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Nick Soulis · 05-02-2022, 09:03 AM

PRELIMINARY ROUND
Series #114
2009 St. Louis Cardinals (91-71) vs 1993 Chicago Cubs (84-78)

The Cubs and the Cardinals get ready battle it out in our next series with the likes of Pujols and Molina vs Sandberg and Sosa. The 2009 St. Louis club did win the division and were lead by their 27 year old superstar first baseman in his prime. King Albert hit .327 with 47 home runs and 135 RBI even pitching in 16 steals making the point he was the best player in the game. The remainder of the Cardinals offense comes down to earth with Skip Schumaker and Brendan Ryan making up the middle infield both hitting around .300 but with little to no slugging ability. Mark DeRosa was the third baseman hitting only .228 at 34 years old and only playing in 68 games as Joe Thurston was his platoon. Matt Holiday was awesome but played in only 63 games but when on the field hit .353 with a .604 slugging and 55 RBI. As Holliday was troubled by injuries, Rick Ankiel filled in for him with his big arm but his lack of contact and .231 average were not impressive. Colby Rasmus was the everyday man in center hitting .251 but only am 89 OPS+. Ryan Ludwik was solid driving in 97 runs wiht 22 home runs and over 200 total bases. With Pujols, the leader in the clubhouse as catcher Yadier Molina who hit .293 with 54 RBI and 23 doubles not even mentioning his gold glove defense. The Cardinals top three starters kept this club on the right track and Adam Wainwright wa at the center of it with one of his best seasons. Going 19-8 with a 2.63 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 233 innings to qualify as a real ace. Joel Piniero threw 214 innings with 15 wins and a 3.49 ERA made him a dependable option for LaRussa as did one of his favorite veterans in Chris Carpenter, Carpenter was ridiculous in 28 starts going 17-4 with a 2.24 ERA and 38 walks in 192 innings making his control legendary. Todd Wellmeyer made 21 starts but eventually lost the role after being hit hard and Kyle Lohse for 22 starts but was not great with a 4.74 ERA and 86 ERA+. Forty two year old John Smoltz made 7 starts but was at the end of the line and it was weird to see him wear Cardinal red. The competent closer was 36 year old Ryan Franklin who made 38 saves with an impressive 1.92 ERA while Trever Miller was a good setup arm along with Kyle McClennan who appeared in 66 games and had 3 saves of his own. The Cardinals have to love the fact they get the Cubs in this series, nothing gets them or their fanbase going more then beating their rivals from the north.

The 1993 Cubs were not suppose to win anything after letting Cy Young award winner Greg Maddux go a year earlier, but Jim Lefebvre deserves credit as he lead this team to 84 wins. Stepping in for the void of Mad Dog the Cubs turned to a number of arms. Mike Morgan was the only pitcher over 200 innings but went 10-15 with some rough outing and an ERA at 4.03. Jose Guzman also struggled at times with a 4.19 FOP and a neck truing 25 home runs allowed. Maybe the best arm of the bunch was left hander Greg Hibbard who won 15 games to lead the team and had a 3,96 ERA and had a focus like competitive edge that he brought with him. Mike Harkey had all the potential in the world but his arm trouble got the most of him and his 1993 year was a nightmare going 10-10 with a ballooned 5.26 ERA. At 24 years old Frank Castillo also contributed to to 15 starts going 5-8 but allowed 20 home runs with a 4.66 FIP. Young Steve Traschel and Turk Wendell were also wild cards that were given their chance as spot starters but were lacking command. Randy Myers may have had the best season ever for a Cubs closer saving a record 53 games and striking out 10.3 per nine. Dan Plesac, Chick Mcelroy, and Paul Assenmacher set up a very good core of bullpen arms for the Cubs and one of their team strengths. Sammy Sosa was coming into his own in a big way displaying power no one thought he had hitting 33 home runs and driving in 93 while stealing an impressive 36 bases; this Sammy Sosa was a five tool player. Willie Wilson in center was well pas this best with the bat and the glove and was nothing more then a leader and clubhouse asset. Left fielder Derrick may showed alot of promise with a pretty swing hitting .295 with 77 RBI and 25 doubles. Along those same lines was Mark Grace who not only was a gold glove first baseman, but also had a pretty swing striking out only 32 times while driving in 98 runs. Grace was the heart and soul of this team. Ryne Sandberg was back in his groove after some lost seasons hitting .309 with a 109 OPS+ even as his powerstroke seems to have faded. Ryno was still dependable as can be at second base. Rey Sanchez wasnt much like Shawon Dunston in that he was more steady and less flamboyant, with Dunton out Sanchez hit .282 but only scored 35 runs in over 100 games. Steve Buechele had 15 home runs at third with 201 total bases. Maybe the biggest revelation was catcher Rick Wilkins who hit .303, lead the team in WAR, and hit 30 home runs to really surprise fans and the league. Wilkins wasn't as solid on defense but his big bat makes the Cubs that much more dangerous. Chicago had a deep bench with Jose Vizcaino and Dwight Smith briniging alot to the table and Glenallen Hill parking some monster home runs when called upon. This isn't a bad Cubs team and should not be overlooked, any battle between these two rivals should make for must see baseball with everything on the line.

Game 1 At Busch Stadium
Clear 63
1993 Cubs.......................3
2009 Cardinals................6 (13 inn)
WP: D. Reyes (1-0) LP: J. Bautista (0-1)
HR: C. Rasmus (1), A. Pujols 2 (2)
POG: Albert Pujols
2009 Cardinals lead series 1-0
Proving his greatness, Albert Pujols single handedly brought this game out of the fire and burned the Cubs. The Cubs rallied to take a 9th inning lead and sent Randy Meyers to the mound to close it out. Pujols slammed a home run over the left field wall to lead off the inning and tie the game. In the 13th with the game still tied, Pujols took Bob Scanlan deep for a three run walk off home run. Pujols ends with 5 RBI and adds to his legend as the Cardinals take the opener.

Game 2 At Busch Stadium
Partly cloudy 56
1993 Cubs........................2
2009 Cardinals.................6
WP: A. Wainwright (1-0) LP: M. Morgan (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Adam Wainwright
2009 Cardinals lead series 2-0
Adam Wainwright went 9 strong innings and struck out 11 Cubs in a masterful effort to give St. Louis a 2 game lead in the series. Hi battery mate hit a run scoring double in a three run 4th inning to would set St. Louis on its way. The Cubs only had 5 hits in this one and hope seems to be slipping as the series heads north to Wrigley.

Game 3 At Wrigley Field
Partly cloudy 49
2009 Cardinals........................7
1993 Cubs...............................3
WP: J. Piniero (1-0) LP: G. Hibbard (0-1)
HR: Y. Molina (1), S. Sosa (1), D. Smith (1)
POG: Yadier Molina
2009 Cardinals lead series 3-0
The Cardinals once again jumped on Cubs pitching early and took the fans out of their energy as they scored four runs in the top of the first off Cubs starter Greg Hibbard. Yadier Molina hit a three run home run in the frame and although the Cubs came back to cut the lead to one, the visitors scored three more times late to put game three away. Chicago used seven pitchers as Joel Piniero went 6 for the Cardinals before their pen closed it out. The momentum of a dramatic game one has carried over, and now the Cards are primed for a sweep.

Game 4 At Wrigley Field
Partly cloudy 54
2009 Cardinals....................4
1993 Cubs...........................5
WP: M. Harkey (1-0) LP: B. Hawksworth (0-1) S. R. Myers (1)
HR: K. Greene (1), R. Ludwick (1), D. Smith (2)
POG: Dwight Smith
2009 Cardinals lead series 3-1
Dwight Smith hit a three run home run in the third to put the Cubs up early behind Frank Castillo but the Cardinals fought back and the back and forth contest was tied at 4 into the 8th. Derrick May delivered the biggest hit of the series for the Cubs with a 2 out RBI single in the inning and Randy Myers this time did not falter in the 9th and the Cubs survive to extend the series. It was Smith's second home run and drove in 4 of the Cubs 5 runs.

Game 5 At Wrigley Field
Rain 41
2009 Cardinals.....................4
1993 Cubs............................5
WP: J. Guzman (1-0) LP: C. Carpenter (0-1) S: R. Myers (2)
HR: M. Grace (1), D. Smith (3), S. Schumaker (1), R. Ludwick 2 (3)
POG: Ryan Ludwick
2009 Cardinals lead series 3-2
The Cubs showing heart that many thought they didnt have to pull out another close one at home and send the series back to St. Louis. Mark Grace broke a 2-2 tie with a solo home run in the 5th and Dwight Smith hit a bigger blow in the 6th with a 2 run home run, it was Smiths third of the series. Ryan Ludwick hit his second home run of the game in the 8th with a man on but once again Randy Myers closed out the Cards in the ninth to lock the door. Pujols went hitless in this one and the momentum has clearly shifted.

Game 6 At Busch Stadium
Rain 47
1993 Cubs......................5
2009 Cardinals...............4
WP: M. Morgan (1-1) LP: A. Wainwright (1-1) S: R. Myers (3)
HR: B. Ryan (1)
POG: Brendan Ryan
Series tied at 3
Sammy Sosa went 3-5 with 2 RBI and Ryne Sandberg drove in two with a clutch hit as the 1993 Cubs found way to win their third game in a row by one run and force this great series to go to a game seven. Randy Myers closed down the ninth for his third save and Mike Morgan does his job getting the win and holding off the Cards to three runs over six. Adam Wainwright takes the loss as the Cards outhit the Cubs but left 8 on base and had no production from the middle of their order. All the pressure now falls on St. Louis as game seven looks to the Cubs to pull the impossible comeback.

Game 7 At Busch Stadium
Clear 60
1993 Cubs.......................2
2009 Cardinals................4
WP: J. Pineiro (2-0) LP: G. Hibbard (0-2) S: R. Franklin
HR: A. Pujols (3) R. Wilkins (1)
POG: Joel Piniero
The Cubs reached the finish line but just couldn't cross it and in game seven the Cardinals finally put the series away behind starter Joel Piniero. Piniero went 6 strong innings without allowing an earned run to get the better of a good Greg Hibbard. It was a one run game all the way to the 7th when Albert Pujols hit a two run home run off his favorite victim Bob Scanlan for a three run lead. Rick Wilkins would hit an 8th inning home run to cut the lead to two, but Ryan Franklin closed the Cubs down in the 9th with the tying run on second base. A great series and credit to Chicago who battled back and showed heart even in the loss.

2009 St. Louis Cardinals Win Series 4 Games To 3

Series MVP:
Name: 1 - 114 MVP.png
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Name: 1 - 114 MVP.png
Views: 841
Size: 91.8 KB

Joel Piniero
(2-0, 2.25 ERA, 8 K, 1 BB, 1.33 WHIP, 176 ERA+, Game 7 Win)

05-02-2022, 09:03 AM	#7
Nick Soulis Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 4,275	Series #114 PRELIMINARY ROUND Series #114 2009 St. Louis Cardinals (91-71) vs 1993 Chicago Cubs (84-78) The Cubs and the Cardinals get ready battle it out in our next series with the likes of Pujols and Molina vs Sandberg and Sosa. The 2009 St. Louis club did win the division and were lead by their 27 year old superstar first baseman in his prime. King Albert hit .327 with 47 home runs and 135 RBI even pitching in 16 steals making the point he was the best player in the game. The remainder of the Cardinals offense comes down to earth with Skip Schumaker and Brendan Ryan making up the middle infield both hitting around .300 but with little to no slugging ability. Mark DeRosa was the third baseman hitting only .228 at 34 years old and only playing in 68 games as Joe Thurston was his platoon. Matt Holiday was awesome but played in only 63 games but when on the field hit .353 with a .604 slugging and 55 RBI. As Holliday was troubled by injuries, Rick Ankiel filled in for him with his big arm but his lack of contact and .231 average were not impressive. Colby Rasmus was the everyday man in center hitting .251 but only am 89 OPS+. Ryan Ludwik was solid driving in 97 runs wiht 22 home runs and over 200 total bases. With Pujols, the leader in the clubhouse as catcher Yadier Molina who hit .293 with 54 RBI and 23 doubles not even mentioning his gold glove defense. The Cardinals top three starters kept this club on the right track and Adam Wainwright wa at the center of it with one of his best seasons. Going 19-8 with a 2.63 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 233 innings to qualify as a real ace. Joel Piniero threw 214 innings with 15 wins and a 3.49 ERA made him a dependable option for LaRussa as did one of his favorite veterans in Chris Carpenter, Carpenter was ridiculous in 28 starts going 17-4 with a 2.24 ERA and 38 walks in 192 innings making his control legendary. Todd Wellmeyer made 21 starts but eventually lost the role after being hit hard and Kyle Lohse for 22 starts but was not great with a 4.74 ERA and 86 ERA+. Forty two year old John Smoltz made 7 starts but was at the end of the line and it was weird to see him wear Cardinal red. The competent closer was 36 year old Ryan Franklin who made 38 saves with an impressive 1.92 ERA while Trever Miller was a good setup arm along with Kyle McClennan who appeared in 66 games and had 3 saves of his own. The Cardinals have to love the fact they get the Cubs in this series, nothing gets them or their fanbase going more then beating their rivals from the north. The 1993 Cubs were not suppose to win anything after letting Cy Young award winner Greg Maddux go a year earlier, but Jim Lefebvre deserves credit as he lead this team to 84 wins. Stepping in for the void of Mad Dog the Cubs turned to a number of arms. Mike Morgan was the only pitcher over 200 innings but went 10-15 with some rough outing and an ERA at 4.03. Jose Guzman also struggled at times with a 4.19 FOP and a neck truing 25 home runs allowed. Maybe the best arm of the bunch was left hander Greg Hibbard who won 15 games to lead the team and had a 3,96 ERA and had a focus like competitive edge that he brought with him. Mike Harkey had all the potential in the world but his arm trouble got the most of him and his 1993 year was a nightmare going 10-10 with a ballooned 5.26 ERA. At 24 years old Frank Castillo also contributed to to 15 starts going 5-8 but allowed 20 home runs with a 4.66 FIP. Young Steve Traschel and Turk Wendell were also wild cards that were given their chance as spot starters but were lacking command. Randy Myers may have had the best season ever for a Cubs closer saving a record 53 games and striking out 10.3 per nine. Dan Plesac, Chick Mcelroy, and Paul Assenmacher set up a very good core of bullpen arms for the Cubs and one of their team strengths. Sammy Sosa was coming into his own in a big way displaying power no one thought he had hitting 33 home runs and driving in 93 while stealing an impressive 36 bases; this Sammy Sosa was a five tool player. Willie Wilson in center was well pas this best with the bat and the glove and was nothing more then a leader and clubhouse asset. Left fielder Derrick may showed alot of promise with a pretty swing hitting .295 with 77 RBI and 25 doubles. Along those same lines was Mark Grace who not only was a gold glove first baseman, but also had a pretty swing striking out only 32 times while driving in 98 runs. Grace was the heart and soul of this team. Ryne Sandberg was back in his groove after some lost seasons hitting .309 with a 109 OPS+ even as his powerstroke seems to have faded. Ryno was still dependable as can be at second base. Rey Sanchez wasnt much like Shawon Dunston in that he was more steady and less flamboyant, with Dunton out Sanchez hit .282 but only scored 35 runs in over 100 games. Steve Buechele had 15 home runs at third with 201 total bases. Maybe the biggest revelation was catcher Rick Wilkins who hit .303, lead the team in WAR, and hit 30 home runs to really surprise fans and the league. Wilkins wasn't as solid on defense but his big bat makes the Cubs that much more dangerous. Chicago had a deep bench with Jose Vizcaino and Dwight Smith briniging alot to the table and Glenallen Hill parking some monster home runs when called upon. This isn't a bad Cubs team and should not be overlooked, any battle between these two rivals should make for must see baseball with everything on the line. Game 1 At Busch Stadium Clear 63 1993 Cubs.......................3 2009 Cardinals................6 (13 inn) WP: D. Reyes (1-0) LP: J. Bautista (0-1) HR: C. Rasmus (1), A. Pujols 2 (2) POG: Albert Pujols 2009 Cardinals lead series 1-0 Proving his greatness, Albert Pujols single handedly brought this game out of the fire and burned the Cubs. The Cubs rallied to take a 9th inning lead and sent Randy Meyers to the mound to close it out. Pujols slammed a home run over the left field wall to lead off the inning and tie the game. In the 13th with the game still tied, Pujols took Bob Scanlan deep for a three run walk off home run. Pujols ends with 5 RBI and adds to his legend as the Cardinals take the opener. Game 2 At Busch Stadium Partly cloudy 56 1993 Cubs........................2 2009 Cardinals.................6 WP: A. Wainwright (1-0) LP: M. Morgan (0-1) HR: None POG: Adam Wainwright 2009 Cardinals lead series 2-0 Adam Wainwright went 9 strong innings and struck out 11 Cubs in a masterful effort to give St. Louis a 2 game lead in the series. Hi battery mate hit a run scoring double in a three run 4th inning to would set St. Louis on its way. The Cubs only had 5 hits in this one and hope seems to be slipping as the series heads north to Wrigley. Game 3 At Wrigley Field Partly cloudy 49 2009 Cardinals........................7 1993 Cubs...............................3 WP: J. Piniero (1-0) LP: G. Hibbard (0-1) HR: Y. Molina (1), S. Sosa (1), D. Smith (1) POG: Yadier Molina 2009 Cardinals lead series 3-0 The Cardinals once again jumped on Cubs pitching early and took the fans out of their energy as they scored four runs in the top of the first off Cubs starter Greg Hibbard. Yadier Molina hit a three run home run in the frame and although the Cubs came back to cut the lead to one, the visitors scored three more times late to put game three away. Chicago used seven pitchers as Joel Piniero went 6 for the Cardinals before their pen closed it out. The momentum of a dramatic game one has carried over, and now the Cards are primed for a sweep. Game 4 At Wrigley Field Partly cloudy 54 2009 Cardinals....................4 1993 Cubs...........................5 WP: M. Harkey (1-0) LP: B. Hawksworth (0-1) S. R. Myers (1) HR: K. Greene (1), R. Ludwick (1), D. Smith (2) POG: Dwight Smith 2009 Cardinals lead series 3-1 Dwight Smith hit a three run home run in the third to put the Cubs up early behind Frank Castillo but the Cardinals fought back and the back and forth contest was tied at 4 into the 8th. Derrick May delivered the biggest hit of the series for the Cubs with a 2 out RBI single in the inning and Randy Myers this time did not falter in the 9th and the Cubs survive to extend the series. It was Smith's second home run and drove in 4 of the Cubs 5 runs. Game 5 At Wrigley Field Rain 41 2009 Cardinals.....................4 1993 Cubs............................5 WP: J. Guzman (1-0) LP: C. Carpenter (0-1) S: R. Myers (2) HR: M. Grace (1), D. Smith (3), S. Schumaker (1), R. Ludwick 2 (3) POG: Ryan Ludwick 2009 Cardinals lead series 3-2 The Cubs showing heart that many thought they didnt have to pull out another close one at home and send the series back to St. Louis. Mark Grace broke a 2-2 tie with a solo home run in the 5th and Dwight Smith hit a bigger blow in the 6th with a 2 run home run, it was Smiths third of the series. Ryan Ludwick hit his second home run of the game in the 8th with a man on but once again Randy Myers closed out the Cards in the ninth to lock the door. Pujols went hitless in this one and the momentum has clearly shifted. Game 6 At Busch Stadium Rain 47 1993 Cubs......................5 2009 Cardinals...............4 WP: M. Morgan (1-1) LP: A. Wainwright (1-1) S: R. Myers (3) HR: B. Ryan (1) POG: Brendan Ryan Series tied at 3 Sammy Sosa went 3-5 with 2 RBI and Ryne Sandberg drove in two with a clutch hit as the 1993 Cubs found way to win their third game in a row by one run and force this great series to go to a game seven. Randy Myers closed down the ninth for his third save and Mike Morgan does his job getting the win and holding off the Cards to three runs over six. Adam Wainwright takes the loss as the Cards outhit the Cubs but left 8 on base and had no production from the middle of their order. All the pressure now falls on St. Louis as game seven looks to the Cubs to pull the impossible comeback. Game 7 At Busch Stadium Clear 60 1993 Cubs.......................2 2009 Cardinals................4 WP: J. Pineiro (2-0) LP: G. Hibbard (0-2) S: R. Franklin HR: A. Pujols (3) R. Wilkins (1) POG: Joel Piniero The Cubs reached the finish line but just couldn't cross it and in game seven the Cardinals finally put the series away behind starter Joel Piniero. Piniero went 6 strong innings without allowing an earned run to get the better of a good Greg Hibbard. It was a one run game all the way to the 7th when Albert Pujols hit a two run home run off his favorite victim Bob Scanlan for a three run lead. Rick Wilkins would hit an 8th inning home run to cut the lead to two, but Ryan Franklin closed the Cubs down in the 9th with the tying run on second base. A great series and credit to Chicago who battled back and showed heart even in the loss. 2009 St. Louis Cardinals Win Series 4 Games To 3 Series MVP: Joel Piniero (2-0, 2.25 ERA, 8 K, 1 BB, 1.33 WHIP, 176 ERA+, Game 7 Win) Last edited by Nick Soulis; 05-05-2022 at 10:25 PM.