Live from Game 3

I'm live with you from Prescott Lane in Columbia, Missouri for detailed analysis of game 3 between the Cardinals and the Mets. I take seat amongst six other Cardinal fanatics all dressed in red from head to toe, and I plan on bringing you analysis, reaction, and possibly a few classic stories all told during the course of the game.

It's 7:14 right now and the commercial break is over and the first pitch is set to be thrown.

Pregame predictions:
Matt Unverferth: Cardinals 5, Mets 4
Luke Arnzen: Cardinals 7, Mets 4
Ryan Roggow: Cardinals 8, Mets 3
Tyler Banken: Cardinals 4, Mets 3
Scott Wittenborn: Cardinals 2, Mets 1
Jeff Fahrner: Cardinals 8, Mets 0
Myself: Cardinals 6, Mets 3

We're set to go. Suppan takes the ball...

After 1:
*Jeff Suppan isn't scared of anyone.
*To quote Mike Shannon, "I can't believe these umpires, Major League Baseball wants New York to win, the media wants New York to win, and the umpires want New York to win. I always said that you have to go out and beat all 13 of them but in this case the Cardinals have to beat all 15 of them (there are six umpires in the playoffs)." Its seems that this is obvious after the clear balk that lead to Eckstein's pick-off and Fox's continuous babying of any team New York.
*At the beginning of the season, do you think Scott Spiezio thought he would find himself the most popular person in Missouri? Get your rat tails out, I got a feeling that's all Soup needs.
*Steve Trachsel looks like his usual self.
*"Swing, Yadi, swing." -An out of town affiliate, know as Butch.
*Cardinals lead 2-0 after a 28 pitch, 18 minute inning.

Second Inning:
*Soup looks like a King, Jose Valentin doesn't (1-17 thus far in the postseason).
*(Suppan homers to left, eliminating Scott Wittenborn from the prediction pool) This place goes nuts, it reminded me of Tom Cruise on David Letterman. Soup still looks like a King. You really can't say enough about Suppan hitting a lead-off homerun off Steve Trachsel, it's just simply incredible.
*(Pujols walks on four straight pitches, none of them close, to load the bases with no one out) Who is Steve Trachsel more scared of: Albert Pujols or Mark McGwire?
*(Trachsel gets replaced by former Cardinal Darren Oliver) As Trachsel walks off, "well, there goes their number 3 starter, and our number 3 started just teed off on him. And things won't get any better with Darren Oliver coming in." -Fahrner.
*Cardinals get three more, lead 5-0 (which eliminates Tyler Banked from the prediction pool as well). We could have used a few more, but I guess that will do. The Mets are scared and Fox is getting irritated. We got to the third.

Third Inning:
*Jose Reyes is fast, but Jeff Suppan is better.
*A fairly anti-climatic inning. Although Yadi looks like he's making a bid to keep his job after a sour season. His post season is going about ten times better, and a homer in that situation would have made everyone forget the previous 6 months.
*5-0, Birds.

Fourth Inning:
*Is is safe to say that Jeff Suppan is a big game pitcher? He continues to roll.
*Banken: "My grandpa hates Tony LaRussa." Fahrner: "Is your grandpa Steve Kline?"
*Darren Oliver actually looks descent. He's pitched two shutout innings. The Cardinals need more runs because you can't trust this Mets lineup no matter how good Suppan looks.
*5-0, Birds.

Fifth Inning:
*Once again, Jose Valentin doesn't look like King, Preston Wilson does. Way to get him Preston! Fahrner: "Look at that skull cap. When that hat came off, you knew he was going to be out."
*Valentin gets tossed at second, Suppan gets Endy Chavez to pop out, and Soup goes scoreless through five. He also homered in the second, in case you forgot.
*(Soup bunts Rolen and Ronnie over) Fahrner: "You think Suppan is trying to figure out why LaRussa took the bat out of his hands?"
*Eckstein can't get them in, Cards lead 5-0 heading into the sixth.

Sixth Inning:
*Its nice to get Reyes out.
*I think the Mets should probably trade LoDuca and call up Joe Hietpas from double A Binghamton. Hietpas has just as good of chance against Suppan as LoDuca does. Between Suppan and Scotty Ballgame, neither one of them gets a hit. (Sorry Joe) Disclaimer: Joe Hieptas is a relative of mine, so I had to give him a plug. He's ben struggling with the bat, but his glove puts Mike Matheny to shame.
*Well, it's a good thing Soup can pitch because the Cardinals bats have gone cold. Birds lead 5-0, into the seventh.

Seventh Inning:
*(Two outs, Wright up) Fahrner: "STRRRRRIKKKKEEE. Get ahead fastball. Most exciting play in baseball."
*Rolen continues his clinic at third. Soup continues his clinic on the mound. Cardinals continue to make Fox mad. And that feels good.
*(We're heading to the bottom of the seventh) Andy Arnzen, an affiliate coming to us from Busch Stadium, says "the next best thing to the possibility of Scott Spiezio wearing a skull cap next game is the fact that I'm sitting right next to Steven Tyler...and his hot daughter. I think its his daughter."
*It's a good thing Darren Oliver didn't start this game.

Eighth Inning:
*Six outs to go. Can Soup-a Dupa do it?
*The discussion here drifts towards whether or not you send Suppan out in the ninth if he can get through 8 scoreless.
*Ronnie Belliard looks like Michael Jordan when he fades away in those double play ball attempts.
*Fahrner: "This has got to be the greatest outing of Darren Oliver's career." Arnzen: "Best outing ever for Suppan also." Fahrner: "No. This is just a regular, ho-hum outing for Soup."
*BLUES WIN!!! Two in a row. Radek Dvorak from Lee Stempniak at 13:42 of the third. The Blues are starting to play some hockey. Ok, fine, we ONLY beat the Blackhawks by one goal and it was late in the third. Still...two in a row.
*Arnzen: "Is (Jason) Marquis even allowed in the dugout?"
*Attakid Soup. 8 scoreless. It's in the humble opinion of this blogger to send him out in the ninth, with the bullpen ready to go. That said, I'm in the minority with that opinion. I guess LaRussa agrees with the majority, Soup out. We go to the ninth. Cards 5-0.

Ninth Inning:
*Josh Kinney comes into the ballgame to face the heart of the Mets lineup. This shoud be a cakewalk. A rookie vs. the heart of this lineup? Good luck Mets. Pull up the covers, this game is over.
*Jose Reyes up. Kinney set to go. Fahrner: "Jose Reyes doesn't know which end is up right now." 2-2 count. Here comes that slider baby, I'll bet on it. One down, two to go. (Pop up to Taguchi)
*LoDuca up. Hietpas would look good right here, wouldn't he? Beltran lurks on deck, and I think it's safe to say that every Cardinal fan loves the fact that he can't beat us in this situation. 1-2 to LoDuca. Popped it up, Edmonds under it. Two outs.
*Fox is sweating. Umpires are wondering what they did wrong.
*Two down. Beltran up. Bottom of the ninth. 1-1 count. "COME ON, BABY!!!"
"Fredbird looks good." - Banken. HOW ABOUT JIMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good night from Columbia. Let's get 'em tomorrow. Go REYES!!!!
Early Predictions for Game 4.
Banken: Cardinals 6, Mets 4
Arnzen: Cardinals 9, Mets 7
Roggow: Cardinals 7, Mets 2
U-Man: Cardinals 9, Mets 5
Wittenborn: "I don't make my prediction 'till game time. It's all about feeling."
Fahrner: "I don't know why you guys aren't giving the rookie any love. The rookies have been doing it the entire postseason. 8-0 BIRDS!!!"
Myself: I'm with Fahrner.

fun havin' ya.