Baaaaaaaaaad Boys: There’s More Than 1 Goat In The Cardinals’ Clubhouse

The New Logo of the St. Louis Cardinals. Photo with "Gimp" gag ball in mouth not available.

After a dominating performance by Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals’ Matt Holliday choked away game 2 of the NLDS.  This type of choke has rarely been seen before, except perhaps in bondage films.  Then again, Dodger fans can only describe it as a gift.  This gift was so generous; in fact, it reminded me of the first time my dad bought me a hooker for my birthday.  I love turning 15… it was a great year!

This loss can only be seen as irrecoverable.  The Cardinals are now down 0-2, both of their best pitchers have thrown, and now have to win 3 straight.  More devastating, however, is that they are completely demoralized over a game that was, literally, in hand.  Their left fielder’s to be exact.

The Dodgers offense had been shut down all day by Adam Wainwright.  And, after closer Ryan Franklin got the first 2 outs in the 9^th, it was a foregone conclusion the game was over.  And as the game ending fly ball approached Holliday, you could feel the worry of Dodger fans going back to St. Louis tied at 1-1.

Thanks for the gift, Mr. Holliday!

But the game didn’t end.  Holliday misplayed the ball, allowing James Loney to get to 2^nd base, where he was pinch run for by Juan Pierre.  Case Blake, with 2 strikes on him, works the count full and walks.  Ronnie Belliard singles to center to tie the game, and you could almost, nay, you could feel what was coming next.  Franklin walked Russell Martin to load the bases.  Then, Mark Loretta, 0-15 in his career against Franklin, singled to center for the victory.

In one of the best examples of sore loser statements ever witnessed, Wainwright’s sparkling performance was tainted by his excuse making.

“He lost the ball in the 50,000 white towels shaking in front of his face,” Wainwright said. “It doesn’t seem really fair that an opposing team should be allowed to shake white towels when there’s a white baseball flying through the air. Dodger blue towels — how about that?”

Obviously, Wainwright isn’t aware that Chavez Ravine is in gangland, and blue towels would no doubt spark violence.  The organization has chosen to remain gang-neutral, opting for the white towels.

But who is the “goat” exactly?  Holliday might be the head goat, but certainly the case can be made that there is a herd.  How about Ryan Franklin, the stud closer who walked 2 batters and allowed 2 more hits after Holliday’s gift.  If he gets one of those batters out, the game is over.  How about the Cardinal’s offense, which is averaging 2.5 runs per game.  How about Tony Larussa, who, once it was clear Franklin’s head was gone, stayed with him, instead of bringing in a pitcher who is used to these pressure situations and has pitched very well since the Cardinals acquired him, John Smoltz.

Certainly, most of the blame will go to Holliday, but the Cardinals have done their part to be down 0-2.  Some times you see balls bounce a certain way, certain calls go a certain way, etc.  Call it destiny, the baseball Gods, whatever.  After game 2’s debacle, it is clear that the powers that be have penciled in the Dodgers to win this series.  The way the Dodgers won went beyond fundamentals.  You dug yourself a big hole Cardinals.  Hope you have a rope long enough to climb out.  It appears, however, that the rope is only long enough to allow you to hang yourselves.