Cards-Dodgers Game 3 Live Blog

When I was young, I had a calendar that included a quote from an MLB player each weekend. For some reason I remember a quote from Tony Gwynn where he said, "There ain't no tomorrow if we don't win tomorrow."

That's not exactly profound, but it's been sticking in my head for a few days now. Obviously, there's no tomorrow for the Cards if they don't win today, so let the game begin.

I don't want to think to far ahead (OK, I do, but I think that I probably shouldn't.), but if the Cardinals can win today I'm alright with their position. Not because I think it's unlikely or impossible for Carpenter and Wainwright to lose games four and five, but because if they do, I'll tip my proverbial hat to the Dodgers, cry quietly for a few moments and (since we're on a baseball quote kick) begin staring out the window waiting for spring as Rogers Hornsby said he did each offseason.

5:06 -- Play-by-play guy says Matt Holliday got a standing ovation before the game. I love this. You?

First Inning

5:11 -- Well Manny gets the Dodgers on the board early. Not a fan of this situation.

5:13 -- So basically Torre named half his lineup when asked who would have a good day today?

drawmules says: "I think the Cardinals have a great chance be the first National League team to ever overcome an 0-2 deficit in the Division Series. If they win today, the question is do you start Carpenter on 3 days rest on Sunday."

LaRussa has already announced that he will start Carpenter if there is a game four. I heard him talking about it on the radio pregame. That's why I said the if the Cardinals can win today, I like their position...even acknowledging that the odds are still against them.

5:17 -- On to the bottom of the inning down 1-0. Drawmules thinks the Cards need to score. I just hope they do.

5:19 -- I mean if the Cards can't beat Vicente Padilla...

5:20 -- Ludwick batting No. 2. Like?

5:22 -- I always knew batting Ludwick second was the right move. (He obviously just got a hit.)

buck says: "Im disappointed. At least I didn't miss much of the game. I went to the cardinals website and it had 6:07 CT as the start time."

I thought it was just me!!! I thought the same thing, and I looked up the start time last night. I just happened to look at a different site a short time ago and went into panic mode.

5:25 -- After Albert hits a single, Holliday gets another big standing ovation from the crowd. He just grounded out, but I imagine he has to feel pretty good somewhere deep inside.

5:26 -- I have the Cardinals dugout feel from postseaston.tv open again. After his out, Holliday went back into the dugout and sat down on the bench. No one really talked to him, which I'm sure is standard. Then he got up and got a drink and proceeded to throw his cup down on the dugout floor with some, but not too much in my opinion, disgust.

buck says: "The cards website says July 27-29 the cards defeated the dodgers 3 games straight by a combined score of 19-3"

This is what I like to hear! Thanks, buck.

5:30 -- Colby walks and I wish I had my Yadi jersey on. What is wrong with me? I'm not even at work today.

5:31 -- I was just about to type that an .067 batting average with the bases loaded this year just means Yadi is due, then Dick Stockton said it first.

Then Yadi grounded out weakly to short.

Then I shook my head.

Second Inning

semoredhawk says: "RISP is killing the Cards."

Yes. Normally I would say killing is a strong word choice, but not this time.

5:38 -- Two up, two down in the top of the second. Good sign for Pineiro.

5:39 -- And just like that the Cards are back on offense. I've said it once or 17 times before, but now would be a good time for the offense to get going.

5:43 -- Just like that DeRosa strikes out. Might I just say that I really don't want this to be the last Cardinals game I get to see this year. I really, really don't want that.

5:45 -- I don't think it's a good sign when only six minutes pass from the time I say the offense needs to get going this inning to the time when the inning is over. Ugh.

Third Inning

5:50 -- There's Furcal again, getting a single with one one. They just said he has five hits this series, but it really feels like 15.

5:52 -- Another strikeout for Pineiro. How great would it be to leave Manny on deck here?

5:53 -- On the opposite side of the spectrum from great would be Andre Ethier hitting a two-run homer, which is what he just did.

5:55 -- And Manny doubles.

And I don't feel well. At all.

5:56 -- Why oh why? Why?

drawmules says: "I am going to make a very unpopular but very realistic comment. I think it's all over with. But maybe to win three in a row you need a big comeback in game 3. But we look like we are ready go home. No emotion at all from Cardinal players."

I'm nowhere near ready to call the series. How do you all feel?

6:02 -- "When Manny hits, I think it makes everyone around him better." Thank you, Joe Torre.

6:03 -- I only vaguely remember Joe Torre's time as the Cardinals manager, anyone have thoughts about his time with St. Louis. Were you glad he was fired at the time?

6:06 -- For what it's worth, Colby Rasmus and Yadier Molina are talking something over in the dugout.

6:07 -- After a long at-bat, Albert eventually pops up. I'd like to see at least one more sweet swing from him this season to hold me over. (Too despressing?)

Fourth Inning

6:09 -- Hey, it's only the fourth inning! Just a friendly reminder.

drawmules says: "You have to get the bullpen up. You can't afford to fall any farther behind."

Belliard is on second with two outs now. I agree the Cards don't seem poised to come back from four or more runs down.

6:17 -- And it's 4-0. This is not how I hoped this game would go.

6:18 -- I'm not even going to say it anymore. I'm just going to send mental message to the offense. That should definitely help.

6:23 -- At least Rasmus has been a bright spot.

6:25 -- Bob Brenley just said Padilla is having his way with the Cardinals offense. That is just so...what's the right word...

...unexpected.

6:26 -- DeRosa scorches on right at Pidilla, who catches it before it catches him. It would be nice to catch a break.

6:30 -- Reyes gets out of the inning. Looking for a sign of life...

6:37 -- Perhaps I overestimated my ability to keep finding things to say through every game of the postseason or perhaps I'm just a bit sad right now, but I don't have much to say right now (which is weird). I really think it's just that this game is moving along so swiftly in the absolute favor of the Dodgers that there is little to say about the Cardinals. (But, really, I might just be sad.)

drawmules says: "LaRussa seriously looks like he is about to cry."

What can we do to pick up our collective moods? Can anyone find a game this year where the Cardinals came back from four runs down?

Sixth Inning

6:43 -- John Smoltz into the game.

buck says: "The offense is in a bad way right now. Is the Dodger pitching really this good?"

Good question. I know this has been well-reported, but it's not like the Cardinals haven't had plenty of chances against the Dodgers staff. In LaRussa's radio interview before today's game he was talking about how, in baseball, you either do or you don't. He pointed out Ludwick's line out to third with the bases loaded (if I'm remember 100 percent correctly). It was a good hit and a good at-bat, but at the end of the day, Ludwick didn't knock in any runs. Of course there have been other times when they didn't even come close in big situations like Yadi earlier in this game.

I'm really not sure what my point is here. Haha. I just know that, as bad as the offense has been, it has been pretty good. (I'm not saying this in a positive way, really. It's just an odd truth.)

6:51 -- Back to the action. Two out and a runner on first for the Dodgers against Smoltz. I'm not sure how to read Brendan Ryan's reaction to not making that play defensively. Should we be happy that he's showing emotion and "still fighting" or some other cheesy cliche or should we be worried that he is showing so much frustration? What did you think when you saw it?

6:53 -- Smoltz strikes out the side after the infield single. 2-3-4 spots coming up. There's no time like right now.

6:59 -- I thought that was a hit off the bat. Wishful thinking is a powerful thing.

7:01 -- Albert strikes out and Holliday pops out immediately. I'm out of rational things to say. Please excuse while I shift into full-blown denial/inexcusably optimistic mode.

Seventh Inning

7:06 -- Another strikeout for Smoltz.

7:08 -- Another strikeout for Smoltz. Perhaps this will provide some momentum?

7:09 -- I love how the announcers glossed over the Holliday standing ovation before his first at bat like it was totally expected and of course it was going to happen and no big deal and then have spent the better part of the last 3-4 innings talking about how quiet the fans have been.

7:10 -- I'm not a big fan of Andre Ethier. Or his hair cut. So there.

7:11 -- Manny gets another RBI.

7:12 -- I wish this all didn't make me so sad. Weeks like this make me wish I cared about sports less. Then again, if I cared less it wouldn't be as much fun when the times are good. Perhaps I'll try to expand on this later.

7:14 -- Another base hit and LaRussa heads to the phone in the dugout.

7:18 -- Cards are out of the inning trailing 5-0.

buck says: "At least I can't get my heart broken twice tonight!"

I hear you. I really do.

7:24 -- I don't remember a big game ever being this anticlimactic in my Cardinals history. At least so far.

7:25 -- I just remembered the 2004 World Series. :(

7:27 -- Not sure how to explain that. LaRussa doesn't say anything to Molina when he reenters the dugout.

Eighth Inning

7:34 -- Jason Motte gets his first batter.

7:37 -- That was quick.

7:38 -- I'm predicting a six-run eighth inning. WHO'S WITH ME?!?!?!!??

7:40 -- No pinch hitter says "Rally Starter" quite like Jason LaRue.

7:41 -- I'm shocked LaRue didn't get on there. Shocked.

buck says: "Let's Go Cardinals! clap-clap"

7:45 -- I think Barry Weinburg (spell?) let out a few expletives when Ludwick's fly landed in Manny's glove on the warning track.

7:48 -- Broxton in to face Pujols. One more sweet swing, Albert? For me?

7:49 -- Just realized that last message sounded like I am giving up. I'm not.

7:50 -- Yes! 5-1 on Albert's single.

7:51 -- The Cardinals are within "slam range," as Brenley described in-depth earlier.

Ninth Inning

7:55 -- Really pumped to hear about the Dodgers' celebration plans. Thanks, Tom.

7:58 -- I think I'm going to be having Andre Ethier nightmares for a while. Mostly about his hair. (Have I worn that out sufficiently? I don't want to leave any comment unsaid.)

8:01 -- I'm predicting a five-run ninth. WHO IS WITH ME?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?

8:03 -- Colby leading off, which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

8:05 -- Nevermind. Rasmus strikes out. I'm officially in 100 percent denial mode. This can't be happening.

8:06 -- Good news: Rick Ankiel has a bat in the dugout.

8:07 -- What's less likely to happen...Yadi getting an infield hit or the Cards scoring five runs in an inning? Just saying...

8:08 -- And DeRosa grounds out to Broxton. Remote ready to change channel to avoid all possible celebratory actions.

8:10 -- Well that does it. Cardinals get swept. Such a bad ending to a season that was, at times, a whole lot of fun. I may wax philosophical on some of this later, but for now I'm going to focus on doing anything other than thinking about this series.

Thanks again to drawmules and buck and everyone else who read and contributed to our live blogs. We'll do more in the future during high school, college and pro games, and hopefully we'll be able to have a little more fun.