Albert Pujols - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Jiggy_12 · 10-17-2005, 10:23 PM

This is why I love postseason baseball. Tonight with the Cards blowing a late lead, they find themselves down 4-2 in the bottom of the 9th. With 2 outs and a runner on 2nd, Edmonds walks. Setting up the stage for Pujols.

He of course proceeds to hit one of the most clutch homeruns in post season history. A ridiculously long shot high above the wall behind the seats in Left Field.

What a great moment, that guy is amazing.

Pagal4321 · 10-17-2005, 10:51 PM

I was just sitting there, watching the 9th with my dad.
Lidge walked Edmonds...I turn to my dad "You watch Pujols is gonna hit it out of the park".....my dad obviously grunts it off like I'm a moron. But holllllly Albert....

RougeUnderoos · 10-17-2005, 11:03 PM

That was quite a shot. I liked the line "there was such a collective intake of air in here that the place turned into a vacuum".

Talk about disappointing for those fans. They were pretty pumped there waiting to get that 3rd out and a 2 minutes later they were watching a ball approach the moon.

Resolute 14 · 10-17-2005, 11:04 PM

And then there is Vladimir Guerrero, who managed a healthy .050 average in the ALCS (one infield hit in 20ABs), and spent most of his interviews last night rationalizing how the team failed to hit.

A clutch performer, and a winner, vs baseball's answer to Dan Cloutier.

Pujols is just amazing.

Jiggy_12 · 10-17-2005, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos@Oct 17 2005, 11:03 PM
That was quite a shot. I liked the line "there was such a collective intake of air in here that the place turned into a vacuum".

Talk about disappointing for those fans. They were pretty pumped there waiting to get that 3rd out and a 2 minutes later they were watching a ball approach the moon.

Absolutley deflating. Reminded me of Cooke's goal in game 7. Thats exactly how those fans must have felt.

Resolute 14 · 10-17-2005, 11:12 PM

Except we had a chance to come back in a tie game.

Houston suddenly needed three runs.

I want the Cards to win - so Walker can get his ring and then retire - but man I feel sick for the Astro fans, for exactly the reason you mention - our feelings after Cooke tied that game.

jam26 · 10-17-2005, 11:26 PM

I was in Vegas this spring (before the season began) and even though I know very little about baseball, I bet on the Cards to win the World Series at 7-1.
When I saw the 4-2 score tonight at the Dome, I thought the game was over and was about to tear up the ticket that's been in my wallet ever since.
I wasn't giving up on them...I really thought the game was over! Wish I could've seen it live and it's nice to know I still have a shot!
A momentum change like that could be a killer for Houston, especially heading back to St. Louis.

Sylvanfan · 10-18-2005, 07:58 AM

Yeah of all the guys to come up in that situation in baseball, Albert Pujols is the guy you want up. Lidge hangs the slider and he absolutely crushes it. Clutch play indeed. If the Cards make the comeback no doubt we will hear about some type of freak curse.

Cowperson · 10-18-2005, 08:19 AM

That was a fantastic moment preceded by a few fantastic moments.

There was Barbara Bush and George Bush Sr. in the front row behind the screen and the rest of a monster crowd on their feet with two strikes on David Eckstein . . . . two outs away from the first World Series in Texas history.

He singles.

I think there were also two strikes on Jim Edmonds before he walked (maybe).

There were two strikes on the next batter before he struck out.

Then Pujols.

Lots of drama. One strike away. The crowd on its feet.

Baseball can be pretty dull at times but moments like that keep bringing you back.

Cowperson

loob job · 10-18-2005, 08:50 AM

I'm a huge astros fan along with being a flames fan and it is a terrible feeling, exactly like the cook goal. When edmonds walked (with only one strike on him by the way) i knew something bad was gonna happen. Pujols is the best hitter in baseball and absolutely mashes the ball. After the first pitch strike where he looked like a fool i thought we could get him but then that next pitch hung and he destroyed it. What a terrible feeling, man i hope the stros win game 6 cause I don't like the way the rockets been pitching lately and i have a bad feeling about game 7 with him on the mound. Go Stros.

Eagle Eye · 10-18-2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cowperson@Oct 18 2005, 07:19 AM
That was a fantastic moment preceded by a few fantastic moments.

There was Barbara Bush and George Bush Sr. in the front row behind the screen and the rest of a monster crowd on their feet with two strikes on David Eckstein . . . . two outs away from the first World Series in Texas history.

He singles.

I think there were also two strikes on Jim Edmonds before he walked (maybe).

There were two strikes on the next batter before he struck out.

Then Pujols.

Lots of drama. One strike away. The crowd on its feet.

Baseball can be pretty dull at times but moments like that keep bringing you back.

Cowperson

Actaully the Astros were 1 strike away from winning it. Ekstien had two strikes against him with two outs and he singled. Edmonds walked with a 4-1 count and then Pujols hit the 0-1 (I think) offering out

Cowperson · 10-18-2005, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eagle Eye@Oct 18 2005, 11:46 AM
Actaully the Astros were 1 strike away from winning it. Ekstien had two strikes against him with two outs and he singled. Edmonds walked with a 4-1 count and then Pujols hit the 0-1 (I think) offering out

Thanks.

More drama than I remembered!!!

Cowperson

troutman · 10-18-2005, 03:01 PM

Why did they even pitch to Pujols? Walk him, then every base is a force.

moon · 10-18-2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by troutman@Oct 18 2005, 02:01 PM
Why did they even pitch to Pujols? Walk him, then every base is a force.

The only problem with that is a single then wins the game for the Cards.

I think that Garner figured that Lidge had been lights out all season and in the play-offs so he decided to let him have the chance to pitch to Pujols. I think that Pujols is the best player in the league so I would have walked him but I can see what Garner was thinking.

Jiggy_12 · 10-18-2005, 11:45 PM

Jayson Stark of ESPN is a great sports writer, and this may just be the best piece he's ever written.

Frozen Moment

“ We were looking over to their bench, and guys were high-fiving. A couple of guys were even dancing. But until that fat lady sings, you can't do that. ”
— Larry Walker

Pagal4321 · 10-18-2005, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jiggy_12@Oct 18 2005, 11:45 PM
Jayson Stark of ESPN is a great sports writer, and this may just be the best piece he's ever written.

Frozen Moment

“ We were looking over to their bench, and guys were high-fiving. A couple of guys were even dancing. But until that fat lady sings, you can't do that. ”
— Larry Walker

Hmm a pretty great article. I'm sure any baseball fans will remember that moment for SO MANY years to come.

Eagle Eye · 10-19-2005, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by moon@Oct 18 2005, 03:38 PM
The only problem with that is a single then wins the game for the Cards.

I think that Garner figured that Lidge had been lights out all season and in the play-offs so he decided to let him have the chance to pitch to Pujols. I think that Pujols is the best player in the league so I would have walked him but I can see what Garner was thinking.

a single would not won the game (the Astros were up by 2).

I would have walked Pujols, he is just way to dangerous of a hitter.

Bring_Back_Shantz · 10-19-2005, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eagle Eye@Oct 19 2005, 09:53 AM
a single would not won the game (the Astros were up by 2).

I would have walked Pujols, he is just way to dangerous of a hitter.

Well a single would have tied it then.
I think it was the right call.
Pitch to the guy and if he hits a single you've still got the lead. Of course worse case scenario is what actually happened.
Walk him and the game is tied and now you are just trying to get an out to force extra innings. Worse case scenario here you lose 6-4 instead of 5-4, eitehr way you're screwed.
I don't know who was hitting behind him, but it looks to me as though pitching to him was the better option.

Cowperson · 10-19-2005, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pagal4321@Oct 18 2005, 10:58 PM
Hmm a pretty great article. I'm sure any baseball fans will remember that moment for SO MANY years to come.

It's a great moment . . . . . but it will be one of the greatest moments in baseball history if the Cardinals come back to win the series.

I still go back to the at bat for Eckstein, two outs, two strikes and he gets a single . . . . and then its possible. Fits his character too, just as the announcers said.

Great ESPN column . . . . I love wonderful writing like that.

Cowperson

flames_1987 · 10-19-2005, 02:45 PM

Wow, what a clutch hit. Talk about going from the lowest of lows to extacy if your a Cards fan. If STL holds on to win this I like there chances going into the series. Momentum goes a far way just look at the Bo Sox last year.

Hopefully for Walker he can bring a WS ring back to Canada for his last year.