St. Louis Cardinals: 2011 World Series Champions

Texas Rangers in six games. That was my prediction for the 2011 World Series. I was confident in that prediction as were a good number of other folks, who also made the same forcast. We were almost right; we should have been right. But the St. Louis Cardinals was not trying to hear that. The Cardinals won this series in 7 games, highlighted by their miraculous and gritty comeback win to stave off elimination in Game 6.

I don't want to disrespect any other outstanding performance in any other game in this series, particularly Albert Pujols' three home run feat in Game 3, but all you need to know about this Fall Classic is Game 6. Game 6 was the turning point for the Cardinals and the backbreaker for the Rangers. The Rangers were within a strike 2 times of winning the World Series in Game 6. The bullpen tallied a total of 3 blown saves in Game 6. And unfortunately, Nelson Cruz, who had a great post season with his bat, did not catch a ball with two outs in the bottom of the ninth he HAD TO catch that would have won Game 6 and the series for Texas. It wasn't a routine fly ball but he misjudged it and didn't lay out for it. If you're ever going to lay out for a fly ball, it should be in the ninth inning of a World Series clinching game. But even after the Cruz misplay that led to the Cardinals tying the game at 7 - 7, the Rangers bolted back out in front in the top of the 10th on a dramatic 2-run homer by Josh Hamilton. That lead was blown in the bottom of the 10th as the Cardiac Cardinals tied it up again with a clutch single by Lance Berkman. The Cardinals went on to win in the bottom of the 11th as the first batter up, World Series MVP David Freese, blasted a homer to centerfield.

The ending of this World Series reminded me a lot of the ending of the 1986 World Series between the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox. Both World Series had dramatic, unbelievable Game 6 endings that showed resilence by the home team (Mets, Cardinals), which won on amazing rallies while facing elimination. Both the Mets and Cardinals was down to their last strike multiple times. And both the Mets and Cardinals went on to win Game 7 after giving up an early lead. In 1986, after climbing back to tie the game, the Mets went ahead on a solo blast by Ray Knight and never looked back. In 2011, after climbing back to tie the game, the Cardinals went ahead on a solo blast by Allen Craig and never looked back.

One big difference between the 1986 Mets and 2011 Cardinals was their post season expectations. The '86 Mets were MLB's dominate team that year; they ran away with the National League East, winning it by over 20 games, and had the best record in all of baseball. The 2011 Cardinals made it to the post season with the help of a seismic collapse by the Atlanta Braves and cliched the NL Wild Card on the very last day of the regular season. St. Louis had the worst record of all of the teams in post season but their momentum from capturing the NL Wild Card pushed them through the playoffs. They beat the top MLB team, the Philadelphia Phillies, and their division rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers along the way. Their World Series win over the Rangers is a bit of a surprise but is well deserved. I think their 2011 season and their championship will forever be remembered for Game 6, arguably the most thrilling World Series game ever. The Texas Rangers will certainly never forget that game.

2011 World Series: Texas Rangers vs. St. Louis Cardinals

It is time for the 2011 Fall Classic to begin. This year we have the Texas Rangers returning from last year's World Series and the St. Louis Cardinals, making somewhat of a surprise appearance. The Cardinals, who snagged the National League Wild Card by making a late run and benefiting from the Atlanta Braves collapsing, defeated the heavily favored Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers to get here. The Rangers, who won the American League West, beat the Tampa Bay Rays and the Detroit Tigers to repeat as AL champions.

The Cardinals will have home field advantage thanks to the NL's victory in the All Star Game this summer. They also have some key veteran players; a few that are held over from their 2006 championship, which includes none other than "all-world" first baseman Albert Pujols. The Rangers roster is mostly made up of players that experienced the World Series last year, even though they suffered a loss. Rangers outfielder and ALCS MVP Nelson Cruz soars into the World Series hoping to continue his clutch power hitting for the next few games. Manager Ron Washington has his Texas team playing loose and confident. And although I expect the Cardinals veteran and saavy manager Tony LaRussa to know what buttons to push, I believe the Rangers will win their first World Series. I think this is the Rangers year and they will be hungry to win after last year's disappointing loss to the San Francisco Giants. The Cardinals, who are truly playing with "house money" if you will, will see their improbably playoff run end. Rangers win in 6 games.