Game 1 of the World Series

Welcome to Game 1 of the World Series. (from my living room).

Here's how this works. I'll watch the game and post some "insights" so you can read them between innings. Comments are welcomed.

If you enjoy Twitter be sure you check out the following: #world series, #11in11, #stlcards.

This tweet caught my eye from @TortyCraig, Allen Craig's pet turtle, "Right before leaving for warmups Carp said, 'I don't care if Chuck Norris is a Texas Ranger, I'm going to shut them the %&$# down!"

My wife, Jennifer: "Boy, Joe Buck looks old."

Me: "HD not always a good thing."

Things to watch for:

Number of times Nolan Ryan is shown ... Times its mentioned this could be Albert Pujols' final games as a Cardinal. ...

Tony Gwynn sighting!

Missed the first batter, killing a spider but saw Yadi throw out a runner. That will set the tone for the series.

All you needed to know about Chris Carpenter was in that half inning. He tough, he's a competitor and he could never be a coach at Poplar Bluff High School.

Had lots of people ask if I was going to cover the World Series. Why? Then I can't enjoy it as a fan and spend time with my family. Plus the Associated Press will staff three to four very good writers that can do it a lot better and faster than I can. Also, I have to write a football preview story for tomorrow. (Probably won't write it until after the game, still waiting for a phone call).

Double play to start the Series right before Albert Pujols bats, yep your pre-September Cardinals at their best.

Watch when the catcher throws back to the pitcher. If the ball goes in front of the ad on the backstop, it seems to disappear, like the Phillies in October.

Carp is careful with Nelson Cruz and it pays off with a double play.

After 1 1/2 innings played, no score.

Arch sighting No. 35 as Joe gives everybody a tour of downtown St. Louis to start bottom of second.

(Argument me and Jen are having) Does the wild card make the playoffs better or worse? (more in a second)

Jack see "Deep Freese:" sign from Sign Guy and gets it then walks out of room.

After 2, still scoreless.

The Phillies were the best team over 162 games but lost a short, 5-game series with the Cardinals, who needed a win on the final day and a loss by the Braves to get into the postseason. Now the Cardinals are in the World Series.

Jen: Winning the games that matter are just as important.

She means the playoffs started early for the Braves and the Cardinals when the playoff race heated up in September. Therefore, the Braves were not going to make it far in the playoffs anyway. The Phillies beat the Braves on that final day, then got knocked out by the Cardinals.

I would argue that the Cardinals might not have fared better against the Phillies in a longer series and would like to see all rounds go best-of-7. The season needs to be shorter anyway (that's a whole other column).

Speaking of columns and an interesting note about that playoff race, the Braves won a game over the Pirates in the 14th inning on a missed call by the ump. I wrote a column about it.

Had the Cards and Braves ended up tied or the Cards lost by a game, how bad would that have been?

Another reason why I'd rather stay home for the game, peanuts are cheaper and the fireplace is keeping me warm

Leadoff hit to start the third and La Russa goes small ball with a bunt for Carpenter, who misses twice then bunts it foul. You can bet he's cursing in the tunnel.

At least they didn't hit into a double play.

After 3, no score

Another reason why I didn't cover the World Series in St. Louis, I've got to come up with those clever headlines tomorrow morning at the office.

Also, it's not fun. It's work. If you like watching sports, don't become a sports writer. You don't have time to watch games, you'll be busy working. For example, if the Series goes 7 games, it will be next Thursday and I'll be on the sideline at Seckman High School watching the Mules football play for a spot in the playoffs.

Jen: How do you spell freeze?

Me: F-R-E-E-S-E

Jen: Nooo.

M: F-R-E-E-Z-E

Jen: Auto-correct is stupid.

She posts something on Facebook.

Pujols gets hit and Matt Holliday doubles to right field. I missed it because the dog needed to come back in and Jen just cut her finger. She screamed and I thought she hurt herself some more.

Jen: Did Berkman get his nickname from the Bugs Bunny cartoon character?

Me: I'm not sure ... stay fair!

PUMA POWER lifts Cardinals to a 2-0 lead.

As if the Texas fans don't hate Berkman enough.

TV shows Cardinals GM.

Jen: Oh look there you are Brian. Who is that?

Freese flies out and Jack comes in with a popsicle frozen to his tounge. He seems to be making an appearance every time Freese comes up like clockwork.

La Russa probably thinking: Should have batted Carpenter eighth as Rangers walk No. 8 hitter with two outs.

Cardinals lead 2-0 after 4th.

Just as I was tying the top of the 5th is a big inning for Carp ...

Carp got away with one against Cruz but Mike Napoli hits 2-run bomb to right field, tying the game.

After 4 1/2, tied 2-2

Shot of Arch No. 53 to bring us into the bottom of the fifth.

By the way, who had Napoli as the first player to hit a home run in this series?

Rangers walk Pujols with a runner on second and one out. Holliday GIDP and Washington looks like genius.

After 4, tied 2-2

Big defensive play by Pujols saves a run after the Cardinals pitch to Josh Hamilton with a base open.

After 4 1/2, tied 2-2

Ozzie Smith sighting!

Odd thing about that commercial, the guys in the movie are all dead but here we have living ballplayers who have retired. Does that mean C.C.'s career is over and they're welcoming him?

Here's why I love NL baseball.

Freese gets to third with one out and Wilson strikes out Molina to bring up No. 8 hitter Nick Punto. With a pithcer on deck and another reliever warming up in the bullpen do you walk Punto to get Carp out of the game for a pinch hitter?

Texas walks Punto and Cards go with Allen Craig to pinch hit. Wilson comes out for a reliever.

It backfires, for now, as Craig gets an RBI single down the right-field line.

All three of the Cardinals' runs have come on balls hit to the opposite field.

After 6, Cards lead 3-2.

Which bullpen will blow up first? That's the key question of this game now, and perhaps the Series.

Big strike outs by the Cards' lefty there to end the top of the seventh.

Cards up 3-2, time to stretch.

Going to the 8th, Cards still lead 3-2.

Preview for a Muppets movie at 9:45 p.m. on a school night? Can't wait!

Jack has long since gone to bed but tried the "Can I stay up and watch the game?" on me even though he hasn't watched it all night. Bonus points, however, he knew the score.

My parents let me stay up for the 1985 World Series to see the Cards clinch in Game 6. I wish they hadn't.

Arther Rhodes wins first match up with Josh Hamilton to end 8th. This will become another key matchup.

Cards lead 3-2 heading to bottom half with Jason 'don't-call-him-the-closer' Motte warming up.

Missed chance with RISP in the 8th, that's not a good sign.

Heading to the ninth, Cards lead 3-2.

Motte pitches a 1-2-3 inning in the 9th, getting a lucky hop for the second out.

FINAL: Cardinals 3, Rangers 2

Cardinals take a big one here. Who would have thought it would be low scoring? Carp pitched well. Bullpen kept it up and Cards got timely hitting.

Thanks to Dustin for showing up and providing with comments. I'm off to write a football preview story. Good stuff from the AP guys will dominate tomorrow's DAR, be sure to pick up a copy to see what the players and managers have to say.

Good night.

Not sure if I'll be back Thursday night since I have to write two stories. That's why the posts later in the game became shorter, was trying to finish my football story.

Speaking of football, Sikeston fans should note that if the Bulldogs played in Class 5 they would be ranked, maybe as high as eighth, but Class 4 has a lot of good teams this year. St. Francis Borgia (8-0) isn't in the top 10, St. Dominic (8-0) got only 2 votes while St. Mary's (7-1) and Hillsboro (7-1) are also in the 'Dog house.' Helias is not on my top 10 but they did beat a very good top-10 team in Harrisonville and their opponents are a combined 42-22, many in larger classes. Of the 1-loss teams in the Class 4 top 10, Farmington lost to McCluer North (now ranked in Class 5), Harrisonville lost by 4 to a ranked team while Hillcrest lost by 17 to an Arkansas team. Sikeston 's 20-point loss was at home to Gateway Tech, now 6-2, and outside of the win over state-ranked Dexter, the Bulldogs' opponents are a combined 11-37.

Does that mean Sikeston won't defend its district title? No. Does that make Farmington a better team because the Knights are ranked? No. After seeing both teams play I can say it will be a very interesting game. They are the two best teams in this area on paper but until this area starts winning state titles on the field, most of the votes and attention will go elsewhere.