Pro:

The Jets beat the Browns but beware of the Browns front starting seven on defense.

Giants beat the Bucs who are coming off of an incredible win on an almost record setting 62 yard field goal to beat the Eagles in waning seconds of last week's games.

The Bills can't lose this week as we have a bye.

College:

Speaking of byes, #9 Florida bounces back after its week off and losing to Auburn (darn Tigers) and beats #25 (according to the NYP) Georgia in Jacksonville.

#19 Oklahoma at #23 Missouri: Toughest game of the week to pick. The Tigers have lost 15 of the last 16 against the Sooners according to ESPN but they are due, at home, and the Sooners don't have injured RB Adrian Peterson.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Medford Bob provided a key reporting assist while the Tank was busy multi-tasking eTime and telephone server maintenance, floor calls, and an e-mail restore.  Verlander threw 35 pitches and got out of a bases loaded jam without yielding a run.  It is scoreless through 1. 

Since Medford Bob is superstitious, he asks me to root for the Tigers because most of my baseball playoff predictions except the Mets beating the Dodgers in the NLDS was wrong because of the underdogs won each post-season series.  I can't root for the Cheater so I am conflicted.  Enjoy the game if I can because of work.  I guess I should stick to picking football, touch wood.

Super Shortstop Eckstein singles in Molina in the bottom of the second inning. Cardinals 1 - Tigers 0.

After an error by Taguchi on an Ordonez fly ball, Casey hits the first pitch out over the left field wall.  After the top of the 4th, the Tigers are leading 2-1.

The Tigers see the Cardinals error and Verlander makes a throwing error.  According to the Cardinals radio broadcasters, it is the third pitchers throwing error since the World Series shifted from Detroit to Saint Louis.  How unlucky is this?  Buy a lottery ticket kids! 

Pujols makes a great stop and got the ball to former NY and Detroit Choke Artist Jeff Weaver to start the 7th.  Detroit is making it easy for Weaver who has only thrown 81 pitches through seven innings.

Up and coming R&B group and Saint Louis based "Varsity" sings "God Bless America".  Great job guys!  Good luck on the road to stardom!

Eckstein hustles out a single to start the bottom of the 7th.  He's definitely a World Series MVP candidate.  Leadoff men like Eckstein, Jose Reyes, and Johnny Damon often mean more than big boppers like Pujols, Delgado, and Giambi.  Preston "Mookie's Not Your Father" Wilson works out a walk.  Pujols and Edmonds fly out.  Rolen hit a foul ball down the left field line which would have sealed it.  On the next pitch, Rolen singled to right which scores Eckstein and advances Wilson to third.  Belliard grounds out to end the 7th.  The Cardinals lead 4-2.

I usually don't drink beer but I love the Bud Light commercials.  After next weekend's marathon, I'll buy Linda, Steve, Kathleen, and the rest of the Gang a Bud Light to reward the advertising geniuses.  I'll probably drink an orange juice or water.

Wainwright comes into the relieve Weaver who throws 99 pitches in eight solid innings.  Unfreaking believable!  Figures.

Casey doubles with one out in the top of the 9th.  Pudge Rodriguez grounds out to Wainwright.  Polanco works out a walk.  The Tank is called away to send our backup tapes to a secret offsite location.  However, he hears Medford Bob scream out as I walk by the Help Desk so I figured the Cardinals win the World Series, their first since 1982.  Medford Bob reports that Inge is out on a pitch like Beltran was out on in  Game 7 of the NLCS but at least Inge took the bat off his shoulder. 

Congratulations to the Cardinals for their tenth World Series title and their fans like Medford Bob, Shawn on 29, Mieka in Florida. Congratulations to World Series MVP David Eckstein and his new bride. The Cardinals broadcasters compare him to players from the old Gashouse Gang.  Eckstein plays shortstop like the late great Leo Durocher.  Wow!  That's old school.  Eckstein wins the MVP trophy and his first brand new car.  Baseball condolences to Detroit Dale.

Walt Jocketty is genius because he got Wainwright, the Braves former top prospect, for J.D. Drew.  Since the Baseball Apocalypse happened two years ago when the Red Sox won, I do award Dave Duncan the first ever Mother Teresa Miracle Pitching Coach award for bringing Weaver back from getting cut by the Angels for a roster spot for his brother to the World Series Clinching Pitcher. 

Momentum is a weird thing because both the Tigers and Cardinals had great starts, had key injuries, and then backed into the playoffs.  Heck, the Cardinals almost beat out the 1964 Phillies for the worst late regular season collapse of all time.

The end of the World Series marks the beginning of hot stove action.  Please check back for future posts as Steve and I prepare for what figures to be an exciting off season.  Let's hope the Yankees and Mets get some pitching!

Posted by the Tank with key early and late assists from Medford Bob in NY.

The weather finally held up enough to get World Series Game 4 in Saint Louis.

The Tigers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead through three.  The Cardinals countered with a run each in the bottom of the third in the fourth.

Bonderman had a tough start but was able to through 5.1 innings before an injury.  Suppan pitched six solid innings but not as great as hit did last Thursday against the Mets.  Figures.

The Cardinals tied the game in the 8th.  Preston "Mookie's Not Your Father" Wilson singles to left and Taguchi scores.  Pujols is tagged out at third by Inge.

The Tigers tied the game at 4 in the 8th. 

The injured SS Eckstein doubles (again for the third time) to left for his fourth hit of the game and second RBI.  The Cardinals lead 5-4 at the end of the 8th.

Wainwright holds the 5-4 lead and the Cardinals win and now lead the series 3 Games to 1.  I am certain Medford Bob and Shawn on 29 are happy as the Cardinals are one win away from their tenth World Series title.  Will the Cardinals be able to get revenge for the 1968 loss to the Tigers?  We may find out Friday night, weather permitting.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Tonight's Game 4 rainout in Saint Louis underscores a necessity for many teams around MLB, especially the Yankees and Mets, to address.  Both teams lost valuable momentum to their opponents and subsequent victors and eventual World Series opponents in those respective series, the Tigers in Game 2 of the ALDS, and Cardinals in Games 1 and 5 of the NLCS.  This is not making any excuses for the Yankees and Mets losses but a possible solution to prevent future inclement weather issues.

Both the Cardinals and Tigers are now rained out as well.  With rain forecasted over the next few days in both Saint Louis and Detroit, who knows when they'll get the games in?  Seattle is known for its inclement weather and took the necessary precautions when they built Safeco Field.  It is a state of the art facility that Yankees radio broadcasters John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman rave about as the best stadium they have seen.  Given not only the playoff rainouts and even difficulties of getting regular season games in from early in the season to summer showers and into September when often heavy rains from hurricanes coming up the East Coast, the Mets and Yankees should put retractable roofs on their state of the art facilities.  Ground has barely been broken on both facilities and there is time to make the necessary engineering and architectural modifications.

Yes, it will cost more money but the Mets and Yankees won't have to worry about lost revenue if fans don't want to take the chance on getting themselves and their loved ones sick from rain and the wind that accompanies it, especially from Long Island Sound.  Furthermore, both teams will be able to stage off season events.  This is a work around to the failed West Side Stadium which died when London beat out NYC for the 2012 Olympics as well as a little help from the Dolan MSG Monopoly.  NYC is 26th in Convention business and the new stadiums can help the City move up in the ranking creating jobs (granted some not great paying but jobs nevertheless), especially in the off season.  What out of town sports fan wouldn't want to visit the new Yankee or Met Stadium?  Concerts, political conventions, and other events could also generate additional tax revenue.

Traditionalists can point to the romantic nature of a nice summer day at the ballpark.  That's great.  But, if it's raining (or even the threat of rain), romance and MONEY are out the window as our weather continues to become more unpredictable with global warming and other climate changes.  What if you try to play when there is light rain and someone gets hurt God Forbid?  More lost MONEY down the drain.  Why chance it?  Please join me in calling local sports talk stations like the FAN 660 and ESPN 1050 to get the debate going for retractable roofs as well as contact the Yankees and Mets directly.  Thank you very much for your support!

Posted by the always passionate and pensive Tank in NY.

Was Sunday's game the first time Kenny Rogers pitched with an illegal substance on his hand?

Why is Rogers suddenly pitching lights out?  Before the 2006 playoffs, Rogers was 0-3 in 9 appearances with an 8.96 ERA.  In the 2006 playoffs, he has pitched 23 scoreless innings.  Mike Francesa made a great point in his Sunday evening "Mike'd Up" Show on NBC.

Max Kellerman had a caller Monday morning on his return to 1050 AM ESPN attest to seeing him use an illegal substance during the Yankees and As series.

Why didn't the umpires throw him out of the game?  It's an automatic ten game suspension which would have disqualified him for a possible Game 6 and another start next season.  Why didn't Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa object more vehemently?  Is it because of his close friendship with Tiger Manager Jim Leyland?  Why does La Russa's hitting coach Hal McRae have to stand up for the Cardinals and not La Russa?

A caller into Brandon Tierney's 1050 ESPN Monday Night radio show that the brim on Rogers' hat was darker than the other Tigers' players.  Was it to hide the pine tar and/or another illegal substance?

Even Sports Illustrated, a magazine that I grew up reading but boycotted after they put the Padres Trevor Hoffman as the so-called "Best Reliever of All Time".  BTW, all National League fans can "thank" Trevor for blowing the save in the All-Star Game and with it home field advantage in the World Series. Moreover, my friend Nancy from work gave me this SI link on how pitchers cheat.

Too many unanswered questions. When a gambler cheats in poker, they call it cutting the cards. If Kenny Rogers used an illegal substance, he cut the cards and the Cardinals throats.  If Rogers did, he's a cheater, not worthy of the great "Gambler" name nor even his real name which really only belongs to great country singer Kenny Rogers.  From here on out, Tigers baseball pitcher Kenny Rogers will be known as the Cheater and a freaking loser almost as bad as Hall of Shame gambling on baseball loser like Pete "Burn in H*ll" Rose.  Baseball players like the Cheater and Rose are real "Coward(s) of the Count(r)y".

BTW, I listened to the Cardinals radio broadcast tonight in the spirit of equal time.  It was a great treat listening to a clip of the late, great Jack Buck with a call from the 1968 World Series. Tiger starter Nate Robinson didn't seem too bothered by the 13 day layoff until the fourth. Reigning NL Cy Young Award Winner Chris Carpenter pitched a three hitter through eight strong shutout innings.  Even another former NY Choke Artist (NYCA) Braden Looper pitched a scoreless 9th inning. 

Reigning NL MVP King Albert Pujols got an unlucky break in the bottom of the fourth with a ground rule double which would have scored Preston "Mookie's Not Your Father" Wilson from first.  However, after loading the bases in the same inning, Edmonds doubled in two runs.  The Cardinals added two more runs in the 7th and another in the 8th.

The Cardinals win the game 5-0 and lead the series 2 games to 1.  Medford Bob (formerly known as Boston Bob) is smiling and happy that the Cardinals, one of his teams won.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Game 7 is now part of me forever. Endy Chavez changed my life. There have been few times in my life where I could not speak due to the shock/awe/respect/amazement/excitement and sheer joy that was just too overwhelming. I was yelling but I have no idea what was coming out of my mouth. I think the Tank just picked me up and threw me into the crowd of high 5s in the Upper Deck of Shea Stadium. The rest is a blur. If the Mets would have won the game I honestly believe that we would have made him Mayor of New York City. I think that the new Mets stadium has the potential to be named after Endy still. That said, it is not everyday where you go from the thrill of that kind of excitement to the sadness of the defeat an hour later.  This is what is means to be a Mets fan!!!

If you would have told me in spring training that the Mets would go to the bottom of the 9^th, 2 outs, bases loaded and Carlos Beltran up with the game on the line in the 7^th game of the NLCS I would have told you that you were crazy. So let’s start from the top: in 34 years of being a Mets fan, while experiencing 33 years of disappointment (1 World Series in 1986), this was the most exciting season I experienced since 1986. Let’s review:

• Endy Chavez changing my life
• I was watching meaningful games in October!
• We were 1 base hit from the World Series
• I witnessed Jose Reyes hit the cycle and steal home
• I witnessed Jose Reyes hit an inside the part home run
• I witnessed the greatest double play of all time (double play at home in Game 1 of the NLDS)
• I witnessed the greatest double play of all time, Chavez’s home rum rob, dethroning the previous greatest double play of all time, the double play at home
• Mets fans came out of the woodwork! Embarrassed or whatever, Mets fans were silent during the Yankee run of the late 90s.  3.5 million fans came out the Shea in 2006.
• For the first time in nearly 20 years I saw more Mets hats than Yankee hats on the subway. My mom even called and said that she was watching Games 6 and 7.
• The Mets season lasted 2 weeks longer than the Yankee season
  

What worked this year:

So much! But in a nutshell a few things:
 

1. Willie Randolph is a tremendous pro and is responsible for a complete turnaround of the team, people just go out and situational hit, bunt, steal, and play the fundamentals better.
2. Carlos Delgado was just the presence they Mets needed in the lineup and clubhouse. He provide the kind of protection and presence to take the load off of a healthy Carlos Beltran.
3. Ricky Henderson’s coaching of Jose Reyes in spring training made all of the difference, as well as Paul Lo Duca’s bat behind him.
4. The Bullpen. No more to say there.
5. “The replacements” or the Endy Chavez/Jose Valentin crowd.
6. They were the most exciting team to watch, always coming back, always doing something exciting (like changing my life.)

 

What did not work was the starting pitching. The rotation was a mess with all the injuries; we lost a few pitchers for the season and had 100% turnover of the rotation-all 5 opening week starters went on the DL or close enough (Glavine and Trachsel) at some point in the season or post season. Even the replacements went on the DL (Maine, el Duque, Solar, Palfrey.)

 
But I can’t complain. I will not make any excuses about the pitching-it is what it is. We lost Game 7 and have to come back next year and try to get back to where we were this year. After the emotional roller coaster NLCS and Game 6 loss to Atlanta in 1999 (damn you Kenny Rogers for walking in the winning run!) the Mets came back, made the playoffs and went to the World Series the next year. Hopefully 2007 is our year.

Posted by Steve in New York.

Former NY Choke Artists Kenny Rogers and Jeff Weaver take the mound for
the Tigers and Cardinals, respectively.  Weaver also has the dubious
distinction of being a Tiger Choke Artist. 


Pujols walked and an infield single for Rolen but they were unable to
put the run across the plate.

               
Munroe hit a bomb off Weaver in the bottom of the first.  Guillen
doubles in Ordonez.  At least Weaver is consistent.  Tigers 2 - Cardinals 0
at the end of the first.

               
One of the best parts of the game was the James Bond Casino Royale
commercial!  The November 17th premiere is only a few weeks away.  Boo
Yeah!  The Tank normally doesn't see movies on opening weekend because of
crowds but will compromise to see it Sunday the 19th after Rivalry
Saturday on the 18th.  There are many great college football games on that
day that I look forward to previewing and watching.


Nice bunt by Santiago in the fourth to load the bases with no out. 
McCarver is right, Weaver should have gone to the third base line instead
of getting in Pujols way.  Typical Weaver.  But give him credit, he got
out of the bases loaded jam without giving up a run.  Still Tigers 2 -
Cardinals 0 after fourth innings.


Granderson makes a great catch on Preston "Mookie's Not Your Father"
Wilson saving an extra base hit.  Rogers makes a great catch to end the
top of the 5th.
       

Casey singles home Guillen with two outs after Guillen tripled.  Tigers
3 - Cardinals 0 after 5.


I am a big John Mellencamp fan and like his new song, "This Is Our
Country" performed before the game.  It's a good roots rock song that I have always liked the genre.  Furthermore, I wish his sponsor, GM, well through their current financial
issues.  I drove a Chevy Blazer over a decade ago and liked it though the
$800 transmission job cost any chance of a spring break during my last
semester of college in 1994.  Anyway, since moving the City on March 31, 1996,
after spending a year in DC, I left the Blazer at home, my parents drove it
for a few years, and then my brother sold it.  Anyway, I haven't needed a
car in ten years in the City and used the money saved by not driving in
tolls, car note, repairs, insurance, maintenance, parking, etc. to pay bills,
travel the world, and save for retirement.  I wish GM well as their
employee pension mess (one worker for each four plus retirees) is a
harbinger of America's pending Social (In)Security woes.  GM actually made an
electric car that worked and consumers liked over a decade ago.  The movie
"Who Killed the Electric Car" details GM's and others' mistakes when I
saw it at the Angelica Film Center a few months ago.  Good luck GM!
            
    
Former Marine and American Idol Contestant Josh Gracin does a great job
singing "God Bless America". 


Wow, the Gambler pitches a two-hitter through eight innings.  23
consecutive scoreless innings against the Yankees, As, and now Cardinals. 
Unbelievable, I'm speechless and tip my hat to the Gambler.


Jones gets into trouble and Edmonds doubles in the Cardinals first run
on an 0-2 count.  Preston "Mookie's Not Your Father" Wilson is HBP to
load the bases.  Molina grounds to short to get the force at second.  I
wish Molina did that in Game 7 on Thursday night against Heilman.               


Detroit wins the game 3-1 and ties the series at one game each.


Posted by The Tank in NY.

For obvious reasons, I wasn't looking forward to Saturday's World 
Series Game 1.  However, as Boston Bob says, I have a way of turning lemons 
into lemonade.

                  
While working on public folder replication from our DC office to our 
secret offsite location via our NY office Internet link, I put MLB.com's 
World Series Gameday Radio on.  Since I work on the inside of a 
building next to our data center (and on Saturday who a colleague who called out 

sick), it is hard to get regular AM radio (old technology) but Gameday Radio is 

a great workaround through the Internet (new technology).  $14.95 for every game 
from every team in both English and Spanish (where available) language 
broadcasts for the entire regular season and playoffs is the best $14.95 
I spent.  "No Tip Vic" calls me "Cheap Tom" but I am value oriented.                 
                       
                      
I grew up listening to Phil Rizzuto on a Walton (upstate), New York, 
radio station.  If I am not at the game, I still prefer listening to the 
game on the radio than on TV because radio broadcasters are better 
story tellers and more articulate than their less entertaining TV counterparts.  Get 

better soon and hope to see you at next year's Old Timer's Game at the Stadium.
                               

In general, radio broadcasters are so much better than the TV 
broadcasters, except for Michael Kay who did radio before he went to TV.  
His weekdday 4 pm to 7 pm radio show on ESPN 1050 AM better than his YES 
broadcasts which he is good at.  To Tim McCarver on TV, everyone throws 
fastballs on every pitch.  
 

Speaking of pitches, if I wanted to check pitch speed and location, 
MLB.com's Gamecast provided it to me.


On Saturday night, I was treated to retired Hall of Fame broadcaster 
Ernie Harwell briefly stopping by the Tiger booth.  Mr Harwell spent most 
of his 55 year broadcast career with the Tigers.

                                      
As for the game itself, Detroit took an early 1-0 lead but Saint Louis 
came back led by increasingly surly and reigning NL MVP King Albert 
Pujols.  Rookie Perez pitched an unbelievable 8+ innings in the Cardinals 
7-2 win.  Braden Looper even didn't blow the game like he used to for 
the Mets.  Looper joins Jeff Weaver and Kenny Rogers as rehabbed NY 
Choke Artists to find success elsewhere.  Saint Louis leads the series 1-0.                                       

        
Posted by The Tank via old and new technology in NY.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry  

Detroit has the edge as it has rolled through the playoffs after losing ALDS Game 1 to the Yankees.  But did it lose momentum in the week long layoff?  The only team to win after a week off is the 1996 Yankees and we lost the first two before beating the Braves in the last four to return to glory.

As for tonight which is a rematch of the 1968 World Series, the most compelling matchup is that between close friends who talk everyday, Jim Leyland and Tony La Russa.  It's also an interesting contrast in styles as Leyland often let's the players play while La Russa often micro manages.

Because of the fact that the Cardinals best pitchers, Carpenter and Suppan, had to pitch NLCS Games 6 and 7 against the Mets. They won't be available until Games 3 and 4.  I still don't think Jeff Weaver can win a World Series game but he is pitching against fellow NY Choke Artist Kenny Rogers in Game 2 so someone has to win, don't they?  Boston Bob points out that La Russa's long time right hand man, Dave Duncan, has worked miracles as a pitching coach before and Weaver is his latest student.  If Weaver and the Cardinals win, Duncan is on the fast track to my new Mother Teresa Miracle Pitching Coach Award.

Prediction: Tigers win in five.

-------

Fearless Football Picks:

Pro:

Bills unfortunately lose against the Patriots who are starting to kick it in gear.  The Patriots aren't as great as the past few years but the AFC East is so weak that they'll be a high playoff seed, either #1 if the Colts slip or #2 if they don't, which could get them back to the Super Bowl.

The Jets beat the Lions who beat the Bills last week as I had feared.

The Giants beat the Cowboys in what should be a great Monday night game.  Many people criticize Tiki Barber for talking retirement but I think he is also trying to instill a sense of urgency in his teammates to get to the Super Bowl this year.  Barber has a future in broadcasting, philanthropy, and other interests so he may want to literally walk away at the top of his game and I can't fault him for that.

College:

#13 Georgia Tech at #12 Clemson.  It doesn’t get closer than this in the rankings but I give the edge to Clemson because they are at home.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

The Mets Thursday night's Game 7 loss at Shea felt like the sinking sick feeling when Ken Griffey, Jr., hit the home run in the Kingdome as the Mariners beat the Yankees in 1995.  It was Donnie Baseball's last game as a player.  I think but hope it isn't Cliff Floyd's last game with the Mets because of different injuries.
                             
                                                                        
Changes will be made as both the Yankees and Mets need to get more pitching.  The Mets have the edge as Perez and Maine upped their stock in spring training.  What about Pelfrey and other prospects?  As for the Yankees, I would like to see Karstens and Rasner get a shot in spring training and stop babying Phillip Hughes and let him pitch in the majors.  Let's see who wins the Barry Zito and other free agent sweepstakes.  Those are questions will be answered as hot stove season season heats up.
                                         

As for 2006, it ended tragically but I had some great times hanging out with friends at the Stadium, Shea, Keystone Park (Brooklyn Cyclones), and Richmond County Stadium (Staten Island Yankees).  If you happened to join me for a game or more this season, I greatly appreciate the company and hope to do it again next year.  As I often say, a bad day at the ballpark (except Game 7 of the NLCS) is better than a good day at work.
                   
       
My manager John busted my chops today about the Mets losing last night.  He asked if I was going to get a Mets full season ticket plan in 2007 and I replied that I would do so if he gave me a raise and different work hours.  In the meantime, I'll renew my Yankee and Met partial ticket plans for 2007.  
                             
Keep the faith!  Go Yankees!  Go Mets!

Posted by the Tank dreaming of and needing Subway Series Closure in 2007 in NY.

In the words of Admiral John Stockdale in the 1992 Vice Presidential
debate, "Where am I?  Why am I here?"  My road here is longer and 
stranger than the Mets and the answers are as follows:
                                    
                                               
After drinking lucky wheat grass shots in Union Square enroute to Game 
1 of the NLDS two weeks ago (which seems like an eternity ago), I gave
Steve the tickets to Game 7 since I was running low on vacation days at
work and to ensure SteveAndTheTank.com representation at the game.


Due to events beyond my control, I asked Bernard to switch shifts with
me.  They are as follows: (1) Mets forced a Game 7 (I thought they 
would win in 6 thus the NLCS would have ended Wednesday evening); (2) Steve's
girlfriend Kathleen who can not make it as she is studying for the CFA;
(3) Eric thankfully made it to work Wednesday night -- I wasn't sure if
he was going there since he was working on a restore on Tuesday and only 
slept 5.5 hours in the last 48 hours.  If he didn't make it in, I would have
had to cover until about 4 or 5 a.m. Thursday morning; and (4) most
importantly, Steve asked me to be with him on Suicide Watch if the Mets
lose God forbid as other family members can not be there to save him
from jumping off the Upper Deck.  (His sister Caroline has to baby-sit
his niece and nephew and his Dad is not a big baseball fan as is my 
Dad, btw.).  If just one of the aforementioned variables was different, I 
wouldn't be able to go. 


Before Steve mentioned being on Suicide Watch, I mentioned that he
should go with Linda as I am low on vacation days but rethought it as I
was afraid that she may try to take her life too from the Upper Deck if
the Mets lost God forbid.  Mets coffins are not yet available.  Therefore, 

I must go as I can't risk losing two of my closest friends and the only 

current members of TAARC.  After going to Tony Robbins seminars over the 

past few years, several colleagues thought I joined a cult.  I didn't join 

a cult but I decided to start my own to compliment their wisdom as well as 

make a few bucks.    TAARC stands for The Tank's Anti-Aging Running Cult.  

For a small portion of your personal wealth, you too can join TAARC.


Game 7 also brings out the extra special super-duper superstition in 
me.  You say all the prayers, eat all the vitamins, use all the lucky 
rabbits feet, and any other superstition you can think of because Game 7 

is "Do or Die".  Many thanks to Linda for bringing the uniform superstition
link to Steve's and my attention.  Let's hope one or more of the Cardinals has 
a uniform conflict.  Heck, I don't care if the Cardinals have a "wardrobe
malfunction" as long as the Mets win. 
                                          

Anyway, after working through all these personal and coverage issues,
welcome to Game 7 of the NLCS live from Shea.  Play Ball!  


Steve and I rejoin some our Game 1 NLDS brethren in the Upper Deck.  I am 
running late from work while Steve studied for his MBA exam tomorrow.  
Baseball is life but you have to pay the bills to.


Game time temperature is 67 degrees.  Tonight's starter Perez was a 
throw in player in the trade deadline move from Pittsburgh.  Eckstein 
flies out.  Wilson strikes out.  Pujols to bat and pops a ball up.  Delgado 
drops it and Pujols advances to second.  Not a good omen!  Valentin 
makes a catch to end the inning.  Whew!  Cardinals 0 - Mets 0.

           
Jose Reyes grounds out to Eckstein.  Lo Duca grounded out.  Beltran 
singled, Delgado walked, and DW singled him home.  Green lined out.


Edmonds singled to open the second.  Rolen pops up to center.  Molina 
gets in and 0-2 count but singles to center after Steve and I wave the 
rally towels.  Edmonds advances to third when Chavez couldn't throw the 
ball to third.  Belliard throws the bat at the ball that unfortunately 
scores Edmonds to tie the game.  Perez strikes out Suppan.  Cardinals 1 
- Mets 1. 


Valentin pops up and Belliard and the right fielder collide.  Chavez 
grounds out to Pujols.  Can Perez help his own case?    Nope but hits it 
hard to left.  Still 1-1 after 2.

                      
Eckstein doubles to left.  To the cheers of "Mookie's not your father", 
Preston Wilson (really his step son) strikes out.  Pujols is 
intentionally walked and wisely so.  Encarnacion is in an 0-2 count.  Rally 

flags awaving and Encarnacion grounds out into a 5-4-3 double play as Steve 
requested.


"Swing batter swing" and Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" blare on the 
speakers in between innings.  Springsteen could put on an entire full length 

concert during the long TV commercials.


Jose flies out and Lo Duca grounds out to third.  Beltran flies out to 
left.  Still 1-1 at the end of three.


"Meet the Mets" plays in between innings.  


Edmonds flies out to left.  Rolen pops up to DW in foul territory on a 
98 mph fastball.  Molina is up and there is a "Cow-Bell Man" sighting.  
Molina flies out to right.  He must have sublimilally surrendered to 
the thousands of white flags in the stands.  Still 1-1 going into the 
bottom of the fourth.  You know what that means -- time to go to the 
restroom.


Delgado works out a walk.  DW up with no one out.  Delgado out at 
second on DW the force out.  Green is out.  Valentin is HBP.  Chavez lines 
out to left.


Rain drops start to fall in between innings.


Belliard singles to left past Jose.  Suppan sacrifice bunts him to 
second.  Eckstein is HBP.  The Met bullpen begins to warm.  "Mookie's not 
your daddy" cheer starts as Preston Wilson steps to the plate and 
strikes out on three pitches.  Pujols comes up with two outs while the fan to 
my left and I say walk Pujols while Steve says pitch to him.  Steve is 
right as Pujols pops up to Jose in short left field.  


Demons need to be purged as tonight is Steve's tenth wedding 
anniversary and the seventh anniversary of former NY choke artist Kenny Rogers 
walk with the bases loaded for the Mets against the Braves.  
                   

In a surprising move, Perez up to hit.  We all thought Willie would 
have pinched hit for him.  Perez hits a shot to left field.  Reyes flies 
out center.  The fan to my left offers his 21 year old sister to Lo Duca 
if he gets a hit.  Steve nor The Tank condone this; we are journalists.  
The center and left fielders collide on Lo Duca's fly out to left.  
Still tied going into the top of the 6th.


The only justification for keeping in Perez is a match-up or Willie 
thinks it is going to extra innings.  Bradford warms up while Encarnacion 
grounds out to DW-Delgado.  Edmonds comes up as the rain slows down a 
bit and grows   Edmonds should have been out on 2-2 but works out a 
walk.  Willie comes to buy time and strategize.  Rolen hits a shot that 
should have been a home run but Chavez catches it where the Tank practiced 
on Saturday, July 29, after the Run to Home Plate.  Chavez throws to 
Valentin who throws to Delgado to get out Rolen.  Double play instead of a 
home run!  Steve and our friends feels that the Mets can't lose.  It was 
better than the two runners out on Game 1 of the NLDS.  If the Mets 
lose God forbid, Steve will kill himself regardless of what I do to 
prevent him.
                                 

The play was shown several times in between innings.  Still 1-1 going 
into the bottom of the 6th.    


Beltran grounds out to Suppan.  Delgado works a 3-1 count after a high 
pitch and bouncing ball.  Delgado walks on 3-2.  DW is up and swings on 
an 82 mph slider.  Suppan is up to 77 pitches.  Steve wants his arm to 
fall off.  On a routine ground ball to third, Rolen throws the ball 
away.  The stands are shaking as Delgado advances to third and DW to 
second.  Green is intentionally walked to load the bases.  Meeting at the 
mound while the screen with the crazy guy in the raincoat beckons 
everyoine to get out of their seats.  "Let's Go Mets!" the crowd cries out as 
the stands still shake.  This is only the second time in Steve's 1,000 
plus times at Shea that the stands shake -- the first was a Rolling 
Stones concert.  Steve reveals his month-long premonition that Valentin 
will be a post-season hero.  On a 1-2 count, time is called.  Steve and I 
demand a balk Valentin strikes out which is better than a A-Rod 
quadruple play.  Steve reminds me that there are no hits as Chavez comes up to 
a hero's welcome.  Chavez swings on the first pitch and flies out to 
center to end the inning.  Still 1-1 going into the 7th.  I am going on 
the record again that the Mets, Yankees, and any other extreme weather 
team need a retractable roof like the Seattle (rain) Mariners.


Bradford comes in the top of the seventh to face Molina.  After several 
foul balls, Molina thankfully flies out to left.  No one warms in the 
Cardinals bullpen while Belliard grounds out to Valentin.  Suppan almost 
beats out a ground out to Reyes. 


"God Bless America", "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", and "Lazy Mary" are 
the soundtrack to the 7th inning.  Steve goes to the restroom but 
doesn't stay long enough.  


The earliest I have gone to the rally cap.  The rally horn goes off a few sections

over.  Tucker pinch hits for Perez as Suppan gets to 90 pitches as Steve hopes.  
Tucker hits the ball off his foot and the trainer comes out.  An 
elderly Cardinals fan is razzed.  Steve reminds me to vote absentee while he 
will be in Barcelona on business on Election Day.  Tucker flies out to 
center.  Reyes grounds out to first while a fan in front of us wears a 
real helmet -- not a regular hat.  Maybe he is afraid of getting hit by 
a beer bottle.  Lo Duca grounds out to Eckstein to end the 7th.  Still 
1-1 going into the 8th.


Heilman to face Eckstein to start the 8th.  Eckstein grounds out to 
Delgado.  Five outs left.  Scott Spiezio is pinch hitting for Preston 
Wilson, Mookie's not real son.  Spiezio and his obnoxious Cardinal Red 
goatee strike out.  Pujols is up and now Steve wants to walk him.  A little 
Met fan behind us says throw it down the middle.  After a near heart 
attack, the Tank educates and corrects the young lad.  Pujols walks on 
the unintentionally intentionally walk.  Encarnacion is up and thankfully 
strikes out.  


Time to go to restroom after "Sweet Caroline" blares out as the XM 
Satellite Radio 8th Inning Song.


Beltran walks.  La Russa goes to the bullpen to pull Suppan and brings 
in Flores.  DW is up and another fan from my row recognizes near the ATM and 
tells me to go back to the restroom.  They are learning the Restroom 
Superstition.  


The Tank walks out to the stands as Delgado is calling out on strikes.  
DW is up.  The ump is making questionable strike calls.  DW strikes 
out.  Green makes a great cut on the first pitch but grounds out to 
Pujols.  Still 1-1 at the end of 8.


Steve and I agree NOT to bring out Wagner in the 9th.


Heilman returns and strikes out Edmonds.  Rolen singles past Reyes to 
left.  Molina homers to left field.  A freaking .216 career hitter.  The 

kid behind us starts to cry.  Shea is otherwise like a morgue.  Belliard 

grounds out to Reyes.  John Rodriguez comes in to pinch hit.  The guy behind 

us starts to leave but Steve and the Tank and his crying son convince him to stay.

Steve makes the Titanic reference on those who passed on the dessert tray.  
Rodriguez grounds out to Delgado to Heilman.  Cardinals 3 - Mets 1.
                           
                            
The fan to my left notes that it will either be a historic comeback or 
the first Game 7 loss at home.


Twisted Sister's "We're not going to take it" blares over the speakers.


Wainwright comes in to face Valentin.  As we see fans stream out past 
right field, Steve references the Jets miracle comeback against the 
Dolphins on Monday Night in 2000.  "Oh, yea of little faith!"  As the Tank 
asks for a "bloop and a blast", Valentin hits a Texas league single to 
right center.  Chavez is up as the rain comes down and hits to left.  
The stands shake again as Cliff Floyd comes to the plate.  Swing and a 
big miss.  High for ball one.  Called strike two.  Ball two and Molina 
throws to first and Chavez gets back in time.  Fouled back.  Floyd is 
called out on strikes.  Reyes lines out to center.  Lo Duca needs to 
"zone and drive" a pitch.  He works a 3-1 count with two out and two on.  
He walks.  Beltran comes up with the bases loaded and the Crazy Guy in a 
Raincoat from "Network" tells everyone to get up.  Two strikes on 
Beltran and he strikes out looking.  Final Score: Cardinals 3 - Mets 1.
                        
                 
Posted by a depressed but thankfully not suicidal Steve and The Tank 
reporting live from Game 7 of the NLCS at Shea.             
 
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry  

Steve's sister Caroline was able to get four great tickets for her kids, Matthew and Allison, and Steve to NLCS Game 6 at Shea. Before Steve sold food at Shea, Caroline worked there and helped Steve get his job.   They have a total of 17 years experience working at Shea.  Though Caroline is a Yankees fan, she is a big Willie Randolph fan.  Matthew and Allison are Mets fans as is Steve. Caroline has signs made up at work: "Lets Go Mets" for Allison and a cool David Wright sign for Matthew. Tickets were 15 rows behind David Wright.

It is a very warm autumn night of 69 degrees at Shea.  With one out in the first, Chavez made mistake in not throwing to second to either get Pujols on a tight hamstring or to keep him at first.  Instead, Chavez threw to third.  Maine comes through to strike out Edmonds.  Wow!  Encarncion HBP.  Rolen thankfully flew out with the bases loaded.

As the Mets were coming up, I text messaged Steve and asked him to hold up our "Reyes 4 UN Secretary General" sign.  As Jose went up to bat, my MLB.com radio died. This was a good sign, a harbinger of past Yankee and Met rallies.  To clinch the rally, I went to the restroom and Jose hit a home run.  (For the uninitiated, I am very superstitious. Whenever I have watched sporting events at home and then go to get something to eat or go to the restroom, my team scores. This has worked for me at Shea, Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, and Fenway Park.)  Jose's home run is also retribution for him NOT being named UN Secretary General as Steve and I believe he will do a better job of achieving world peace than the scandal plagued Kofi Annan.  Mr. Ban Ki-moon of Korea is the Secretary General designate who better call on Jose if needed.  Mets lead 1-0 after the first inning.

The place goes wild! We can feel game 7!

To get a better view of the field, Steve put Matthew on his shoulders and he held our sign as well as the David Wright sign.  Allison sees her teacher from school. During the Kiss Cam on the big screen, The Donald was at the game with his Mom.

In the bottom of the fourth, Beltran singles, Delgado flies out.  David Wright singles.  Shawn Green singles in Beltran.  The Mets take a 2-0 lead.

Maine gets Pujols to strike out to end the top of the fifth.  Three up, three down.  Remember the Maine!  Maine grounds out to start the bottom of the fifth.  Jose singles and Lo Duca advances him to second on a ground out but Beltran grounds out to Eckstein to end the inning.  Mets still thankfully lead 2-0.

A foul ball lands four seats away from Steve.  Our NLDS foul ball karma is coming back to us.  Edmonds walks and Encarnacion flies out.  Willie takes no chances and brings in Chad Bradford.  Maine leaves with a 2-0 lead after 98 pitches, 2 hits, and 5.1 innings.  Will the Mets bullpen be able to get the last 11 outs?  With Edmonds running, Rolen grounds out to Reyes to Valentin to Delgado.  Out of danger after the top of the sixth, the Mets still lead 2-0.

In the top of the seventh, Belliard singles but Molina flies out.  Bradford is done after an inning.  Mota is in.  The Mets turns another double-play as Duncan grounds out.

In bottom of the seventh, Looper is in to face the Mets.  (Let's hope he reverts to his old form.)  Valentin grounds out and Chavez flies out.  Tucker pinch hits for Mota and singles.  While Jose Reyes is at bat, Tucker steals second.  Reyes gets aboard with his fourth base hit to Eckstein.  Eckstein saves a run while Tucker advances to third.  While Lo Duca is at bat, Jose steals his second base of the night.  Lo Duca hits a ball to center field as the Mets take a 4-0 lead.  Looper thankfully comes through again.  Yeah!  La Russa has to go to the bullpen and brings in Tyler Johnson.

The kids have to leave for an 11:15pm train back to Long Island in the top of the 8th. They leave with a secure 4 run lead. Allison has a science test. Steve has an MBA mid-term on Friday and Game 7 tickets. He decides the Mets are more important than his exam and stays. He meets two 15 year old super-METS fans: Zach Herenstein and Daniel Tuchman. They listen as Steve tells about his emotions watching Game 6 in 1986 (they were not born yet), his job at Shea (they want to work there now), and working the 1988 playoffs at Shea. Daniel's birthday is tomorrow (Game 7) and has tickets. All sounds like good luck! Zach and Daniel promise to become the youngest readers of Steve & The Tank.

Richard and Kathleen call to tell Steve they saw him on TV. Not much until the top of the 9th (I had some work issues to resolve).  Zach hates Billy Wagner, Steve defends the Sandman. Two runs score after Encarnacion singles, Rolen doubles, Belliard grounds out, Molina flies out, and Taguchi doubles and the Cardinals cut the lead to 4-2.  However, David Eckstein playing with a hurt shoulder thankfully grounds out to end the game.  The Mets thankfully win 4-2.  Game 7 here we come.  Let's Go Mets!

Posted by The Tank with Steve reporting live from Shea.