The house Carp built

So Carpenter’s line was this:

IP H ER BB K PC-ST
8.0 3 0 0 6 82-55

Carp needed less than 3.5 pitches per hitter to dispose of the AL Champs. A quick check of Carp’s game log reveals no other game this year where Chris was nearly that efficient and effective. This was something we haven’t seen since he made his amazing run that began last year in Toronto, and ended with the Cy Young Award.

The Tigers had three hits, and advanced a runner past second only once, and that was on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch.

That was somewhat expected.

On offense, the Cards did benefit from the error on Zumaya, but the Cards were threatening to break the game open all night. The Birds put runners in scoring position in every inning from the fourth inning to the end of the night.

Pardon me, but did I see the Tigers intentionally pass Yadier? To face Taguchi? Did they just start watching the Cards in the LCS?

How about that Jimmy Edmonds? Seems like two years ago we were wondering if he’d ever even play again, and tonight, he’s taking tough at-bats against the lefty Robertson. His two run double was the hit of the game.

So now Bonderman takes the hill. Jeremy was perfect through five innings against the Yankees, before he started grooving pitches with an 8-0 lead.

Against Oakland, Bonderman was far less effective. Merely 5% of the strikes Bonderman threw in that game were swung at and missed. What happens if he pitches against Encarnacion? Will the universe cease to exist? Dogs and Cats, living together, mass hysteria.

Wait a minute, that stat concerned pitches in the zone. Encarnacion doesn’t swing at those.

Suppan gets to face the impatient Tigers tomorrow night, assuming it doesn’t rain. Can another veteran Cardinal pitcher take advantage of the aggressive Tigers?

Like I said, it feels good to have an edge.