Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader just couldn’t wait until tomorrow to blog on his World Series thoughts. Are you ready for the one big thought? Here it is… (Although your Maximum Leader hesitates to touch the keys to spell the word.) Sweep.
Yes, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader thought last night that it is possible for the Red Sox to sweep the Cards. Now, having typed the unthinkable, your Maximum Leader must tell you what led to this idea.
Factor 1: Cards pitching. The Cards starters are now no longer playing at the level they were at the end of the season and through the first two rounds of playoffs. They are tired. They don’t seem to be controlling the ball. They are the reason that the Sox have been spotted two or more runs in the firstinning in both games.
Factor 2: Sox pitching. The Sox pitchers have been great. They have been better in starters. In middle relief. And in closing out the game.
Factor 3: Momentum. The Sox have carried their momentum from the ALCS into the World Series. The Cards have not carried their momentum from the NLCS into the World Series.
Last week your Maximum Leader said that the Cards would have to split the first two games in Fenway to have a shot at winning the series. They did not. Game 1 was the game they could have taken. It would have been hard, but they were, a few times, poised to make a run on the lead. But they didn’t. That will likely prove to be their undoing.
You see, the Cards are great at home. And they have lots of advantages over the Sox when they play in St. Louis. No DH. Homefield crowd. etc. But there are only 3 games in St. Louis. The Cards could win all three games in St. Louis, and then have to go to Fenway to lose two more games. Your Maximum Leader was sure that if they didn’t take one of the first two against the Sox they wouldn’t win the series. Now the Cards may just prove your Maximum Leader correct.
Of course, what makes this funny is that the only reason the Sox have homefield advantage in the Series is because the AL won the All-Star game. How funny would that be? The Sox win all their home games and thus the Pennant because of the All-Star game.
Well, we’ll have to wait until Tuesday to see what will happen. But your Maximum Leader wouldn’t be surprised if the Sox came on strong and won the first game at Busch Stadium. If they do… Well, your Maximum Leader will not type it again…
Carry on.
