath of fresh air considering the Cards haven’t been able to hold down a pivot guy since Fernando Vina stuck around from 2000-02.

Continue reading and comment on this story at Sports Untapped.

Smokin' Hot Stove: Happy Holliday

Matt Holliday's free agent worries are over.

The displaced outfielder agreed to a seven-year, $120 million contract to stay with the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday in a deal that includes a no-trade clause. He'll be hitting behind super hero first baseman Albert Pujols and playing left field for the defending NL Central champions.

There's Always Next Year...

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said it best,

"We got beat, so you take the heat."

His team was swept out of the NLDS by the Los Angeles Dodgers in dramatic fashion, with a 5-1 win in Game 3 Saturday night. That entire series was absolutely ridiculous.

It Ain't Over Til It's Over

Three hours, 32 minutes, 39 hits and 27 runs. Yikes.

Justin Morneau crushed a carer-high seven RBIs, but it wasn't enough to stifle Matt Holiday's bat and some horrible Minnesota Twins pitching Monday night. A combined eight longballs, including two grand slams, made up the Oakland Athletics' 14-13 dramatic rally.

Combined with the Cleveland Indians' 11-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays back in May, this crazy game marked the first time two teams overcame 10-run deficits in the same season since 1989.

Busy, busy day today... see ya tomorrow! I know, I'll miss you too.

[Star Tribune] | [Twins MVB] | [Cheap Seat Chronicles]

Happy Hollidays

For whatever reason, the Oakland Athletics have decided to add a superstar rather than ditch one.

The Colorado Rockies have dealt big bat-wielding outfielder Matt Holliday to the ever-rebuilding A's, for reliever Huston Street, lefty starter Greg Smith and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

Happy Holliday

Matt Holliday and the Colorado Rockies have settled on a two year, $23 million contract, with the hope of a long-term deal somewhere in the future. That's over a $5 million raise from last year to the next.

The All-Star left fielder and runner-up for the 2007 NL MVP award (behind Jimmy Rollins) batted .340 with 137 RBIs last season, becoming the third player since 1967 to lead a league in both categories. Holliday also hit 36 homers and led the NL in hits (216), total bases (386) and doubles (50) to aid the Rockies in their first pennant ever.

Lets' not forget his NLCS MVP award after hitting .333 with two longballs and four RBIs in a four-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks last year.

[Denver Post]

Your 2007 Batting Champions

How important do you have to be to get a personal phone call from Hugo Chavez? At least as awesome as Magglio Ordonez.

The Detroit Tigers finished their final game of the season Sunday night with a 3-for-4 night from the American League batting champ, who won't be playing baseball this October.

Ordonez ended the year with a .363 batting average, crowning him the best hitter in the American League, which was no surprise, as he led the majors in that category for most of the season.

Meanwhile, Chipper Jones, who failed to get a hit on Sunday, was about ready to continue his constant reign of awesomeness with a .337 average for the National League batting title when suddenly, the Padres and Rockies got to play 163 games in their seasons.

NL MVP candidate Matt Holliday, who went 2-for-6 on Monday to earn the title, finished his outstanding year batting .340 with 36 homers and 137 RBIs for the Rockies.

Congratulations boys!

[Sporting Word]

Colorado Rockies Clinch in Wild Game

In the first playoff game to determine a postseason berth since 1999, the San Diego Padres put their future Cy Young ace Jake Peavy on the hill to face NL MVP hopeful Matt Holliday and the smoldering Colorado Rockies in the very last game of the season.

The NL wild card ended after 13 crazy innings Monday night, sending a stunned Trevor Hoffman and a sad bunch of Padres packing for a long offseason.

Colorado's celebration started pretty much immediately after Holliday failed to touch home plate and will continue until they are swept in the first round by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Bold predictions rule!

[USA Today]

Fun With Polls: NL Batting Title

Last week, we wondered who you thought would become the American League Batting Champion.

45% of you voted in Ichiro Suzuki's favor while 34% claim Magglio Ordonez has what it takes to remain the best hitter in the league.

Jorge Posada stole 14% of your hearts and Chone Figgins tallied 5% while Placido Polanco and his strange head got 0 votes. That's a big fat Zero for Polanco.

So, we'll see in a few days who was right, who was wrong and who scores the AL Batting Title.

Onto the National League, where my favorite sweet swingin' switch-hitter, Chipper Jones leads the way with a .341 batting average. There are six whole games left in the Atlanta Braves' season for Chipper to dominate, which I hope he does. I don't see how he won't win this, considering how badass he is and everything.

But Mr. Jones has some competition, and his name is Mr. Holliday. Matt is hitting .337 on the year with six games left in the Colorado Rockies' season. After smoking 11 homers in 12 games leading into the weekend, he went 0-for-5 Friday night and was sidelined with a left oblique strain -- something that could kill his chances for the title if he can't bounce back in time.

Sadly, this isn't a beauty pageant. Chase Utley, who is a few degrees hotter than Death Valley, is batting .335 with six games remaining in the Philadelphia Phillies' season. Utley had a short hiatus due to a pesky broken right hand in late July -- a break that didn't stop the lefty from going 2-for-4 in the game which it occurred. Tough. As. Nails.

With six games left in both of their seasons, Hanley Ramirez (.333) and Edgar Renteria (.332) round out the poll much like Polanco and Figgins did the AL inquiry. They're both awesome, but may or may not be awesome enough to figure in the race.

• 
  Chipper Jones ATL
• 
  Matt Holliday COL
• 
  Chase Utley PHI
• 
  Hanley Ramirez FLA
• 
  Edgar Renteria ATL

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