Corey Noles, staff writer for The Daily Statesman and Editor of The North Stoddard Countian, is the author of a regular baseball/St. Louis Cardinals column and also uses his blog to sound off on various happenings in sports. He also operates a weekly baseball mailbag column.

Cardinals need to maintain focus for two final games

Posted Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at 1:12 AM

By COREY NOLES

The 2013 World Series will return to Fenway Park in Boston--that's a guarantee. It's also the only guarantee.

What should have been three home games where the St. Louis Cardinals had the upper hand turned into a disappointment of epic proportions for local fans.

The Cardinals battled it out from the start, but eventually dropped two of three at Busch Stadium. To win means the Cardinals will have to win two consecutive games at Fenway Park.

It obviously won't be easy, but it can be done.

This is when games start getting interesting because things like pitch counts, regular rest and pain are gone (see CRAIG, ALLEN, and BELTRAN, CARLOS).

Of course, also gone are things like, margin of error, room for improvement and generously optimistic story lines. In late October, it is what it is.

For obvious reasons, the Cardinals have to walk into Fenway Park on Wednesday with no doubt of how that game will end. The right mentality will be key because that stadium will be rocking.

Game 6 starter Michael Wacha is already in the right frame of mind.

"I'm looking forward to it, for sure," Wacha said following the final out at Busch Stadium of 2013.

He admitted there there could be some advantage now that he has pitched there once, but it also means the Red Sox hitters have faced him as well.

Adam Wainwright, who threw a solid game Monday night, seemed genuinely optimistic about the Cardinals chances as they head back to Boston.

"We've got to do the same thing they did to us," he said. "We've got to win two games there."

While he's optimistic, he also knows that will be an uphill battle and what it would mean if that happened.

"This will be legendary if we go in there and win two games," he said.

Legendary was a good choice of words there because he is exactly right. Just understanding what a big deal that would be says all one needs to know about the odds.

Sure, they're slim, but this is October. You never count out anything during the World Series.

Strange things happen all of the time, and 2013 has been no exception with its flurry of odd calls and wacky plays.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said despite two painful home losses, he still believes his players are ready for the task at hand.

"Our guys have been backed up against the wall before, and this is something that isn't foreign to them," Matheny said. "They know what we have to do. We just play our game. If we go about it the right way, we'll be right where we want to be."

Right where they want to be is a bit of a stretch, but I have no doubt they can pull through. The key will just be to keep focus on the goal and not let the distractions become a problem.

The time is now and every win counts. The Cardinals have two games to play and need to win two games.

They've already won nine in October, what are two more?

Corey Noles is a Cardinals Writer and Columnist for The Daily Statesman. He is also a regular contributor to KSDK.com, StLSportsPage.com and Bleacher Report. Contact him at cnoles@dailystatesman.com or on Twitter @coreynoles.

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I predict the Cardinals will win Game 6 and lose Game 7. I sure wish the Cardinals had Jake Peavy right now.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 1:20 AM
I would start Shelby Miller in Game 7 instead of Kelly.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 1:28 AM
there won't be a game 7

-- Posted by BIGELW on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 7:04 AM
I don't wish the Cardinals had Jake Peavy. He is pitching like crap. I wish the cardinals had another impact right handed bat healthy and hitting. If we do win game 6 and I think the game 7 start would be a really interesting topic. I'd entertain the idea of starting miller if his arm is good and rested.

-- Posted by Bunk on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 7:26 AM
Well Waino hasn't been any better than Peavy. 0-2 with a 4ERA.

There are many things that has me scratching my head right now: Why is Miller and Mujica on the roster if you are not going to use them. That is 2 spots that are just being wasted away. In the World Series you need to maximize your roster, instead the Cardinals seem to minimize theirs. Tony Cruz is a decent pinch hitter, but we cant even use him because he need a backup catcher in case Yadi gets injured. Cruz could have taken Mujica or Miller's spot and it wouldn't matter because they are being used anyway. Furthermore, why would you Leave Lynn in a game to pitch around Papi, only to take him out and bring in a contact pitcher? With two on and two out, that's not the time to bring your DP specialist....you need a K there. There are more gripes that I have, but I have ranted enough.

-- Posted by Jolly Dump on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 9:04 AM
Well the best thing to do at this point is focus on game 6. Cardinals have the edge in the Wacha v Lackey matchup if David Ortiz stops drinking the super secret special stuff he got left over from MJ and Bugs Bunny from Space Jam. So this offense has to find a away to win there. Then it's game 7 and that means Peavy( very hittable) or Lester on short rest or maybe even Doubront. I think St. Louis should just bullpen start the game and tell every guy who can throw 95+ that they 2-3 innings and to let that sucker rip

-- Posted by Bunk on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 9:11 AM
It is curious to me why Shelby Miller hasn't been used at all in the postseason. Any insight on that Corey?

-- Posted by Preacher Man Fan on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 5:48 PM
He was used in game 2 of the NLCS when Lynn imploded and failed to help at all. He must have a dead arm at this point that can only be used for an inning or so if needed. I don't think he should be on the roster.

-- Posted by Bunk on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 5:53 PM
Bunk, you stated this morning: " I'd entertain the idea of starting miller if his arm is good and rested."

Now tonight you write about Miller struggling in the one inning he pitched in against Pittsburg and state that he should not be on the roster.

Which is it? Should he pitch game 7 or not be on the roster?

-- Posted by Blogdog on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 6:46 PM
I am a Shelby Miller fan. I have been anticipating him pitching a full season in the Majors for years. I was very excited and impressed by what we seen. I AM NOT happy that he has only been given one inning this post season. I do not buy the rumor that he is tired, nor do I believe he reached some kind of limit on his innings. If either of those were the cases, why would he be put on the World Series roster?

I say Wacha can win game six and then to totally throw off Boston in game 7, give the ball and the job to Shelby. Boston has never seen him pitch and they will not be expecting it.

After this postseason I am expecting an explanation as to why Miller has not pitched.

-- Posted by Blogdog on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 6:49 PM
Blog hog it's called seeing someone else's point of view. For one I said I would entertain the idea of starting Miller but I never stated I would so in the court of online blogging your pestering about it holds no merit. Personally I love Miller as a pitcher and I was only stating facts and trying to illuminate possible reasons as to why we haven't seen Miller on the mound since game 2 of the NLDS. The most possible reason is that he pitched the most innings he ever has in his career and probably has a dead arm issue we don't know anything about. But if he can 1-3 innings I would love to see Miller out there but the organization is basically saving him for mop up duty.

-- Posted by Bunk on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 7:28 PM
Miller and Mujica for mop up duty? Why are we wasting two roster spots for this role? And to hold a pitcher back "just in case" is like you're expecting your starter to fail. It makes no sense at all.

-- Posted by Jolly Dump on Tue, Oct 29, 2013, at 11:17 PM
Well that's unfortunately what teams do. I understand having a back up starter in attempts to save a current starter's arm and confidence. If they don't have faith in either to perform than they shouldn't have them there but it's not like the Red Sox aren't doing a similar thing with their bullpen.

-- Posted by Bunk on Wed, Oct 30, 2013, at 8:10 AM
I agree with all of the questions on how this might appear with Miller and Mujica BUT there has to be more to the story and I trust Matheny and staff have their good reasons. It's not like they have anything to gain by simply burning two roster spots. That would make no sense at all and while anyone can question Matheny's occasional in-game decision making (just like any manager), it's getting harder for me to argue with the way he handles his roster. I tend to believe he's not showing his full hand, especially with Miller, for a reason.

-- Posted by Grussman on Wed, Oct 30, 2013, at 8:20 AM
Injuries are part of the game. If the Dodgers had Matt Kemp (who missed the whole series), a healthy Ethier and a healthy Hanley Ramirez (cracked ribs on a hit by pitch in Game 1 of NLCS), the Cardinals may not be in this position. Be thankful that Craig is playing at all.

-- Posted by semohoops on Wed, Oct 30, 2013, at 8:52 AM
Yeah I hate to appeal to Authority as an argument. Matheny may have authority but it doesn't mean its a good decision. I'm hoping it's just too much caution that Shelby can be used as Trojan Horse weapon

-- Posted by Bunk on Wed, Oct 30, 2013, at 9:34 AM
Still doesn't explain why Mujica is on the roster. Is he on the roster simply as a token of his regular season success? He has only appeared in 2 games this entire postseason and hasn't even appeared in the WS. It is asinine to waste an entire roster spot as a token award and severly damages your chances of winning. Just think if we had Chambers in the game instead of Wong, or if we could have used Cruz instead of Kozma in that 8th inning. I like my changes with those changes.

-- Posted by Jolly Dump on Wed, Oct 30, 2013, at 11:05 AM
Bottom line, the bats need to show the hell up! They let the pitching staff down the last couple games. I don't care who you have on the mound, scoring 1-2 against Boston will not cut it, bottom line.

-- Posted by Cheesehead. on Wed, Oct 30, 2013, at 11:11 AM

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