Congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals, who last night clinched the NL Central Division championship with a 9-3 victory over the moribund Houston Astros. It was fun while it lasted, but in the end, the Cardinals just had more gas in their tank.
It's been a tough season for St. Louis, what with the deaths of announcer Jack Buck and pitcher Darryl Kile. I've never been a Cardinals fan, but I have admired their perserverance and focus in the face of their losses.
The Cardinals left little doubt regarding their validity as NL Central champs, scoring four runs before Pete Munro (5-5) could record six outs and punctuating the 9-3 victory with three majestic home runs in the sixth inning off rookie lefthander Jeriome Robertson.
Surely, Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck, who died after a long illness in June, and righthander Darryl Kile, who died unexpectedly at the age of 33 a few days after Buck passed, would have been proud of their Cardinals.
Kile would have been pleased to see Albert Pujols carry out his jersey as the Cardinals mobbed each other on the mound shortly after third baseman Scott Rolen's diving grab robbed Brian Hunter of a hit for the final out.
The Astros found some solace in their shared grief over Kile's death. Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell had their disappointment offset somewhat by Pujols' gesture to a fallen friend.
"We wanted to win," said Bagwell, one of Kile's closest friends. "What they had to go through with losing Darryl, I'll be rooting for them. To go through what they went through, I can't even imagine.
"I know how hard it is for me, never mind being there and have it happen in your clubhouse. So, I'll be rooting for them. I wish it was us, but if it's going to be somebody else, it might as well be them."
The season isn't over, and the Astros still have a (slim) possibility of winning the wild-card race...of course, there is a (slim) statistical chance that I might be elected Queen of England. Next year, guys....
