World Series: Cardinals find another way to say thanks

The Cardinals' Tony La Russa is an old-school manager, and as such he doesn't believe in conceding anything until the last out has been made.

Still, even La Russa figured St. Louis was done late in Thursday's Game 6 of the World Series. Before the game Cardinals' management had told La Russa that, should the team lose, it wanted his players to go on the field and thank the fans before Major League Baseball presented the Texas Rangers with the World Series trophy.

And while La Russa considered such talk negative before such a big game, in both the ninth and 10th innings Thursday he found himself reminding the team of its postgame obligations. The players, obviously, found another way to give thanks, staging improbable rallies each time before winning the game in the 11th, 10-9, on David Freese's leadoff home run.

"There was a couple of times, in the ninth and 10th with two outs, I told some of the guys, 'We've got to do the fans right,'" La Russa said. "So we went from that to celebrating. That's a big emotional change.

"Once it got started it's much more fun to think, 'Hey, we can do this' [than]  'Oh, it's not going to work.'"

MORE:

World Series: Oh what a night (for Cardinal fans)

Cardinals' David Freese gets to live every child's dream

Cardinals and Rangers World Series: Superstitions abound

-- Kevin Baxter in St. Louis

Photo: Tony La Russa. Credit: Jamie Squire / Getty Images.

World Series: Fox broadcast draws huge audience

Thursday's dramatic World Series game drew more than 21 million viewers, Major League Baseball said Friday. At its peak nearly one-third of all U.S. houses using televisions were tuned in to the Fox network broadcast of the St. Louis Cardinals' 11-inning win over the Texas Rangers.

More than 8 of every 10 TVs in operation in Dallas and St. Louis were tuned in to the game.

Overall, Fox averaged an estimated 19.72 million viewers and a 12.0 rating and 19 share nationally, according to Nielsen Media Research, which tracks TV viewership. That swamped second-place CBS, which had a 12 share and 12.09 million viewers.

MORE:

Freese frame: Man of the hour

Hey, neither side is willing to give in

Rangers run through their pitchers in Game 6

-- Kevin Baxter in St. Louis

 Photo: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. Credit:  Rob Carr / Getty Images.

World Series: Strategy backfires for Ron Washington, Rangers

The St. Louis Cardinals went from elimination to elation by rallying to win Game 6 of the World Series in 11 innings Thursday, forcing a seventh game to decide baseball's championship Friday.

But across the field the Texas Rangers were riding the emotional roller-coaster in the other direction. Twice they were one strike away from the first title in franchise history, only to see the Cardinals come back both times, setting the stage for David Freese's walkoff home run leading off Mark Lowe leading off the 11th.

"I understand that it's not over until you get the last out," a dejected Ranger Manager Ron Washington said. "And I was just sitting there praying that we'd get the last out and we didn't get it."

Washington may have inadvertently aided the Cardinal comeback by twice walking batters, having closer Neftali Feliz pitch around Lance Berkman with first base open and one out in the ninth and ordering Scott Feldman to pass Albert Pujols intentionally in the 10th. It's a strategy Washington has used repeatedly in the Series, with generally good results. But his luck ran out Thursday.

Free-agent-to-be Pujols, who looked as if he may be hitting in a Cardinal uniform for the last time, started the ninth-inning rally with a double to left-center, his first hit since a record-setting performance in Game 3. Berkman, a switch-hitter who already had two hits including a first-inning home run, then walked. That gave Feliz and the Rangers good matchups with right-hand-hitters Allen Craig and David Freese to follow.

And Feliz struck out Craig for the second out before Freese drove a two-strike pitch to the wall in the right-field corner to tie the game.

The Rangers regained the lead in the 10th on Josh Hamilton's two-run homer but the Cardinals came back again in the 10th. In the bottom of the inning Washington again intentionally walked a hitter -- this time it was Pujols -- and Berkman made him pay, tying the game again with a run-scoring single.

Afterward Washington was doing little second-guessing.

"We had the right people in the right spot and they beat us," he said. "You've got to give them credit. They fought. They came back and they won the ballgame."

MORE:

World Series: Oh what a night (for Cardinal fans)

Cardinals' David Freese gets to live every child's dream

Cardinals and Rangers World Series: Superstitions abound

-- Kevin Baxter in St. Louis

Photo: Manager Ron Washington of the Texas Rangers stands on the mound during Game Six of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on October 27. Credit: Rob Carr / Getty Images.

World Series: Cardinals replace Holliday on roster

The St. Louis Cardinals will be without outfielder Matt Holliday in Friday night's decisive seventh game of the World Series after he was replaced on the roster by Adron Chambers.

Holliday, who hit just .158 in the Series, was injured in the sixth inning of Thursday's game when he hurt his hand diving back to third base on a pickoff attempt.

MLB Postseason rules provide that injured players can be replaced during the World Series if the severity of the injury, as determined by Major League Baseball, is such that it would require a disabled list assignment during the regular season.

On the play, Ranger third baseman Adrian Beltre placed his foot in front of the bag, preventing Holliday from reaching the base and tagging him out. But Holliday also jammed his hand against Beltre's foot and that turned out to be a key turning point in the game because Holliday was replaced by Allen Craig, who homered two innings later.

Craig will likely start in Holliday's spot in Game 7.

The Cardinals originally thought Holliday had a fracture but the medical staff said early Friday morning that it was a bad bruise with significant swelling.

The speedy Chambers had three hits in eight at-bats during the regular season and went 1 for 5 in the first two rounds of the playoffs, striking out the other four times. The Cardinals have mainly used him as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement.

-- Kevin Baxter in St. Louis

World Series: Did Cards win or did Texas lose?

What came first, the chicken or the egg? If a tree falls in an empty forest, does it make a sound? To these timeless conundrums we add this one:

Did the St. Louis Cardinals win Game 6 of the World Series on Thursday or did the Texas Rangers lose it?

Regardless of the answer, the teams will meet again Friday for a decisive Game 7. And what happened in Game 6 will no doubt carry over in both clubhouses.

The Cardinals, who rallied from deficits five times before winning the game on David Freese's two-strike home run leading off the 11th inning, will come to the ballpark riding a massive wave of momentum. Despite making three errors, managing just three hits through the first seven innings, stranding 11 men on base and going 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position, St. Louis won, staving off elimination.

"There's a lot of reasons I'm really pleased," Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa said. "For one thing even though it didn't look good, we competed better than to get bounced out in six [games]. It's been an even series and now it's winner-take-all.

"It's just as exciting as it's supposed to be."

The Rangers, meanwhile, come to the park knowing they were one out -- one strike! -- away from their first World Series title in both the 9th and 10th innings, yet let it get away. And that happened despite the fact they got 15 hits; had go-ahead home runs from Adrian Beltre in the seventh and Josh Hamilton in the 10th; and received a gutsy performance from catcher Mike Napoli, who reached base five times and picked the go-ahead run off third base in the sixth inning while playing with a severely turned ankle.

Napoli had the World Series MVP sewn up if the Rangers had won. Now it's an open debate again.

But Texas also burned through its bullpen, using eight pitchers, which could leave them shorthanded in Game 7. Left-hander Matt Harrison is scheduled to start and he hasn't lasted longer than five innings in three postseason starts.

"We battled," Texas Manager Ron Washington said. "It's not that easy to win a world championship, as we found out tonight. We had the right people in the right spot and they beat us.

"We've been in tough situations before. We've always responded. I expect us to respond [Friday]."

RELATED:

World Series: Oh what a night (for Cardinal fans)

Cardinals' David Freese gets to live every child's dream

Cardinals and Rangers World Series: Superstitions abound

-- Kevin Baxter, reporting from St. Louis

Photo: Yadier Molina reacts after drawing a walk to push Lance Berkman home for the tying run during Game 6 of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, on Thursday. Credit: Steve Nagy / MCT.

World Series notes: La Russa never kissed off season

The Cardinals opened spring training eight months ago by sending their ace pitcher, Adam Wainwright, off to have season-ending surgery. So, Manager Tony La Russa was asked Thursday, if someone had told him then that his team would be in the World Series, playing Game 6 at home, how would he have reacted?

“I would have kissed your butt at home plate opening day,” he said to laughter.

“We’ve mugged a couple of chances to be in a better position. But … we’ve had a lot of fun. We’ve popped champagne three times.

“Postseason never disappoints, even just getting in and playing the division series and losing. You get to the World Series, this is the most enjoyment you can have. I’m enjoying it more than ever.

“I don’t know if this makes a difference, but I always enjoy this part.”

Game 6 of World Series postponed because of bad weather

The Texas Rangers will have to wait at least one more day to try to win their first World Series title after Wednesday's scheduled Game 6 was postponed because of threatening weather.

Major League Baseball had an afternoon meeting with representatives of the Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals and announced at 2:15 p.m. CDT -- less than five hours before the scheduled first pitch -- that the game would be pushed back a day.

The Rangers lead the best-of-seven series, three games to two

A 50% chance of rain was forecast for game time. And though the skies were overcast and threatening Wednesday afternoon, no rain had fallen since a light morning mist. The protective tarp remained on the Busch Stadium infield.

"Given the desire to play a game of this magnitude without interruption, and an outlook with better conditions over the next two nights, Major League Baseball, along with the Cardinals and the Rangers, determined that making the decision early would be the most prudent course of action to allow fans enough time to plan accordingly," MLB said in a release.

Clear skies but low temperatures are forecast for Thursday.

RELATED:

For Texas and St. Louis, relief is a phone call away

Cardinals' bullpen moves also deserve credit for success

Bill Plaschke: Jamie McCourt's Dodgers' legacy is one of taking and not giving

-- Kevin Baxter in St. Louis

Photo: The tarp covers the field before Game 1 of the World Series. Threatening weather has caused the postponement of Game 6. Credit: Doug Pensinger / Getty Images.

 

Nowitzki delivers the heat for Rangers

Dallas Mavericks center Dirk Nowitzki threw out the first pitch before the Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday, delivering a low strike –- which was better than his performance in July after the Mavs won the NBA title.

“This time they told me to throw a four‑seam fastball,” said Nowitzki, who wore a blue Rangers jersey and cap. “I still don't understand what that means.  But I think that's the grip I had. Or was it a two‑seam fastball? I forgot.”

As for the NBA lockout, Nowitzki said he’s disappointed there hasn’t been more progress in talks between the league and the players.

“We were all hoping with the mediator that something was going to happen, and just talks broke off, so it's very unfortunate,” he said. “Hopefully we can get something going here anytime soon. But it doesn't look good.

"I've just been keeping in shape, working out, doing lots of cardio and lifting a little bit and running. If the season will start any time soon, I think I'll be ready.”

Nowitzki grew up in Germany, where baseball is a minor sport. Still, he was asked if he would consider an offer to try out for the Rangers if the NBA lockout continued.

"I  would love that," he said before turning serious.

"If there's no settlement I'll probably go back home soon, start training with my coach again," he said.  "It's time to really get back in the routine. Got to keep the options open, maybe see what's going on overseas."

-- Kevin Baxter, reporting from Arlington, Texas

 

 

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig mum on McCourt case

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig declined to say Thursday whether he believes Jamie McCourt’s decision to relinquish full control of the Dodgers to her former husband Frank would speed resolution of a dispute that saw Selig take control of the franchise last spring.

“I don’t have a comment on it,” he said. “You know we’re in litigation and I prefer to not comment.”

Selig is expected to testify when hearings over McCourt’s bankruptcy case begin later this month in Delaware.

Selig made his first public appearance at the World Series to help present Boston slugger David Ortiz with the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball's most presitigious public service prize.

Ortiz was recognized for his work with children in the U.S., Dominican Republic and Haiti, including the raising of funds to provide access to critical pediatric care.

Ortiz is the second Red Sox to win the award in as many years, following pitcher Tim Wakefield. Ortiz is also the sixth Latin American player to be honored in the 39 years since the award was named for Clemente, the first Latin American voted into the Hall of Fame.

RELATED:

Jamie McCourt's legacy: one of taking and not giving

Divorce settlement solves one problem for Frank McCourt

Frank and Jamie McCourt reach settlement involving Dodgers

 -- Kevin Baxter, reporting from St. Louis

Photo: Dodgers owner Frank McCourt can now focus his attention on Commissioner Bud Selig and the bankruptcy case. Credit: Los Angeles Times and Associated Press

Cardinals make all the right moves, win World Series opener

Tony La Russa played a hunch Wednesday. Or perhaps he was just managing by the book.

Then again, maybe it was really an educated guess from the most educated of baseball managers.

Whatever word you choose to define the moves the Cardinals manager made in Game 1 of the World Series, there is only one way to describe the outcome: successful.

St. Louis rode pinch-hitter Allen Craig's two-out, run-scoring single in the sixth inning and a parade of relievers to a 3-2 victory against the Texas Rangers, drawing first blood in the best-of-seven series before a sellout crowd on a frigid night at Busch Stadium.

Photos: Rangers vs. Cardinals in World Series

The two previous postseason series in the American and National leagues were slugfests that averaged nearly 10 runs a game. But playoff baseball was back in vogue Wednesday, when managing and pitching -- some of it done from a tightrope -- dominated the World Series opener

C.J. Wilson, who hasn't won a game since the Rangers clinched their division last month, started for Texas and struggled early, throwing five of his first six pitches for balls, walking batters in each of the first two innings and giving up a single to start the third. But the left-hander, wearing short sleeves despite a 43-degree wind chill -- five degrees colder than it was at the start of the NHL's Winter Classic on Jan. 1 in Pittsburgh -- didn't allow any of those runners to get past first base.

That all changed in the fourth when he hit Albert Pujols on the foot to start the inning, gave up a double to Matt Holliday, then watched both runners score on Lance Berkman's single.

Do the Cardinals need to win World Series to keep Albert Pujols?

Writers from around Tribune Co. discuss whether the St. Louis Cardinals' success in keeping soon-to-be free agent Albert Pujols is contingent on the team winning the World Series. Check back throughout the day for more responses and weigh in with a comment of your own.

Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times

The short answer is yes, Albert Pujols is absolutely coming back to St. Louis.

Well, probably. Oh, just say maybe.

Truth is, even Albert doesn't know what he's going to do. And he's refusing to talk about it now. "Let's talk about how I can help my team bring another World Series to the greatest fans in baseball," he said Tuesday.

Those "greatest fans" are likely to play heavily in Pujols' offseason thinking. As will his charity work and his business ties in St. Louis.

The clincher, though, may be the offers he gets. Pujols reportedly was looking for 10 years and $300 million. He won't get either. The lessons of Alex Rodriguez, who has struggled since signing a 10-year, $275-million extension with the Yankees, will lead to caution. So unless Pujols does markedly better than the seven years and $200 million the Cardinals have already offered, look for him to remain in St. Louis.

A.J. Pierzynski likes this baseball broadcasting stuff

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is working for Fox as an analyst during the World Series between Texas and St. Louis, which begins Wednesday night. If you Google "A.J. Pierzynski" you find lists for "A.J. Pierzynski fight," and "A.J. Pierzynski jerk" and "A.J. Pierzynski meanest."

Maybe soon, A.J. Pierzynski, excellent broadcaster, will be a popular search term. Pierzynski, an Angels-killer in his day job as Chicago White Sox catcher, made baseball fans notice when he had an insightful discussion during the ALCS about how well Texas catcher (and former Angel) Mike Napoli blocked the plate in the series against Detroit, especially a play at home.

Pierzynski pointed out the way Napoli raised both legs up on that play, in contrast to  San Francisco Giants catching star Buster Posey, who had broken a leg early in the season and missed most of this year while blocking the plate on a similar play.

"You take the blow, you roll with it, you get your feet out of the ground. That's the proper way to stay healthy and still get hit hard but you get up and walk away," Pierzynski said.

Reggie Jackson discusses his three-homer game in the World Series

CineSport's Noah Coslov recently sat down with Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson to talk about his famous (or infamous if you are a Dodger fan) three-homer game in the 1977 World Series.

Jackson hit consecutive homers off of Burt Hooton, Elias Sosa and Charlie Hough in Game 6 to lead the Yankees to the victory and the World Series title.

 

 

 

Which two teams will play in the World Series? [Poll]

Writers from around the Tribune Co. look ahead to the postseason in Major League Baseball. Check back throughout the day for more responses and join the discussion by voting in the polls and leaving a comment of your own.

Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune

Normally I don’t break out The System until late September, but there's nothing wrong with taking it for a test spin. The formula that picked the Giants to win a year ago lines up with conventional wisdom this time around. Make it Phillies over Yankees in a very tight World Series.

The Phillies are an easy choice to win the NL (over the Braves in the LCS), but the AL isn’t so clear cut. I give the (right now) wild-card Yankees a slight edge over the Red Sox because their pitching staff is a tick deeper, even if Joe Girardi doesn’t know who he pitches behind CC Sabathia.

Boston’s rotation has a 4.12 ERA, highest among the eight teams in line to make the playoffs, and among playoff teams only Atlanta is allowing more second-half runs. Those could be fatal flaws if not corrected.   

Jeff Schuler, Allentown Morning Call

Before the season, many speculated that the Phillies and Red Sox would make it a Red October (November?). Has anything happened to change that point of view?

The Phillies have shrugged off the early season absence of Chase Utley, the failure to adequately replace outfielder Jayson Werth and Roy Oswalt’s back problems to run off to the best record in baseball. Now, Utley has resumed his all-star form, General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. pulled another rabbit out of the trade-deadline hat to get Hunter Pence, and Oswalt has returned to baseball’s best rotation.

Remember when the Red Sox were 2-10 and panic set in amid Red Sox Nation? Well, they’ve used baseball’s most intimidating lineup to go 69-33 since then (that’s a 109-win pace over 162 games). They’re still in their usual dogfight with the Yankees, but the Red Sox will get to the Series -- and find the Phillies waiting.