The Hard Way
I'm certain the Houston Astros wanted to win yesterday. I know I wanted them to win. And I know that Matt wanted them to win, otherwise he wouldn't have called his brother from the first base line to gloat that he was "at the game."
It looked as if Houston was going to win. Up 4 runs to 2, with Lidge on the mound to close out the 9th, the entire stadium and probably the entire Houston Metro area thought the World Series was in the bag. Houston has never been to the World Series. Not even as the Colt 45s. Side note: I'm really glad they changed the name.
But Lidge was nervous. You could see it. He was visibly shaking and was fidgety. And only 3 outs away from the big enchilada, Lidge lets a man on, and then another, and then has to pitch to Pujols. Arch nemesis Pujols. Pujols is cocky, walks up like he owns the place, and hits a slider that didn't slide clean out of the park, past the Crawford seats, and into Crawford Street. I cried. And then I cried when Berkman got out. We could have come back. We could have scored two runs against their tired pitcher. He'd already been in the game 3 innings, way longer than usual for him. And we all know that the Cards have a lousy bull pen. We need to get to their bull pen sooner. Our batters need to draw more pitches, make the pitcher work for it.
But I cried. Because I really wanted them to win. I had been so excited. I was even telling Lewis to fly down there (to Houston) and try and get tickets. But the Astros are no stranger to being behind. And they like doing things the hard way. Note, final game in the division series. 18 innings. Just one run away from going to the NL series. Witness, the entire regular season. With a home town paper that had them buried and finished with 45 games left to play. But Lewis and I knew better. Or really, Lewis knew better, because I didn't really follow at that point. I was still sore from last year and our 7th game loss to the Cards. I was an injured and thus insulent fan.
But this year I resolve to hold on. It crushed me yesterday, but tomorrow is another game. And the 'Stros know what it feels like to lose, and they don't like it. So more times then not they come back and win gime. I could make references ... but that would take all day.
So go 'Stros! You can do it. The Killer B's will get it done.
It looked as if Houston was going to win. Up 4 runs to 2, with Lidge on the mound to close out the 9th, the entire stadium and probably the entire Houston Metro area thought the World Series was in the bag. Houston has never been to the World Series. Not even as the Colt 45s. Side note: I'm really glad they changed the name.
But Lidge was nervous. You could see it. He was visibly shaking and was fidgety. And only 3 outs away from the big enchilada, Lidge lets a man on, and then another, and then has to pitch to Pujols. Arch nemesis Pujols. Pujols is cocky, walks up like he owns the place, and hits a slider that didn't slide clean out of the park, past the Crawford seats, and into Crawford Street. I cried. And then I cried when Berkman got out. We could have come back. We could have scored two runs against their tired pitcher. He'd already been in the game 3 innings, way longer than usual for him. And we all know that the Cards have a lousy bull pen. We need to get to their bull pen sooner. Our batters need to draw more pitches, make the pitcher work for it.
But I cried. Because I really wanted them to win. I had been so excited. I was even telling Lewis to fly down there (to Houston) and try and get tickets. But the Astros are no stranger to being behind. And they like doing things the hard way. Note, final game in the division series. 18 innings. Just one run away from going to the NL series. Witness, the entire regular season. With a home town paper that had them buried and finished with 45 games left to play. But Lewis and I knew better. Or really, Lewis knew better, because I didn't really follow at that point. I was still sore from last year and our 7th game loss to the Cards. I was an injured and thus insulent fan.
But this year I resolve to hold on. It crushed me yesterday, but tomorrow is another game. And the 'Stros know what it feels like to lose, and they don't like it. So more times then not they come back and win gime. I could make references ... but that would take all day.
So go 'Stros! You can do it. The Killer B's will get it done.
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