Talks ignite before World Series Game 1 – MLB Update
There have been rumours that St. Louis Cardinals’ Chris Carpenter has issues with his elbow and thus might not start Game 1 of the World Series against Texas Rangers on Wednesday, October 19 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.
Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa, however, asserted that Carpenter is totally fine and is in perfect health to lead the team during the World Series.
Playing down these talks, Carpenter said, "My elbow's fine. Tony and Dunc wouldn't be throwing me out there if I wasn't. I'm fine for Wednesday."
Carpenter emerged as Cardinals’ ace when the team lost Adam Wainwright to a season-ending injury in Spring Training. He has led the team impeccably and his performances in the postseason are worth mentioning.
Facing elimination in the National League Division Series, Carpenter tossed a three-hitter against Philadelphia Phillies to inject impetus into the bull-pen just at the right time. The Redbirds came out strong against NL Central Champions Milwaukee Brewers
in the NL Championship Series, overcoming their rivals 4-2 in the seven-game series to win the NL pennant for the first time since 2006. In doing this, the Cardinals became only the tenth Wild Card team in the history of Major League Baseball to qualify for
the Fall Classic.
The Cardinals enter the series as underdogs, but have home-advantage against the American League Champions. Rangers’ second baseman Ian Kinsler voiced his concerns over home-advantage to a Wild Card team against the Division Champions.
"You get a wild card team that sneaks in, and you get a division winner, and they have home-field advantage,” Kinsler said. “At the same time I agree with the format. I think having something be on the All-Star Game and having that game be competitive is
good for the game and good for the fans. ... I think it's important. I think it's cool. It didn't turn out really in our favor. But I think it's a pretty cool idea."
However, the Cardinals are undeterred by all talks and have vowed to focus only on the game. Rangers’ manager Ron Washington asserted that La Russa is a tough man to beat in tactics and thus his aim will be to put the players in the right position.
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