Cards vs. Padres

I feel sorry for St. Louis and their fans because you just don't want to play a team like the Padres in the playoffs. A win for St. Louis is ho-hum and a loss would be the talk of the baseball world.

How about Pedro Astacio starting Game 2? I thought the Rangers made a mistake releasing him because his strikeout/walks were very solid despite the bad ERA in the early going. In August and September, he's rewarded the Padres with one quality start after another. Most people view his matchup against Mark Mulder as the reason why San Diego can't win the series. But Mulder was blasted two starts ago by Milwaukee and gave up seven walks in his final four-inning tune up. Something is wrong there.

Jake Peavy and Chris Carpenter is going to be a good Game 1 matchup. I like Peavy's intensity, though it rubs many the wrong way. And I've always been a Carpenter fan, even through all the arm trouble. The Padres offense isn't as bad as the numbers indicate because they play in an extreme pitchers park. Of course, that means the pitching (mediocre) is worse than it appears. How does Trevor Hoffman get people out with that junk? Changing speeds is key. But I always expect change-up closers to go Keith Foulke on us.

Net OPS calls this for easily for the Cards, who are third best in baseball in that category. I think it's going to go five games just because teams that people argue don't belong in the postseason seem to surprise a lot. I'm thinking of those old Twins teams and the 1973 Mets, who vanquished the Big Red Machine when it was in all its glory. In the end, though, the Cardinals offensive will carry the way led by the ridiculous Albert Pujols.