[EmpireWF]

The NLCS has been one marathon of a fight and it will conclude tomorrow night at Shea Stadium in New York when the Mets and St. Louis Cardinals play a game 7. The Mets will send out lefty Oliver Perez (on three days rest) against righty Jeff Suppan (on full rest).

Suppan shut the Mets down in game 3 back in St. Louis, throwing eight innings of shut out ball. However, he hasn't been as good on the road...but he has done well at Shea in his career.

Perez only needs to keep the St. Louis bats within reach and hope the Met bats can score some runs.

For the Mets, I'd imagine everyone will be available to pitch besides Tom Glavine and John Maine. However, the first guy I'd think we'd see if Perez struggles early is Darren Oliver.

In any event, the Detroit Tigers must be thrilled this series goes to a Game 7. This is what baseball is all about...

[MVB]

Two quick points:

- During tonight's game, Willie Randolph said that Glavine WILL be available for Game 7.

- The Tigers were on ESPN griping about having to wait so long to play in the Series. Rogers and Rodriguez were whining about how they lost momentum or something.

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by MVB

Two quick points:

- During tonight's game, Willie Randolph said that Glavine WILL be available for Game 7.

- The Tigers were on ESPN griping about having to wait so long to play in the Series. Rogers and Rodriguez were whining about how they lost momentum or something.

If I remember correctly, Glavine would be available because it would be his regular throw day anyway, so why not let him toss some during the game. Game 7's are wonderful things lol.

And we won't know how the week long vacation will effect the Tigers until the World Series is underway but it sure will be interesting to see.

[Lefty Noob]

Yeah, the Tigers will probably be cold and rusty going into Game 1 of the Series. It's been a while since they've played any meaningful baseball, and they were definitely riding high, having won 7 straight. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens, but my money's on the fact that they struggle out of the gate. Golden opportunity for the NL club to get an early advantage.

[legend]

Detroit gets to rest all of their pitchers, and players with injuries like Sean Casey and Zumaya have a chance to heal. Much rather be in their position than that of whoever wins this game tonite, especially the Mets, who would be hard pressed to get a team with actual hitters out with that pitching staff. And how bout that Billy Wagner, almost as big a fraud as A-Rod. Could you imagine if he blew that game last night?

[soriano33]

I really hope for baseball's sake that the Cards dont win tonight, one of the worst division winners ever in the playoffs. Anyway, the Mets have the advantage playing at Shea, but I have learned never to trust Oliver Perez and thats what the Mets are doing. This is a position I would not want to be in. Hes risky but I hope its one of his better outings.

[ThePundit]

Of course Glavine is available. Everybody on the team is. Same for the Cardinals. It's all hands on deck.....

Will the Tigers be rusty? Who knows? But the theory has merit. In 1996, the Yankees disposed of the Orioles in 4 games on a Sunday while the Braves played until Thursday. Then the opener got rained out the next Saturday and they didn't play until Sunday - eight days later...And the Braves just dismantled the Yanks in the first two games.

[MVB]

If the Card won tonight, and then somehow beat Detroit- the worst team to have entered the playoffs would've won the World Series. Funny how baseball works...

[EmpireWF]

Funny thing about Billy Wagner (and good closers in general), they pitch better when a save is on the line. I don't have the stats in front of me but it's something like a 1. run difference in the ERA between chances for a save and when he's pitching with a lead of 4 runs or better.

It's crazy but I still trust Wagner in a save situation.

As long as Oliver Perez can give the Mets at least four innings, they'd take it.

[EmpireWF]

What a rough game.

A pitchers duel to the fullest from Perez and Suppan. Both offenses only got 1 runs leading into the sixth. Perez fell into some trouble and seemed to be shaking off Lo Duca for the first time in the game. With a runner on and Rolen coming to bat, (Bradford warming up, who owned Rolen in the series), Randolph comes out to talk. He decides to leave Perez in and pitch. First pitch to Rolen, he smacks to deep left field. It should've been a home run if not for the AMAZING CATCH by Endy Chavez. I swear, I jumped out of my seat (at home) seeing it. My heart sank when Rolen made contact because you knew it was out...but slowly Chavez went back to the wall, jumped, stuck his glove out and kept it somehow. Amazing play, plus, he got the double play to end the inning.

The bottom of that inning, the Mets offense went stagnant after loading the bases with one out. Valentin struck out and Chavez popped up to center.

It would be a steady game until the top of the 9th when Yadier Molina smacked a two run homer off Aaron Heilman. Heilman should've been in the game so can't fault Willie there.

Bottom of the ninth, against Adam Wainright, the Mets began their comeback. Jose Valentin, base hit. Endy Chavez, base hit. Cliff Floyd pinch hits. Now, some are criticizing Willie for not bunting the runners over, but I disagree. You're down two runs, all you need is a base hit. Floyd ends up striking out. Jose Reyes lines out to center. Paul Lo Duca walks to load the bases with two outs, down by two runs.

Cardinals killer Carlos Beltran is up with all of New York on his back. He ends up striking out looking on a nasty nasty offspeed pitch to end the series.

It was dissapointing and all the adjectives you can imagine...but the Mets will be back in 2007, you can count on that.

[ThePundit]

What a game that was. It was just a classic baseball game. The catch Endy Chavez made was Jeterish. I think Willie Randolph made all the right moves. They just didn't work out. I wouldn't have bunted in the 9th inning either. You can't give up an out there. Got to hand it to Wainwright - he had some nasty stuff.

[MVB]

I think Randolph made one mistake:

The team's down by two in the bottom of the ninth. Two on. No one out. Now, I know the urge is to use Floyd here, but I would have brought in Franco to bunt the runners over. Then you are one single away from a tie game, with Reyes and Lo Duca coming up.