#cardnals

[sketchespe]

Art from my trip to Pennsylvania #birds #cardnals #family #red #art #sketchbook #sketchespe

[mikemondo83-blog]

Lets go Mets!! #newyorkmets #mets #cardnals #baseball #mlb #thesquad #houseofhardcore #family #goodtimes

[the-football-chick]

NFL Championship Sunday

Game 1 AFC - New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos  3:05pm ET/CBS

Keys to the game: Pats QB Tom Brady’s quick pass vs Broncos dominant front defense and Broncos effectiveness in the run game

Game 2 NFC - Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers 6:40pm ET/FOX

Keys to the game: Can Arizona’s blitz-happy defense get to QB Cam Newton and how well QB Carson Palmer can exploit Panthers’ secondary

…….The winners earn the Conference title and a trip to Super Bowl 50

photo illustration via NFL on FOX / FB now is the time

[settleforbutterflies-blog]

When I miss something that is blatantly obvious

[rucgleaner]

MLB Playoff Recap: Fall is the Best Season for Baseball

Chris Church | Staff Writer

    What are the MLB playoffs? Are the MLB playoffs still relevant? What’s happening to baseball in America? The answer to the proposed questions directly coincides with the mediocre regular season performances by that of the two most highly heralded east coast teams: New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. Neither team made the playoffs in 2013. The New York Yankees, with all 27 of their World Series, have only missed the playoffs 3 times in the past 19 years, while the Philadelphia Phillies, with their 2 recent World Series appearances, have made the playoffs 6 out of the last 8 years. The Yankees’ popularity is immeasurable; and indeed the success of their dynasty is unmatched. The same could be said for the Philadelphia Phillies with their many All-Stars such as Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Roy Halladay, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz, Cole Hamels, and Cliff Lee. The Yankees, as successful as they are, also deprived the MLB fans of seeing their All-stars such as Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, Ichiro Suzuki, C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Mariano Rivera, Robinson Cano, Andy Petit, and Derek Jeter. Without stars, what are the MLB playoffs? Without two of the league’s biggest franchises, are the playoffs relevant? The 2013 MLB playoffs may be without two of its flagship franchises, but there is still a boat load of talent participating in the Post Season.

     The 2013 MLB playoffs may be without the Yankees and Phillies, but in great consolation it still consists of teams such as the Dodgers, Red Sox, Tigers, Cardinals, Rays, and Braves. With these teams, there consists a plethora of superstars. If one were reluctant to watch the MLB playoffs because the Yankees and Phillies aren’t participants, they’d be surprised by the potential of these playoffs. The 2013 post season is unique because of its wide array of all-stars and superstars. Superstars like the Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, the gold glove winner Yadier Molina, and the triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera all have graced the 2013 playoffs with their talents. The Dodgers are a team that is on the rise due in part to their sizzling 92-70 record. The dodgers won their division handedly with the second place team being an astounding 9 games back.  The Cardinals, two years after losing MLB great, Albert Pujols, are surprisingly flourishing without their former face of the franchise. The great stars in the 2013 playoffs are what have made the post season so special this year.

     This year in the MLB playoffs, it all started with the Tampa Bay Rays defeating the Cleveland Indians in the American League Wild Card round of the playoffs. The one-game wildcard series started with Alex Cobb, pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, as he threw 8 scoreless innings, which nearly ensured the victory. Closer Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect 9th inning, which sealed the deal for the Rays. Contributions such as the home run by Delmon Young also helped solidify the win for the Rays. 

     The National League Wild Card round was a one game battle between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates defeated the Reds 6-2. Francisco Liriano dominated for the Pirates, striking out 5 batters and only allowing 2 runs to score. Former Yankees catcher Russell Martin homered twice for the Pirates, while superstar outfielder Andrew McCutchen amassed two hits and reached base 4 times. This was the first playoff win for the Pirates in the last 21 years. After 20 straight seasons of having a losing record, the Pirates have finally made their come up. The Pirates advanced to the Divisional Round of the Playoffs.

    The divisional round of the playoffs consisted of 4 best of 5 series. The Dodgers eliminated the Braves in a close series that extended to 4 games. Juan Uribe hit a two run homerun in the 8th inning of game four to ensure a victory and propel the Dodgers past the Braves and onto the NLCS. Next, the Cardinals faced off against the surging Pirates. The Cardinals were able to defeat the Pirates in an extremely close series that went all the way to 5 games. Cy Young Candidate Adam Wainwright was the X-Factor as he took control of the series. He took the mound in game 5 and took whatever hopes the Pirates had of continuing their season with him. Next Challenge for the Cardinals was the NLCS against the Dodgers whom they defeated as well. In the American League, the Detroit Tigers faced the Oakland A’s, and the Boston Red Sox faced the Tampa Bay Rays. The Tigers and Red Sox showed their greatness by easily defeating their respective opposition. Tigers stud Justin Verlander was straight up dominant against the A’s, allowing only 2 hits through 8 innings in the series clincher. The Red Sox, with a collective team effort, handedly defeated the Rays 3 games to 1. The excitement of the Wild card and Divisional series no doubt carried over to the Championship Series and then the World Series.

     If one were to predict the outcome of the World Series, it would be smart to bank on the Boston Red Sox. With their high powered lineup and phenomenal pitching staff, the Red Sox indeed look like the team to beat. With Jon Lestor and John Lackey pitching lights out, and David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury putting fear in opposing pitchers’ eyes, the Red Sox have nothing to worry about in the 2013 World Series against the Ca

[captainsnowwolf]

THAT WAS BY FAR THE SHITTIEST CALL EVER MADE IN A WORLD SERIES GAME! That umpire needs glasses! And ubstrucktion? The dude should watch where we is stepping cause he was not on the baseline!

[sbnation]

World Series, Game 1. 

[rowboateight]

Where was Carlos Beltron before the Cards? Or was he always on the Cards? I can't figure it out.