The Playoffs

Our beloved St. Louis Cardinals start their first round of the playoffs tonight against our chief enemy, the Chicago  Cubs.  The Cards finished the season with the best record in Major League Baseball. The Cubbies have suffered many years of pathos, last winning the championship 107 years ago. But they have been transformed and had a terrific season, finishing just behind the Cardinals. It's going to be a fierce series.

I wish I could be at the stadium tonight, if only to photograph the crazy pre-game rally. However, Mrs. C and I are traveling to Chicago to meet our new granddaughter, Audrey. Should I bring a red hat?                        

Every Picture Tells A Story

The scene outside Busch Stadium after Wednesday night's game (no, I don't know what these guys were all about) and inside just after the final pitch, a roiling sea of red and white. 

Bottom, a humorous card but true. Over the last 10 to 15 years the Cardinals have easily been the most successful team in the National League. This will be their third year in a row in the league championship series. Three different opponents.

Wife, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter and I are going to the first game against the Dodgers tonight. I'll try to get something posted by morning our time but we'll be out late and are heading to Chicago tomorrow for the weekend.        

Victory

Late post today because out too late last night.

The Cardinals won the first round of the playoffs, the National League Division Series, in the fifth and decisive game. They now advance to meet the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League championship. 

Above, Card's slugger Matt Adams acknowledges the cheers of the crowd after his 8th inning home run. Minutes later (first below), whoever was pitching for Pittsburgh at the time skulks off the mound after being pulled by the manager. Farther down, our ace pitcher, Adam Wainwright, hurls the final pitch of the game. Last, bits of the jubilant celebration.

We have to congratulate the Pirates for their terrific year. After 23 consecutive losing seasons, they put together an excellent team, finishing the regular season just behind St. Louis. 

The league championship series starts tomorrow in our city. The family and I will be there.          

 

Cardinal Nation

And on a happier note:

The playoffs for the baseball championship started yesterday. Our Cardinals not only won their division but had the best record in the National League, There was a rally outside the stadium before the game to whip up the fans. I wore a red shirt and hat but not makeup.

We played the Pittsburgh Pirates. Poor Pittsburgh hasn't had a winning season for 23 years but has an excellent team this year, worthy of respect. However, our players didn't respect them in the slightest. The Cardinals ran away with a 9-1 win in the first of a five game series. More to come.

One person unsubscribed from my blog feed after yesterday's post. I was kinda disappinted there weren't more. And to that very nice, very conservative man who sat beside me at the game, I told you not to read the text of that post.