Top 20 Posteason Moments - Updated For 2011 World Series Game 1

Beyond The Boxscore: Rangers Still Favored In 2011 World Series

2011 World Series: Morning After Thoughts On Game 1

2011 World Series Game 1 Recap: Rangers Will Not Sweep

Magic Number: 4

Is this better than a year ago? Is falling in a close one to fall to 0-1 in the World Series better than having it be all but over going in to the final innings?

The Rangers lost the kind of game you shrug your shoulders at in the season. They did not get the breaks. They had some bad luck. Some normally-good players had bad days. They were beaten by a good team with their ace on their mound in their own ballpark. You lose a close one in the regular season, and you can quickly get over the loss by knowing you can't win them all, the team made it competitive.

In the World Series, you don't get that "moral victory" (an awful phrase often used to marginalize good points). You just get 0-1. It does not matter if you looked good losing, or if they looked bad, or whatever, it just matters that your chances of a World Series victory plummeted.

There was not a whole lot to be happy about in the loss, either. So many players were bad. Ian Kinsler had two base hits, but each of the three hitters behind him responded with oh-fors. The combination of David Murphy and Craig Gentry did the same. Chris Carpenter was clearly struggling with command, but the Rangers were incapable of taking advantage of it.

The Rangers defense showed up, particularly Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler, but a lack of the same defense at first base was most costly. With runners on second and third, Michael Young let a Lance Berkman single get past him just fair, giving the Cardinals a 2-0 lead; more than the eventual difference. The runs still may have scored with the successive play, and it was a difficult play, but with Albert Pujols making great plays in the field, Young's inability to do the same -- though no surprise -- only hurt more. His bat, of course, did nothing to help things, either.

Speaking of doing nothing to help, C.J. Wilson did nothing to help his growing reputation as a postseason failure. Throughout his five and two-thirds innings, he struggled to find a consistent -- and large -- strikezone, didn't miss a lot of bats, and had six walks. While two walks were intentional, and one kind-of intentional, that is still damaging. With a deep fly ball that would likely have left in most weather or ballparks, and some defensive help, he was probably lucky to have only allowed two runs. It was not that he was terrible, it was that he was not good, and you need your best pitcher to be good if you don't want to pray for someone else to step up in the World Series.

Despite all that, the Rangers had a chance because Mike Napoli did the unexpected. With an ace pitcher -- of the same handedness -- on the mound, in cold weather, in a park with a rightfield that is practically insurmountable, he launched a sinker deep the opposite direction for a two-run homerun, completely changing the game. If Nelson Cruz is able to make a tough sliding catch, the game is probably still being played.

This also can be said of the final inning, when Beltre fouled a ball off his foot, but was called out. Throughout the game, FOX had been forcing the use of their infrared camera, and suddenly they had a use for it, proving the ball hit Beltre. Despite an excellent strikezone, Major League Baseball's beloved Human Element entered in to the game and messed things up. The Cardinals still probably win, but we will never know because the umpires, with their limited eyes and refusal to get help, made the wrong call. How baseball is okay with this in the World Series, I don't know.

Despite some terrible performances, the Rangers had so many opportunities to win. For some, that will keep them up tonight. For some, that can be their silver lining. The preview had this game as slightly favoring the Rangers, but only slightly, and yet still favored them to win the series. Win Thursday and Texas goes home with a 1-1 lead; and splitting at home in the setting of this series would be dramatically in their favor, and all you could ask for.

Clearly, the World Series is not over yet. Things got worse because of a frustrating game, but they can get better even than they were to start just as quickly. Texas is 2-1 in the last two years when losing the first game, and the Mavericks have to have taught Dallas sports fans a thing or two about not giving up with championships on the line. You don't have to be happy, you just don't need to panic.

Yet.

GAME CHARTS

FanGraphs Win Probability

Biggest Contrubtions (What is this, I don't even. . . ?)

1. Michael Young -17%
2. Alexi Ogando -13%
3. Elvis Andrus -10%

Jerry Layne's Strikezone from Brooks Baseball

VOTE FOR THE GOAT OF THE GAME.

Goat Of World Series Game 1

Rangers Vs. Cardinals Final Score: Texas Drops World Series Opener 3-2

The St. Louis Cardinals got a pinch hit RBI single from Allen Craig in the bottom half of the sixth inning that gave them the lead and their bullpen made it stand up as they went on to defeat the Texas Rangers 3-2 in Game 1 of the 2011 World Series. 

The Rangers threatened in the seventh after putting two men on against Cardinals' reliever Fernando Salas. However, Marc Rzepczynski struck out Craig Gentry and Esteban German to end the threat. 

C.J. Wilson takes the loss in Game 1 after pitching 5.2 innings and allowing four hits and three runs. Wilson struggled with his control walking six batters while striking out four. Chris Carpenter earns the win for the Cardinals pitching six innings while allowing five hits and two runs. Carpenter walked one while striking out four. Jason Motte came on and worked a perfect ninth to earn the save. 

For more on the 2011 World Series, Cardinals fans should check out Viva El Birdos and Rangers fans should join the discussion at Lone Star Ball. 

Rangers Vs. Cardinals Score: Allen Craig Pinch Hit Single Puts St. Louis Back On Top

The Cardinals are back on top after an Allen Craig pinch hit single off of Alexi Ogando in the 6th inning scored David Freese giving St Louis a 3-2 lead. 

C.J. Wilson got Lance Berkman to pop out to start the 6th inning but then allowed a double to deep right field by third baseman David Freese. Wilson came back to strike out Yadier Molina but then walked Nick Punto to put runners at first and second with two outs. Wilson was then replaced by Alexi Ogando who promptly served up an RBI single to pinch hitter Allen Craig who was batting for Chris Carpenter. Rafel Furcal flew out to deep right field to end the inning. 

St. Louis reliever Fernando Salas is on to pitch in the 7th. 

For more on the 2011 World Series, Cardinals fans should check out Viva El Birdos and Rangers fans should join the discussion at Lone Star Ball. 

Rangers Vs. Cardinals Score: Mike Napoli Ties Things Up With Fifth Inning Home Run

The Cardinals' lead didn't last long as Mike Napoli tied things up in the top of the 5th with a two run home run to the opposite field off of St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter. 

Adrian Beltre got things started in the fifth with a lead off single to right. After a Nelson Cruz strikeout, Mike Napoli launched a long home run into the right field bleachers off of Carpenter that tied the score at 2-2. Carpenter came right back and struck out Daniel Murphy and got opposing pitcher C.J. Wilson to ground out to second to end the inning. 

The game is headed to the bottom of the 5th inning where the Cardinals will send the top of the lineup to the plate with Albert Pujols due up third in the inning. 

For more on the 2011 World Series, Cardinals fans should check out Viva El Birdos and Rangers fans should join the discussion at Lone Star Ball. 

Rangers Vs. Cardinals Score: Lance Berkman Puts St. Louis In Front

The St. Louis Cardinals take the first lead in the 2011 World Series after Lance Berkman singled home two runs in the fourth inning. 

Rangers starter, C.J. Wilson ran into trouble after hitting Albert Pujols with a pitch leading off the inning. Matt Holiday followed with a double to right that put runners at second and third with no one out. That set up Berkman who also followed with a single to right that scored both Pujols and Holliday. 

David Freese nearly extended the lead as he hit a long fly ball to center that Josh Hamilton was able to chase down. Yadier Molina followed with a ground out to short stop Elvis Andrus and Texas manager Ron Washington elected to walk Nick Punto intentionally to get to Chris Carpenter who struck out to end the inning. 

The game heads into the top of the 5th with the Cardinals leading 2-0. 

For more on the 2011 World Series, Cardinals fans should check out Viva El Birdos and Rangers fans should join the discussion at Lone Star Ball. 

Rangers Vs. Cardinals Score: World Series Game 1 Scoreless After Three

The Texas Rangers and the St Louis Cardinals are scoreless through the first three innings of Game 1 of the 2011 World Series. 

Chris Carpenter allowed two hits including a lead off single to Ian Kinsler in the first inning. Kinsler was cut down on a failed hit-and-run attempt by Cardinals' catcher Yadier Molina. The Rangers threatened again in the second after Adrian Beltre doubled with one out and Nelson Cruz followed with a walk. However, Carpenter got Mike Napoli to ground into an inning ending double play to eliminate the threat.

 Rangers starter C.J. Wilson surrendered a lead off walk to Rafael Furcal in the first but a double play and an Albert Pujols line out ended the threat. St Louis recorded its first hit of the night in the third inning when Nick Punto led off with a single. Chris Carpenter failed to get a sacrifice bunt down and Wilson escaped without any damage. 

For more on the 2011 World Series, Cardinals fans should check out Viva El Birdos and Rangers fans should join the discussion at Lone Star Ball. 

2011 World Series Game 1: Bob Gibson, Bruce Sutter, Adam Wainwright To Throw Out First Pitch

The 2011 World Series is set to begin in just under an hour, as the Texas Rangers visit St. Louis for the first time ever to take on the Cardinals. 

While there's been plenty of controversy on Dirk Nowitzki not being allowed to throw out one of the first pitches in Arlington, there's been no such controversy with tonight's first pitch. Past and present Cardinals greats Bob Gibson, Bruce Sutter and the injured Adam Wainwright will do the honors in St. Louis before Game 1.

It's a pretty cool move on St. Louis' part. Those three pitchers have recorded the outs to St. Louis' last three World Series titles, with Gibson recording the final out in 1967, Sutter in 1982 and Wainwright in 2006. 

Game 2's first pitch will be thrown out by another past Cardinal great, Lou Brock. 

Rangers Vs. Cardinals: World Series Media And Celebrity Predictions

With the Texas Rangers coming back to the Fall Classic after losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2010 edition of the World Series, most pundits and prognosticators have made this season's Texas Rangers the heavy favorite to win this year. Can the St. Louis Cardinals change people's minds?

Here is a breakout of media members and celebrity figures predictions for the World Series showdown between the Rangers and the Cardinals:

ESPN's John Kruk: Cardinals in 6.

FOX's Ken Rosenthal: Rangers in 7

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian: Rangers in 7.

USA Today's Jorge L. Ortiz: Rangers in 6.

ESPN's Karl Ravech: Cardinals in 6.

The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre: Rangers in 6.

Nolan Ryan, Rangers team president: Rangers in 6.

Sam Bradford, Rams quarterback: Cardinals in 6.

Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks forward: Rangers in 6.

Eddie Maisonet, SB Nation writer: Rangers in 7.

(Note: Per ESPN's Marc Stein, The Texas Rangers nominated NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki to throw the first pitch for one of the Rangers' home games during the 2011 World Series, unfortunately sources from the Rangers say that the recommendation has been nixed by Major League Baseball.

World Series Game 1, Rangers Vs. Cardinals: Cardinals Starting Lineup

Per Jayson Stark, ESPN.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. LHP C.J. Wilson

Rafael Furcal - SS

Jon Jay - CF

Albert Pujols - 1B

Matt Holliday - LF

Lance Berkman - RF

David Freese - 3B

Yadier Molina - C

Nick Punto - 3B

Chris Carpenter - P

Though it had previously been announced Skip Schumaker would be available for the World Series, Punto will continue to play second base for the Cardinals. With a move to the National League, Punto had (by far) a career year at the plate, though a long track record as a (very) below-average hitter likely means he is not much a threat at the plate. He does look like a step up from Schumaker in the field, however, even if he is nothing special. He also has more success against the Rangers than any other team in baseball who he has faced at least 16 times, so there is that reason to hate seeing him.

Punto joins Furcal and Berkman as a switch hitter, meaning only Jon Jay will be facing Wilson from the left side. Punto and Berkman both, however, are worse against lefties, while Matt Holliday has shown a reliable reverse split over the course of his career, making the Cardinals less of a platoon disadvantage for Wilson than they look at first glance.

Two More 2011 World Series Previews

Weather Could Be A Problem In Game 1

Inclement weather could once again be a huge factor in the post-season, as tonight's forecast for the St. Louis area could cause trouble for Game 1 of the World Series.

There's currently light rain in St. Louis only five hours before game-time, and the Weather Underground predicts a 40% chance of rain tonight. The temperatures will be in the 40's with a low of 37, with wind gusts of up to 29 mph possible. 

Any type of delay could cause havoc with both team's post-season rotations, especially if it resembles Game 1 of the ALDS between the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees, where both teams lost the services of their aces after only a few innings work.

The forecast for the rest of the week in St. Louis is much better, as there is only a 10% chance of rain on Thursday, but wind gusts could stay in the 20's all week. 

World Series Game 1, Rangers Vs. Cardinals: Rangers Lineup Announced

Game 1 of the World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers is just a mere four hours away, and Ron Washington has announced his starting lineup. 

Ian Kinsler, 2B
Elvis Andrus, SS
Josh Hamilton, CF
Michael Young, 1B
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Nelson Cruz, RF
Mike Napoli, C
David Murphy, LF
C.J. Wilson, SP

Washington hinted yesterday that he might move Cruz up in the lineup... and he did. Except he moved him up only one spot. 

Since Game 1 is in St. Louis, there's no DH. So Rangers fans will have to deal with Young at first base, for better or for worse. Obviously, Wilson will be batting as well. 

Texas' lineup is certainly deeper than the one Carpenter and the Cardinals faced in the NLCS when they defeated the Brewers, but the Rangers will still need players not named Nelson Cruz to step up. 

World Series Game 1: What To Look For From Chris Carpenter, Cardinals

2011 World Series Previews On SB Nation

World Series Game 1, Rangers Vs. Cardinals: Fall Classic Opens In St. Louis

Once again, the Rangers are back in the World Series. This time, Game 1 is in St. Louis as the Rangers take on the Cardinals on Wednesday night.