Cardinals complete comeback, win world series

Game Seven: truly the greatest two words in all of sports. In the last ten years, six Stanley Cup Finals, four NBA finals , and two World Series have been decided in this winner take all game. After Friday October 28, 2011 add one more World Series to that list. For many years, Americans have been subject to poor matchups in the Fall Classic producing lackluster memories for all but the fans of the winning team. This year would be different, very different.

 At the start of September, the St. Louis Cardinals were ten and a half games out of the playoffs. Over the course of the month, starting with a home game against the rival Chicago Cubs the Cardinals went on a tear coming back on the final day of the regular season to make playoffs as the National League Wild Card. The road didn't get any easier for the Cards as they had to face down the Philadelphia Phillies and their lethal pitching staff in the first round. But St. Louis made Phillies ace and defending NL Cy Young winner Roy Halladay look foolish. The Cards polished off the Milwaukee Brewers in six games to win the National League and were ready to face the Texas Rangers.

 Speaking of the Rangers, they clinched the American League Western Division crown in mid-September and found themselves facing the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round. With a little help from the so-called "washed up" Mike Napoli, and superb pitching from Colby Lewis the Rangers found themselves playing for the AL Pennant against the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers held two most valuable player candidates in Justin Verlander ad Miguel Cabrera, but the Rangers finished them off to clinch their second consecutive American League Pennant.

 Looking at the tale of the tape before the World Series, it looked as if the Rangers would walk off with the title. But after only two games in St. Louis, it appeared that the series had potential to go the distance. Game Three saw Cardinal first baseman Albert Pujols hit three home runs in the game, a feat previously accomplished by Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson. Game Five appeared to be a turning point when Rangers catcher Mike Napoli took first base on a dropped third strike; he went on to be the game's winning run. The series shifted back to St. Louis with the Rangers needing to win only one game to win their first ever World Series title. But Mother Nature raised her hand and brought the Ranger's momentum to a screeching halt when rain forced the postponement of Game Six. The next night, the Rangers sauntered in to the bottom of the ninth inning with a two run lead and two outs. Their closer, Neftali Feliz, hadn't blown a save since mid-September.

 In almost a mirror image to his performance in the 2010 Series, Feliz lost control of his slider. A quick walk given up brought the Cardinal's star, Albert Pujols to the plate. The crowd stood, acknowledging their star player in what could be his final at bat. Instead, Albert took that energy and turned it into a double. This brought up David Freese, a St. Louis local in only his third professional season, with the chance to tie the game and send it to extra innings. Freese hit a high fly ball to straightaway right field in what looked like it could be the final out of the World Series. Instead, Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz bobbled the ball, sending Freese to third base and driving in two runs to tie the game. Finally it appeared that once again the Rangers were going to win thanks to Josh Hamilton's eleventh inning two-run home run to center field. But once again, the Rangers bullpen couldn't hold the lead, and instantly thanks to a Freese warning, the Cardinals had won on a walk off home run by the hometown hero forcing Game Seven.

 Game Seven looked to be cut from the same nail-biter stone as the rest of the series. Early on, Texas took a quick two run lead in the top of the first off of Cardinal's pitcher Chris Carpenter. But Game Six hero David Freese clubbed in two runs to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. It looked as if the game would turn into a shootout, until the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Rangers' pitcher Matt Harrison was pulled after walking home what turned out to be the winning run. Texas ace C.J. Wilson was called in for relief but in his first pitch, he beaned Rafeal Furcal, sending yet another run home. After the fifth inning the capacity crowd at Busch Stadium began to sense that a championship was near. They believed in their team so much, that while facing the heart of the Ranger's lineup in the ninth inning, the crowd broke one of the cardinal rules of postseason baseball: never countdown the outs. Superstition didn't matter though as the Rangers sat down one-two-three as the Cardinals clinched their eleventh World Series championship.

Aside from the outstanding baseball on display during the Fall Classic, the stories could fill the hearts of anyone watching. It wasn't just the heartwarming stories of overcoming substance abuse that America had heard from the Rangers' Josh Hamilton and Ron Washington anymore. World Series most valuable player David Freese was one such tale. He had given up on baseball while in the San Diego Padres farm system but a trade to his hometown helped revitalize him as a player. The 2011 Postseason was a coming out party for him as he thundered to two series MVP awards helping solidify him as both a Cardinals fan favorite and the team's future third baseman. Speaking of St. Louis fan favorites, Albert Pujols once again played his usual high caliber of offense as well as amazing defensive play in what could be his final games as a Cardinal. Pujols is expected to be the crown jewel in this off-season's free agent class with suitors ranging from the Chicago Cubs to the recently vanquished Texas Rangers courting the three time National League MVP. At the start of the season in April, Pujols declared that he would not negotiate a contract until the end of the season. Said Pujols, "It's distracting you know? If I'm trying to get a deal done during the season that's all people would talk about." Clearly a year without distractions has benefited Albert who now looks to hopefully maintain his position with the franchise.