The rule is simple. Make their inferior players beat you. It crosses into every sport. It's always solid strategy. You don't give Michael Jordan the chance to drain a fall-away jumper to beat you, even if you have to triple team him. Make someone who isn't used to being clutch come up big in the clutch. This loss by the Astros was really unnecessary. They almost don't deserve to beat the Cards in Game 6 or 7. Time after time teams forget this simple rule. I guess it's arrogance by the players who have the job of stopping the other team's best player. Schilling had the chance in a game on July 21st against the White Sox to make Juan Uribe beat him (he ended up hitting a ground out to Renteria to end the inning), who was hitting just .233 at the time, by walking Crede who had had a great AB against him, but he gave Crede a pitch to hit, which ended up as an RBI double that tied the game. I predicted that before it happened, talking to my TV. Schill didn't listen and got the blown save and the vulture win off the 9th inning Manny homer.
I hate stupid decisions in sports.
Not surprisinly, the BSG has a few thoughts about the game last night....
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/051018
I actually told some co-workers yesterday that my main concern was Lidge's performance. Everybody talks about his dominance but he has not been that dominant in the playoffs. He has gotten out of jams and some games he has done pretty well but when the pressure has cranked up, I have noticed he really starts to feel the pressure. I told a person he needs to take a deep breath in between his pitches. The only reason he threw 2 sliders in a row is because when the pressure is cranked up he has no idea where his fastball is going and he knows Pujols can dial in to most fastballs. I hope Lidge gets a chance to redeem himself and I hope the Astros take the 6th game but I believe it will be an uphill battle.
The great thing about Oswalt is that he has ice water in his veins and I believe this will not effect him. I just wonder how this will effect the rest of the team. I am wondering if the Astros will be pressing more than usual and will struggle more on offense. I am wondering if the Cardinals will finally come out of their batting slump.
Lance Berkman will not be able to depend on 400 ft Crawford box homeruns anymore so I hope the Astros find a way to win. I think it will be an interesting Game 6. I bet FOX and MLB is loving this.
I was eating with my 6 year old girl and she knew I had been keeping up with all of this and she told me "Dad, don't worry about it, it is just a baseball game. It is not like someone is having a heart attack and dying.' She put it all in perspective but I am wondering how many people suffered heart attacks in Houston last night.
By the way, did you see the 2 second shot of Biggio with 2 outs in the 9th? I think he was crying thinking about getting to the World Series. I wonder what he was doing after the homerun was hit? I thought seeing Petitt's reaction saying "Oh my gosh" summed it up.